I have hundreds of books on the walls of this room, but I'm taking a different perspective: the book that has left a lasting impression on me was the one I wrote myself. And whilst that may seem hubristic and self-indulgent (trust me, it’s not), let's follow that tangent. 

As an alcoholic junkie who's been clean and sober for twenty years, I fully understand the concept of 'one day at a time'. So when it came time to push the boundaries and attempt to write a novel, I heard the maxim - the longest journey is taken one step at a time. And so too the novel - the longest story is written one word at a time.

So I wrote.  I carried paper and pencils everywhere, just in case an idea arrived.

Anywhere, everywhere, every single day, I wrote.

Even sitting out in the back garden, watching the sun rise...