Children in their young teens are just moving into the moment when they are most receptive to philosophy and psychology. You can explore these things in stories and, in doing so, give them power and control.

I am political. But not politically active. I'm not my dad. I'll never write polemic, as he did.

I've always felt a bit hard done by in England - you know, I've won the Bisto three times in Ireland, but it has felt like nobody has even heard of me in my home country.

I wasn't that bothered with school; I was too mad into horses. But I liked reading and was good enough at English and always liked music.