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Settings are obviously important - and as a writer, you have to respect what was real at the time of the story you're writing. But the real key to success lies in finding the right characters to carry that story.

When I work on a novel, I usually have one character and a setting in mind.

Depending on what I'm working on, I come to the writing desk with entirely different mindsets. When I change form one to the other, it's as if another writer is on the scene.

I always try to make the setting fit the story I have in mind.

Rule one: Write about settings you're familiar with.

I think a setting is hugely important. I look at setting as a character with its own look, sound, history, quirks, goofy temperaments and moods.

I don't feel that I have to control every aspect of things that I appear in. You learn a lot performing someone else's writing.

I start with characters, and then I start writing, and then, if I'm lucky, things start to happen.

I don't control my writing - it controls me.

I'd be lying if I said that any part of writing is easy for me, but I have always found that setting comes more naturally to me than, say, writing action scenes.