‘Try to get words down if you can – every little bit adds up. But don’t be hard on yourself if some days it doesn’t happen. I’ve had plenty of days that have been wiped off and I’m still trying to tell myself that ‘it’s okay’.’

‘[Making a bestseller] is the mysterious combination of all those factors: the right time, the right place, a compelling story and the role of the publisher in making the most of opportunities.’

‘I believe that most writing comes from the body, and so I try to tap into that in early drafts. Music and photography, the visual and aural — and most of all, emotion — help me in that process.’

‘Where I grew up, nobody I knew was into this world [of literature], it was all quite alien….The job at Echo Publishing came along at the perfect time.’

‘I promised myself I would always work towards understanding and being an advocate for Black Rights.’