‘I want story and forward momentum. For me, this is what crime delivers’

‘Language has always been the tool I choose to work with … I think that there is no end to what we can do with language and no end to what we can learn about it, and from it.’

‘I want the reader to become immersed in my characters’ worlds and have a sensory as well as a literary experience.’

‘Rather than being motivated by imagined commercial success, be driven by the joy of telling stories which give pleasure to readers.’

‘Write what excites you. Forget trends or “what’s hot”. Writing what you love will motivate you to finish it.’

Pink Cover Zine is a platform for creative works that explore of the sentimental, domestic, joyful and in between moments in life.

‘Humour is a brilliant tool for a writer. It has the power to draw the reader in and soften the blow. It’s subversive.’

This month’s Spotlight On features Barrie Seppings, debut author of ShelfLife, a ‘fast, fun, slick’ satire of start-up culture and digital nomads.

‘One of my aims with this biography was to present Caroline as not just a figure from a bygone age but as a flesh and blood woman, someone that the reader could identify with and who was still relevant 150 years later.’