I pick up my pen, figuratively, and start 'writing'. Either the ideas flow or, just occasionally, they do not. Typically I am sat in an armchair with a laptop on my knee. I occasionally need to be available to assist my disabled wife, Pat, when she requires my help. Ambient noise like the TV or background music does not disturb the process, in fact, I like it. Usually, the words flow almost unbidden, and I have difficulty keeping up with them. The biggest problem I have is probably age-related: I keep forgetting names, even the names of the characters I have created. So, I need my notes close by.

Ideas abound in the ether. It is just a case of clearing my mind and allowing them to circulate in the grey cells. The characters who come to life usually have some similarity to someone I have known or crossed paths with or are aspirations that I wish were me.

There are rare instances when the brick wall appears from nowhere and further progress is halted. Then there is no option but to put down the 'pen' and to turn to either painting fantasy scenes on china or playing my Hammond organ. I can only manage the latter for about thirty minutes, maximum. I used to play around one hour every day but lately it has become less frequent and like a guitar player if you don't use your fingers the pads soften and long sessions on the organ can be painful (hopefully not to the ears).

The one or two critical reviews I have received do not overwrite the many more positives that come my way. And each person is different and sees life differently, entitled to their opinions. So negative reviews do not hit me too hard.

I am most challenged by the differences in spelling and grammatical English between the USA and the UK.

I wrote my first story pre ten years of age, and was berated by my teacher. It was supposed to be a holiday account but I had never been on holiday so I fantasised about travelling to Australia on a ship carrying livestock. The first story I told after that was almost 40 years later on seaside holiday in Great Yarmouth (East coast of England). My then four or five year old son was playing on the beach with a group of four or five children when they sought shelter from a heavy shower in the confines of our beach tent. My wife pleaded for me to quieten their boisterous play by telling them a story, or something. And in that instant the red haired, bullied, alien orphan was born. Jimmy Crikey overcame the bullies, befriended witches, saved the little lady marooned at the bottom of the well and became the hero of Roombelow. Jimmy Crikey did not appear in print for almost another thirty years and now forty years later I have begun to write the sixth adventure in Jimmy's series of stories. In the interval between the fifth and sixth stories I have completed a memoir/autobiographical account of starting life as an impoverished urchin and ending my working life as an Export Sales Manger.

Take note of what others are writing in your genre but be yourself and stay true to your ideals. Don't expect to get everything right at the first attempt. Prepare yourself for the re-writes and get advice from a professional editor who specialises in your genre - not your best friend. Afford the expense because it will pay dividends.

I have no formula. Characters and plot appear from the ether and tell me where they are going.

I have written nine books, the majority of which are MG/YA fantasy. I have derived great satisfaction from each one but if I must choose a favourite it would be my first: The Amazing Adventures of Jimmy Crikey

In general, writing is not a chore and when I hit hard times I relish the challenge of digging myself out. However, in the writing of my memoir 'Love Changed Everything', opening up my heart and exposing my shortcomings for all to see - was hard.

If we were talking about Jimmy Crikey, that story was inspired from watching my son at play with his newfound friends on the beach. One boy, the smallest, had ginger red hair, and he was being bullied by his playmates to come and go and fetch and carry. He was the child who became Jimmy Crikey who overcacme every obstacle in his path to becoming the hero Roombelow.

All the scenes in my series of Jimmy Crikey books need continuity and correct repetition of characteristics and the more characters I create the more traits and styles I have to assign and record. A character bible is a must.

I don't have much difficulty staying focused while writing. I am accustomed to frequent interruptions to tend to my wife's needs. Just a drink to hand (non alcoholic) is all the sustenance I need when the imagination starts to flow.

The much maligned Enid Blyton was the favourite of my sons which I read at bedtime story times. They and I both loved her style and simplicity of writing. I would love to emulate her and discover her secrets.

It was so long ago that LAt I googled myself, I can hardly remember there than to be delighted that my name appeared and was categorised as a children's books author.