Definitely not an illustrator! My artistic ability is sadly limited . . . (I am so in awe of anyone who can draw or paint competently!) Before becoming an author I worked in publishing and then at the BBC and enjoyed both enormously, so perhaps I would have stayed within one of those fields. Sometimes I do yearn for a big, noisy, gossipy office! Other days, when I’m sitting here in a bobbly jumper and ancient jeans, I’m quite glad it’s only the dog who gets to judge me.

Robyn, Jeanie, Bunny, Frankie, Alison – which character’s story did you enjoy writing about most?

Hard question! I enjoyed writing all of them in different ways. The moment that Jeanie makes her big, bold airport decision took me completely by surprise – it was nothing I had planned for, and I did feel a burst of real ‘Go, Jeanie!’ excitement for her. Bunny’s storyline was fairly dramatic too – and I rooted for her perhaps more than any of the others – but I think I found Alison’s story most satisfying to write overall. She’s a kind, stoic character who has borne a lot of sadness, and I loved taking her on a life-changing journey.

Friendship, and the importance of friends, is a key element in all your books. What do you like doing when you meet up with your friends?

The usual things – chatting over a glass of wine, setting the world to rights, etc. My two best friends live quite far from me (and each other) so we try to get together for a weekend when we can, usually in London. This summer, however, we’re going to Palma for a long weekend, just the three of us. I can’t wait!

Tell us about your writing day – do you have a special place to write, what time do you like to start and do you have any particular rituals you have that set you off on your creative path?

I have my own office in the house and usually start writing once my three children have gone off to school and I’ve walked the dog. I don’t have any particular rituals other than needing gallons of tea and trying not to get sucked in to Twitter gossip. I don’t tend to plot much in advance, which means sometimes I hit a brick wall, or take a plot in completely the wrong direction (very annoying). Weirdly, my best ideas come to me when my brain is in neutral gear, doing something domestic. For some reason, pegging out laundry is particularly conducive to a plot breakthrough.

In Something to Tell You Frankie, Alison and Jeanie all decide to make changes to their lives. Have you ever made a big change in your life that has set you on a new path?