I write almost every day, so I’ve written happy and written miserable, and there isn’t really much difference in the stories that come out of either state. Again, this is part of what makes me feel that the writing comes from a place other than my emotional core.

But you’re right – there is a widespread assumption that all fiction is (auto)biographical to some degree – mainly, I think, amongst those who do not write . . . I know that when my friends read my work they’re always looking for themselves, each other and me in the work and are hugely disappointed that they’re not included! I’m sure they think I’m hiding the stories they feature just to annoy them . . .

For me, I think the freedom to play around doing desperate things to my characters comes precisely because I’m not down and depressed in real life. From a place of safety it can be fun to experiment with disaster. I don’t know that I would feel like writing at all if I was miserable.