Q: What’s your connection to Essex? A: I’ve always had family in Colchester so have been familiar with the town for as long as I can remember. In addition I spent four years among the dreaming spires of the University of Essex where I quickly learned that I had no aptitude for the Russian language whatsoever, but that I was quite good at staying in bed a lot and eating crisps. I lived in Wivenhoe for two years and absolutely loved it. And boy, the crisp retailers of Wivenhoe loved me. Q: Where do you get the inspiration for your books and characters? A: If I knew that I’d be going there several times a day, coming back with a wheelbarrow full of ideas each time and selling them to the highest bidders. I find the bath to be quite a productive place, however, so I am probably the cleanest, sweetest-smelling writer in the business. Q: Do you have a particular method or approach to writing? A: I don’t think so, no. I try to write as I speak to people, and don’t attempt to be too clever with words. I find deadlines a problem though as I’m a terrible procrastinator. Actually, no, I’m a brilliant procrastinator; I’m really good at it. If procrastination was an Olympic sport I’d be in the frame for a medal. Q: Whose writing do you admire, or enjoy reading? A: I love P.G. Wodehouse and usually have at least one of his books with me wherever I go. Easily the funniest writer ever to put finger to typewriter, and he made it seem so effortless. If it wasn’t for Wodehouse, I’d never have heard of the word ‘rannygazoo’, which is now one of my favourites and one that I use at the slightest opportunity. I’m also a big fan of the travel writers H.V. Morton, Richard Halliburton and Jan Morris, who bring people and places to life in wonderful ways. Q: Which author would you be interested in seeing at the Essex Book Festival? Why? A: I think Jade Goody in conversation with Will Self would be a fun night, just for the sheer sport. Q: What question would you most like to be asked when you’re at the Essex Book Festival? A: In a perfect world it would be “Charlie, how did it feel scoring that brilliant winning goal for Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup Final?” Q: What tips would you give a budding author who is looking to get their first book published? A: I can only really talk about travel writing, for which my advice would be to have something to say, have an angle. It’s no good thinking, “I’ll write a book about France”. You’ve got to come up with a personal, unique take on some aspect of France, preferably an aspect of France that nobody’s written about before. Everyone knows Morocco is full of ‘colourful markets’ beneath ‘vibrant sunsets’, so tell us something new about them. Avoid being too worthy; be able to laugh at yourself. Don’t be too self-indulgent. While you had a great time backpacking around Asia, say, a straight ‘what I did on my backpacking trip around Asia’ containing every last detail down to what you ate on the plane isn’t going to appeal to a publisher or reader. The secret is balancing your personal experiences with what a reader will find entertaining and engaging. Q: Tell us what you’re working on now A: I’ve just finished co-presenting a travel series on Radio 4 with Fi Glover, which was a new thing for me and terrific fun, and now I’m about to embark on a new book. I’m a bit superstitious about saying what it’s about, but it looks like being one that involves a lot of walking. Otherwise at the moment I seem to be spending most of my time learning to play the ukulele. With mixed results. Q: How do you relax? A: These days it’s by playing the ukulele. This doesn’t seem to relax those in earshot though, for some reason. I also support Charlton Athletic, although that can’t be described as relaxing in any way whatsoever. I was given a Tate Galleries membership for Christmas, so have been spending a lot of time there this year. My sister runs a modern art gallery in Brighton, so I’m hoping to surprise her one day by walking in and talking knowledgably about Blek Le Rat and D-Face rather than asking tentatively if she’s got any nice pictures of sad pierrots. Q: Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with? A: Someone who can mix a cracking gin and tonic, has all the necessary ingredients with them, and who is dying to hear me playing ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ on the ukulele over and over again. If that person happened to be Nicole Kidman, then so much the better. Q: When are you appearing at the Essex Book Festival? A: Thursday, 29, March at 8pm. Colchester Library, Trinity Street, Colchester, CO11 1JB. Tickets cost £6/£4. The box office number is 01206 573948. | 
