The Last Family in England is a new novel by Leeds-based author Matt Haig.

It tells of domestic drama seen through the eyes of a pet dog.

What gave you the idea to write from the point of view of a family pet?
Well, I wanted to write about family life, and all the various tensions that exist within a family environment. Telling the story from the perspective of a labrador seemed like the perfect way to do this because a family pet gets to see how people react when they are together and alone. People also feel comfortable revealing their secrets to their pets. Dogs are kind of like priests, always on hand for a quick confession.

Do you have any pets yourself?
No. For most of my life our family pet was a springer spaniel called Murdoch, but he had to be put down a few years ago. He makes a cameo appearance in the vet scene near the beginning of the book.

You have written a number business books before The Last Family in England, what made you decide to try a novel instead? Was it easier or harder to write fiction?
Sometimes it's easier, sometimes it's more difficult. The Last Family in England was written at a bad time, because my girlfriend's mum was very ill, and so it was hard to write for all sorts of reasons. But actually, I found it worryingly easy to put myself into the mind of a labrador.

As a Leeds-based writer, does the city provide any inspiration for your work?
The novel was written half in Leeds and half in Durham (where my girlfriend's parents live). In the novel it is deliberately not clear where it is set because it is a labrador telling the story. However, there is a reference to Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales and Leeds University, where I studied my MA, so it is fair to assume the humans live somewhere in Yorkshire. Also, the park where the dogs go does bear some resemblance to Hyde Park.

In the past you have worked in a Ibiza nightclub, what do you think of Leeds' clubbing scene?
When I worked in Ibiza I packed in enough partying to last a lifetime, so I'm not much of an expert on the Leeds clubbing scene I'm afraid! I may be 28 on the outside, but I'm 68 on the inside.

What next for you?
I'm currently writing a second novel, which is at the very early stages so I can't really say much about it except that it will be another story which is pitched somewhere between reality and fantasy.

Is there any truth to the rumour that Matt Haig is actually a labrador dog, writing under a nom de plume, who is now housed in a special protective kennel provided by the publishers?
Absolutely not. Now, I'd better go. It's nearly time for my evening walk and I've got lots of sticks to fetch.