In one form or another, Andy has always been a writer. At school, he passed notes in class and scribbled rude words on lampposts. At University, he wrote a PhD in biochemistry and forged tickets to various balls.

And as an advertising copywriter, has written commercials for everything from baby food to booze. But it wasn't until he was well into his thirties that Andy stared writing fiction.

If he could write a letter his younger self, it would urge him to stop messing about and get on with it. Four is his fourth novel, but should probably be his tenth.