Colleen McCullough

She told fortunes for a living. It's a wacky book and was great fun to write. It is very much a look at what life was like for women in Australia in the 1960's.

My husband says it is very good that I have very tiny feet, because they're easier to get in my mouth.

I think explicit love scenes are a turn off unless it's the kind you read with one hand.

In early draft it never satisfied me, and that was when it clicked into place and it went so well as a diary.

It's a dead give away of an inexperienced writer if every character speaks with the same voice.

It's a woman's book but I think the men will read it too.