Am in the UK researching a new story and attended the Queen’s Park Book Festival on 11 June. Organised by the enthusiastic team at Queen’s Park Books, including an Aussie, Lisa Harriman, and Simon O’Hagan, Assistant Editor of The Independent newspaper, it attracted great authors, including Sebastian Faulks, author of the multi-million bestseller Birdsong and 11 other novels. I was lucky enough to chat with Boyd Tonkin, literary editor of The Independent, who was most generours with his time and helpful with his advice. Thank you Boyd.

The local council has been closing libraries in the area as a cost cutting exercise and there is a campaign to keep the Kensal Rise Library open. It breaks my heart to see these libraries closing as they not only provide books for people who can’t afford to buy them, but for many it is an important social hub. I hope that this doesn’t happen in Australia. We need our libraries. I, for one, love to write at a library. I find it inspiring.