Describe your new book.
There are so many new Warriors titles coming out this year, it's impossible to say which I'm most excited about! The upcoming tour (April/May '07) coincides with the launch of Book One of the new series, Power of Three. It's called The Sight, and features the grandchildren of our original hero, Firestar (who is still leader of ThunderClan). Unbeknown to the rest of the Clan, Firestar has been keeping a grave secret — a prophecy from long ago that one day "three will come, kin of your kin, who hold the power of the stars in their paws." The three cats are here, but will they use their power for good or evil? If you've read any Warriors books before, you know it won't be as simple as that...

Also launching this spring is the first book in the manga trilogy, The Lost Warrior, in which we finally learn what happened to Graystripe when Twolegs took him away from the forest. I must admit I had no idea how much uproar I'd create when I let Graystripe be stolen. I always planned to bring him back, and I'm thrilled I've had the chance to devote three graphic novels to his adventures as he tries to rejoin his Clanmates.

What fictional character would you like to be your friend, and why?
Ron Weasley, because he's loyal, impulsive, adventurous and has a good sense of humor.

If you could choose any story to live in, which story would it be? Why?
I'd like to be a character in Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy because I would love to have my own daemon. I hope it would be a chinchilla, with soft sleek fur and beautiful dark brown eyes.

Describe your most memorable teacher.
My English teacher at high school, Teresa Hobson. She was very young and full of enthusiasm for literature, and she made me feel as if being good at English was as valuable as being good at math or science (I went to a very progressive, quite militantly feminist all-girls' school which prided itself on producing medics and engineers). She encouraged me to study English rather than law at college, which gave me the freedom to do whatever I wanted afterward rather than directing me toward a particular career. If it hadn't been for Ms. Hobson, I might be a lawyer right now!

How did the last good book you read end up in your hands?
A friend of mine came back from vacation and lent me his rather tattered, beach-read copy of The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. I thought it was a tremendously powerful book, and enjoyed it all the more because I knew nothing about it when I started reading, which doesn't usually happen with children's fiction!

What is your idea of bliss?
Being on a hill in the countryside in bright sunshine with my dog.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Lots of things! A tree surgeon, because I love trees, then a marine biologist because I love the ocean. Then a vet because I love animals, then a lawyer because that seemed like a sensible career with good prospects. I always loved writing stories but I never truly thought I could build a career from that.

Tell us about your pets.
I have a brindle (brown and gold-striped) purebred Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Missy. She's small, cute, and super-obedient. Her best trick is balancing a dog treat on her nose until you say that it belongs to her. She adores little children, but isn't so keen on other dogs.