I was thinking about what I wanted to write next, after my first novel, and had decided that I wanted to write a story with a lot of strong female characters in it.

I don't try and write strong female characters or strong male characters, I just try and write, hopefully, strong characters and sometimes they happen to be female.

I pride myself on making my own decisions, sir," she said. "I do not welcome gentlemen making them for me.

I like strong female characters. I try to write them as role models for young girls.

I may be in pain, but I am not weak.

One of my favourite actresses is Kate Winslet. She plays strong female characters and seems like she has a strong political awareness. I really like Naomi Watts and Juliette Lewis.