One Minute With: Belinda Bauer, crime writer

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US News Reporter

Where are you now and what can you see?

I'm at my desk, surrounded by complete clutter, in my study in Wales.

What are you currently reading?

I'm actually reading a book my sister, Katy Bauer, wrote called 'Spite', which was published in South Africa. It's her second book. It's about a young man whose gay best friend tries to make a film out of spite. I thought her first book, 'Track', was a work of genius, but this is just hilarious.

Choose a favourite authors, and say why you like her/him

Neal Stephenson, because I like writers who do what I don't think I could do. His research is astronomical but it does not sacrifice characters or plot. I read 'Cryptonomicon', set in dual time, and it's the best book I've ever read.

Describe the room where you usually write

It's a small bedroom in my house. There's a big bookshelf and a roll-top desk so that I can close the roll-top and hide my clutter. There's a beautiful painting on the wall called 'The Bus to the Angel' by the Welsh artist, Laurie Williams. I've got all the copies of 'Blacklands' in 20 languages. The Japanese one came last week.

What distracts you from writing?

eBay.

Which fictional character most resembles you?

Eeyore. I love my own company. I don't need anyone else to entertain me.

What are your readers like when you meet them?

So far they have been absolutely delightful. I have been so stunned that people would turn out to meet me and are interested in what I have to say... my family aren't interested in what I have to say!

Who is your hero/heroine from outside literature?

Monty Roberts. He is a horse trainer who has spent his whole life revolutionising the way people train horses - out in the wild rather than being broken by forceful means.

Belinda Bauer's second novel, 'Darkside', is published by Bantam