I’ve also met so many interesting people as I’ve helped them to tell their life story, and seeing a book come together is very satisfying. But the part about it that I celebrate the most is how when I sit down to write with one thought floating around in my mind, a cup of coffee at my side, the words seem to assemble themselves in a semi-orderly kind of way and tip out onto my laptop. And there’s a real joy in that simple act of private creativity.

I was talking to a 91year old lady called Maud the other day, and she was trying to convince me her life had been very boring…