Like most people, I have a mountain of half -read books beside my bed. I read all sorts of books, from Jane Austen to Richard Wright, Faulkner to Marion Keys.

My favourite book right now is Helen Garner’s glorious The Spare Room. She tackles a difficult subject with compassion and brutal honesty. Her writing is lean and clean and beautiful. She makes me laugh. And cry.

I love Winton’s short stories in The Turning, another master at work.

But when I grow up I want to be Margaret Attwood. She’s prolific, funny and writes in a variety of genres successfully. I especially love her collection of stories  The Tent. If you’re a writer you’ll get a kick out of her views on “voice” and the writing life.