Gail Honeyman

I had been thinking about social awkwardness and about people you meet who are not bad people - there is nothing wrong with them, but they are just a little bit awkward, and it makes you feel uncomfortable, and it makes you want to bring the encounter to an end. I thought, 'Is there a reason for that? What has contributed to their demeanour?' ”

Eleanor' was so much fun to write, because there's a brutal honesty about her. She's got no filters and no concept of social norms. ”

I wanted to show platonic friendship between men and women, because I think it is underutilised in fiction. ”

Not to sound too Pollyanna-ish, but I think most people are decent, caring human beings. You don't necessarily see that reflected in fiction maybe, because possibly it's perceived as not having much dramatic potential. ”

Even with the most horrendous things that happen and the tremendous pain that people have to deal with, they still laugh, because I think that's what it means to be human. ”

I started doing a Ph.D., and then I thought, 'I don't really want to spend all this time on my own in the library.' ”

Loneliness is a huge issue for both individuals and for society. It's taken a long time for the issue to be treated seriously and for us to begin to understand the impact it can have. ”

The workplace can be a good place to find opportunities to socialise, but what if you don't meet any like-minded people there, or what if you work alone? Is it, somewhat counter-intuitively, easier to find yourself lonely in a city than in a small town or village? ”

I don't listen to music when I write. If I do, I usually end up giving it my whole attention, which means, unfortunately, I don't get much work done! ”

It's helpful to get feedback on your work, and I think you learn a lot from reading other people's work and giving them feedback. ”