I grew up in so many different places that I can truly say that I'm a product of many cultures. Born in Japan, I learned Japanese and English together - bi-lingual from the time I could talk. By the time I was twelve I had lived in Japan, Australia, South Africa, Iran and England. I had been to so many schools, on and off, that I can't remember any of them. I was saved from illiteracy and ignorance by being parked in an English boarding school to get finished off.

Probably when I first discovered that squiggly lines on the page could make sense, and that words could tell stories. But properly...? When I was a youngish mother with small children I wrote my first story - a jolly murder mystery - and it was published in a newspaper. Long, long gap after that, until I started writing as a freelance - newspapers and magazines, and quite a lot of non-fiction - steady work which continues to this day.

I prefer non-fiction, although when inspired I will become involved in a short story now and again - about twenty so far, some of them published. I've even written poetry occasionally. Waiting for inspiration is not recommended however. I find that inspiration is usually what comes during the writing process. For non-fiction - my proper field - I write commentaries and observations in my blog (for fun) and I write about books most of the rest of the time. I have been a book reviewer for over thirty years. I also construct sets of reading notes for the NZ WEA book discussion scheme - that can be challenging but extremely interesting and worthwhile.

Yes. The one that should have started me off as a writer all those years ago but I didn't realise it.

Good question. The need to get my work out there. The challenge. I've been in the book trade nearly all my working life and I know how hard it is to get published the traditional way, and to sell books. Also it takes so darned long these days to a) get an answer yes/no to a manuscript and b) to get a book actually published. The indie way is the quick way, and time's short.

My latest books, plural, are the three which I published all at the same time, because they were ready and waiting for the marvellous opportunities afforded by the e-publishing revolution. There is "From Quill to Keyboard" which is a collection of already published essays on writing - and it's free! "An Apple for the Teacher" is a collection of short stories, some published elsewhere, some hidden in my bottom drawer, and now all finding new readers. Finally, but perhaps most importantly, "Writing, a practical guide" is a how-to book for all beginning and struggling writers who need help to get started and keep going This book has been based on years of teaching writing to adults. It's easy-going, full of hints and suggestions and great things to try, and it was very well received when I published it myself in a home-made kind of way (photocopied and spiral-bound) and sold it throughout New Zealand. I've virtually re-written it, brought it up to date, and it's now available as an e-book.

Oh I think it's the having done it! The doing can be hard-going (but not always) but the pleasure of ending the day with having done something, and looking forward to the next day and doing it again ... And of course the feedback. I get most of that from the blog I write (http://joancurry.blogspot.com/) and the blog helps spread the words, whatever they might be.

I nearly always have on-going freelance work to do. I have half a novel done, set in Burma - yep, lived there too! - although it's a little bit stuck right now. The blog, if nothing else demands my attention - that's Words and Pictures at http://joancurry.blogspot.com/ The trick is not to stop, just do something, anything.

Jane Austen, Lee Childs, James Thurber, E B White, Evelyn Waugh, Alan Coren, Dr Johnson, Kingsley Amis - I could go on and on.

The knowledge that I have interesting things to do.

Reading, painting and the usual life stuff

Simple: Get on with it. Even if it hurts!

When I'm not writing I paint pictures for pleasure, and have even sold several. I use my own work to illustrate what I do, including covers.

Biographies and other non-fiction usually.

I'm rubbish at it. Memo to self: must do better.