If you had to be stuck in a lift with someone, who would it be and why?

A beautiful and intelligent lift repair woman. Preferably one who loved 1970s Prog Rock and Jean Paul Sartre and who wasn’t very good at her job so she’d take an inordinate amount of time to get the thing moving again.

What is your biggest fear?

Something bad happening to my son. Or that the next Government is yet another self-serving right-wing bunch.

Do you have any superstitions?

I don’t cross knives or put new shoes on a table. But then, I wouldn’t put old shoes on a table either, but for different reasons. I make a point of walking under ladders; the alternative is to walk in the road where there are fast cars.

If you could have one song on your iPod, what would it be and why?

Song or piece of music? Music for 18 Musicians by Steve Reich if the latter is allowed. If it had to be a song, it would be The Escapist by The Streets.

What’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought, not including your property?

Any one of the rubbish cars I’ve ever had.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

‘To thine own self be true’. Alternatively, treat others as you wish to be treated.

What’s your indulgence?

1970s Prog Rock, chocolate, white wine, and these days putting the heating on before I turn blue.

What item could you not live without?

Is my son an item? If not, then a radio so I can listen to Radio 4 and BBC 6 Music.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why?

I would be a better writer so my poetry and #NewportNoir novels (We Go Down Slowly Rising, and Watching For The Dawn) were more widely known and read.

Where are you next going on holiday?

I crave some warmth and sunshine. It’s going to be a long Newport winter! Having visited India four times, I miss the place and the people and it’s always top of my ‘Dream Holiday’ list. I suspect it will remain a dream for a while yet however.