I live and write in the Kingdom of Fife, overlooking the silvery River Tay, with a view of trees and grey slate roofs and a skyscape it would be hard to better. Also resident in the flat are an unruly crowd of characters, including a Victorian detective girl, a miner boy from an alien planet, a ferret princess, a medieval orphan, a talking gargoyle, a short Viking and the occasional flying horse. I enjoy their company and do my very best to keep up with their stories.