Amanda Lohrey

And I have been told by men, more than one man, that they don't read fiction because they find there's not enough substance in it.

And I was once told by a lovely man, who I greatly admired, that he loved reading the biographies of writers because they're such fascinating people.

But he didn't read their novels because he found them lightweight.

So that was just a very minor observation.

I was having a bit of fun with that.

So why does he take on the project?

Well, it tells you that at the beginning of the book, that he's been involved in a long research project on the suicide of young men, which has really got him down.

And a friend, an old friend and colleague, persuades him to do something different and

And he thinks this will help to cheer him up.

You know, he says this will be a project of profound silliness.

And it turns out to be anything but.

Well, it makes him have to interrogate his former certainties.

I want the reader to keep wondering all the way through, is he going to believe these people or is he not?

It's an important question.

You know, I really just want the reader to get to the last page.

I don't mind if someone doesn't like one of my books.

I just want them to keep reading.

I've succeeded if they get to the last page, right?

I don't know about you, but I quite often abandon books these days.

So there has to be this sense of intrigue and suspense.