I'd always liked to read, but when I picked up books I wasn't getting the same kind of excitement from them that I was from going out clubbing. I wanted to get the same kind of feel.

If you're going to do something that's going to cause offence to people, you're always going to get a reaction.

You know what it's like: you don't want to read your old books again. All you can see are the flaws, what you would do differently.

Sitting in the brightly lit library, surrounded by books, in total silence, that was ma personal zenith.

Rebellion is always going to fascinate, as it's always packaged in a very safe way.

It's different in Scotland. People who come to readings are more interested in literature as such, but the readership in general is really quite diverse. It's a cliche, but it's said that people who read my books don't read any other books, and you do get that element.