Writing allows me the time to travel and see the world, which is what I always wanted to do. I'd really like to have been Sir Richard Francis Burton, but it's the wrong century.

I've been writing full-time since 1978.

International business has always existed in some form. But because of advances in technology and travel, we can do business with India as well as Indiana. In fact, it might even be cheaper to do business with India than Indiana. And that's true whether you're a large multinational corporation, or a mom-and-pop business ? there are new cross-cultural markets you can expand into. You've got to know how to work well with other cultures.

You've got to admire Sir Richard Branson. He is a completely different style of businessman to me, but you have got to admire what he has achieved.

I usually do one con a year as a GoH and try to make the World Fantasy Convention for business purposes. Last year I went to a worldcon for the first time in two decades. I may go again this year.

At Flores in the Azores Sir Richard Grenville lay.