When are you at your happiest?When everyone is all together. Our kids are gigantic, but because our house is so cold they still jump in our bed to watch TV. Then the dogs get in on the act. I can also lose hours in front of the piano or my stupid harp. I’m locked in a lifelong struggle with it. Although I hate the sound it makes we are joined in mortal combat.
What is your earliest memory?
My parents driving us through the night from Scotland to Devon, where my grandparents lived, for Christmas. They laid me and my brother flat and tucked us up in the boot of our estate car. You could do that in those days.
Who has been your greatest influence?
James Herriot, Douglas Adams, Enid Blyton, Charles Schulz and, of course, the great Jilly Cooper.
What is your most treasured possession?
Not my stupid harp, I’ll tell you that. I am fond of the red bicycle my husband bought me when we moved to Edinburgh. Also, for my 50th birthday last year he upgraded my original solitaire engagement ring to something very fancy.
Do you have pets?
Two dogs, who are mother and son. The mother is such a cracking dog - we had a litter from her and ended up keeping one. The son is a terrible dog: big, hairy and dumb. He can’t be let off the lead as once he tried to bite a horse.
He’s like the Donald Trump of dogs, though I appear to be madly in love with him anyway.
The Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan is published by Sphere (£14.99)
