KATHY LETTE

The London-based, Australian writer, 61, found success after co-authoring Puberty Blues in 1979, and with later novels like Mad Cows and Nip ’n’ Tuck. Her most recent, HRT: Husband Replacement Therapy, is out now. Lette tells WHO about the book that …

… captured her imagination as a child Peter Pan [by J. M. Barrie], the patron saint of those who don’t want to grow up. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to be the exotic Tigerlily or the mischievous Tinker Bell. I never wanted to be Wendy – far too sensible.

… she loved as a teenager Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. The Brontës write so passionately about love and lust and loss – heady stuff for a hormonal teen.

… inspired her to write with humour I like nothing more than slipping between the covers – the book covers, that is – of a comic author. The authors who most inspired me to write funny fiction are Nora Ephron, Jilly Cooper, Clive James and Dorothy Parker. Humorous novels never win prizes, but they’re much harder to write. I’m thinking of calling my cat Pulitzer, just so I can say I have one! … makes her laugh

Cold Comfort Farm [by Stella Gibbons], Gentlemen Prefer Blondes [by Anita

Loos], Catch-22 [by Joseph Heller], Heartburn [by Nora Ephron] and Scoop by Evelyn Waugh. If laughter really is the best medicine, these tomes should be prescribed by Medicare. The book which last made me snort so hard tea shot out of my nose was Eric Idle’s memoir. … gives her comfort during tough times

Dorothy Parker’s short stories – they’re a mental espresso. … is keeping her company at the moment Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer, Tom Keneally’s

The Dickens Boy and Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth

Strout. I flick from one to the other with joyous delight. … she leaves out for guests to read One of my own, of course. Especially if my house guest is in hiding, like Julian Assange – then I have a captive audience!

… she has just released

HRT is a novel about three menopausal sisters, who decide to grow old disgracefully, carpe the hell out of diem and have some adventure before dementia.