The one lesson I’ve learned from life

STOP MOANING AND DO SOMETHING!

MY HUSBAND and I met when we were at school, aged 15. We went out for a couple of years before going our separate ways. Then, eight years later, we were both coming home and sat opposite each other on a train. It’s amazing — not to mention lucky — that we met again.

And I was very lucky that one of my novels, Labyrinth, happened to catch the moment, and because of that I could be a full-time writer. I’d already had a career in publishing and I felt properly middle-aged and settled.

I’ve not been able to be a full-time writer for a few years, because I’ve been caring for my parents. When it became clear my father was ill and would only decline, we moved into a house where he and my mother had a granny flat.

At that stage, my daughter was on the verge of going to university, and my son was going to drama school, so for a time it was three generations under one roof. Everybody was involved in each other’s lives and people were around to help.

Sadly, both my parents are now gone. My mum was a part-time teacher and my dad was a lawyer, but they did a huge amount of voluntary work.

Growing up, I learned that if you think something isn’t working, there are two choices: grumble and do nothing, or act. And my parents were people who acted.

For me, setting up the Women’s Prize came after seeing that the majority of novels published were written by women and the majority were bought by female readers, but only a tiny percentage of books shortlisted for literary prizes were by women. So a group of us founded a prize to honour the best writing by women. It’s that lesson from my parents — grumble or do something.

I was about to go on maternity leave from my job as a publisher so I had time to do it. I’ve never had a five-year plan.

Life throws curveballs at you, so being open to opportunities is a nicer way to live than planning everything. You never know what’s around the corner.