Why Horowitz wants a little less conversation

NovELIST Anthony Horowitz has plotted an ingenious way to avoid unwanted chats while travelling.

‘Sometimes, people will stop me on a plane and say, “What do you do?”, and I’ll answer, “I’m a concrete engineer” because actually that closes down the conversation,’ says the Alex Rider author and Foyle’s War creator. ‘Then it means I don’t have to hear their idea for a book or talk about my work or reply to that awful question, “Are you a famous writer?”

‘How do you ever answer that? You say, “Yes I am.” “What have you ever written?” And they’ve never heard of anything you’ve done.’