5 books that have influenced me

The Shape of Three by Lilith Norman (collins) as a 10-year-old I was enthralled by this book about identical twins, and as a result I developed an obsession with “multiples”.

It’s embarrassing how many of my books feature twins, and my first novel was the story of triplet sisters.

Pennington’s Seventeenth Summer by KM Peyton (red Fox)

I read this as a 14-year-old and fell in love with Patrick: a brooding, leather jacket-wearing bad boy, who played the piano like an angel. I still swoon at the thought of his grazed knuckles caressing the piano keys. It’s Patrick’s fault I took so long to find the right man.

The Accidental Tourist by Anne tyler (Vintage) This was my introduction to the wondrous anne Tyler – my favourite author. It’s so sad, quirky and funny. It was a revelation to me that you were allowed to write about ordinary people in this way and I’m inspired by every word that she writes.

Feeling Sorry for Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty (Macmillan) I read the manuscript for this hilarious novel sitting on Jaci’s bed when she was doing her Phd at cambridge University. I was so proud that it had been accepted for publication but also so envious that I wrote my first novel, Three Wishes. I’m so grateful to Jaci for doing it first.

The Republic of Love by carol Shields (World editions) There is a particular page I have earmarked because it’s guaranteed to make me cry. It’s so funny and sad and perfect, and when I write I often think of the power of that particular scene and the extraordinary impact of words. I long to write something similarly powerful. w&h