One Minute With: Pauline McLynn

Where are you now and what can you see?

I'm in the National Performing Arts Centre in Dublin. I can see a bit of the patio and the rehearsal room for the show that I'm doing, so I can see a bouncy castle and a barbecue.

What are you currently reading?

I'm learning Russian at the moment, because my husband is, so I have a Russian textbook at my bedside.

Choose a favourite author, and say why you like her/him?

James Lee Burke is my favourite author, and he writes detective novels set in America. He's the finest of all the crime writers. He has a poetic quality that lends itself to literature. His books have everything and he is a total joy to read.

Describe the room where you usually write

I actually do a lot of writing at the kitchen table, because I like to spread out. The kitchen has a sloping roof and some nice folding doors that go out onto the garden.

Which fictional character most resembles you?

I wanted to be Nancy Drew when I was younger, so I would say her.

What distracts you from writing?

Everything distracts me. However, when I've got a deadline I find I can zone out the distractions.

What are your readers like when you meet them?

They really do range from quite young women and students right up to middle-aged ladies. I've got quite a big gay following, which I'm very happy about. It all makes for some very lively conversation.

Who is your hero/heroine from outside literature?

Freddie Mercury. He was everything that I love. The ultimate showman. I wouldn't mind being him.

Pauline McLynn's new novel 'Missing You Already' is published by Headline Review.