'Smells, textures, the colour of the light'

'I can't imagine setting a novel in a place I've never visited. I need smells, textures, the colour of the light. When I wrote a novel set in Antarctica, for example, I went down and lived on a research station for six weeks. It paid dividends. Everyone who has read The Sun at Midnight says that it takes them right there...

I find travel very conducive, particularly travel of the physically uncomfortable or faintly unsafe variety. Lounging at some posh spa wouldn't do the trick at all.'

Rosie Thomas, winner of the Romantic Novelists' Association Prize for the second time with Iris and Ruby in Writers' ForumBritish writers' magazine which is highly recommended for all writers. It features wide range of news and articles which help writers to improve their work and get published: www.writers-forum.com