I’m starting to blog about politics, environmental issues, social issues and some of my other interests at Red Room, which is a new community for writers and readers.

This site will continue with its usual eclectic approach to my writing and interests in the fields of science, mysticism, mythology, publishing in general, and other weird stuff. I thought it best not to infect this site with my occasional spittle-firing rants.

“It’s mad. It’s a horrible job. It doesn’t pay well. It’s lonely. It’s depression-inducing. It’s frustrating. There’s no fun to be had. But everyone has a drive to be a writer. And everyone thinks they can do it.

“Whereas to be one is some sort of mental derangement. They’re all bonkers. When my writers say they could earn more money at the till at Sainsbury’s, I say, well go and do it. There’s no point writing unless you feel that you have to do it. You have to really want to do it and to be prepared to suffer to do it. Or you really might as well go and work on the till at Sainsbury.”

Alexandra Pringle, Editor-in-Chief, Bloomsbury