Reading is, and always has been, absolutely integral to my life. Both my parents were librarians, and books were everywhere at home. English was my favourite subject at school - what a doss, you just read a book and then wrote about it - and, inevitably, I ended up going on to read English at university.

Whilst it's great to have a really successful or famous person to look to for inspiration, it's taken me a while to realise how great it is to have inspiration so close to home.

Passion is running high, if predictions for the date 11/11/11 are to be believed. A higher than usual number of couples across the UK...

I knew as a child I wanted to perform as an adult. I forced my poor parents and their friends to watch endless tutu dances and princess plays after their candlelit dinner parties.

Some parents find it hard to persuade their children to do their homework. It may be that their child is not interested in the subject they are learni...