Jane Fallon

When I started working from home, I made a promise to myself to go out at least once a day.

The best thing about a British winter is the cold weather, real fires, frosty mornings. I love living somewhere that has proper seasons.

After my eye test, I was told I was showing symptoms of glaucoma. I realised - but only in retrospect - that pains in my eyes and the feeling of pressure that I had been experiencing must have been because of that. I'd assumed they were symptoms of migraines.

I'm such a sucker for the Tiffany blue box.

Painting my nails is the easiest way to look as though I've made an effort.

Ricky and I met aged 22 at University College London.

Our Siamese cat, Ollie, is like a dog in a cat's body because she is really loyal and very chatty, following me around the house all day.

The Killers and Kaiser Chiefs are great for exercise.

The idea of appearing in front of an audience or on live TV terrifies me.

I never show my books to Ricky. His writing is very different, and anyway, he's only read one novel in his life: 'The Catcher in the Rye.'

In the winter, my failsafe dinner party menu has to be my roast chicken or a creamy fish pie with mashed potatoes on top, followed by something like a tarte tatin. My cooking style is quite homely.

I started out working as a script editor and storyliner.

If someone tells me something and asks me to keep it a secret, I always do.

I write about messy relationships - between friends, rivals, married couples, siblings. I'm not really interested in boy/girl romances.

One reviewer dubbed my first book, 'Getting Rid of Matthew,' 'chick noir,' and another called it 'anti chick lit,' both of which I loved.

Getting up early means I can write for a few hours before anyone starts phoning me or ringing the doorbell.

My hair is frizzy, so I'm constantly smoothing it down.

I rarely go out at night - usually once every two weeks. I'm much happier staying in.

The earlier I wake up, the better my day, so I try to get out of bed between 5 A.M. and 7 A.M.

I just feel that if you're going to have kids, you need to believe that, emotionally, you can give them a really good life.

Since I was an adult, I've always lived in the centre of London - King's Cross, Bloomsbury - and never thought I'd leave.

Whenever I'm out, I have a bit of a yearning to be in my house, to be able to shut the door on the world.

I love being at home.

Thirty is still the iconic number. It's when people compare their actual lives with what they think they should have achieved.

'Teachers' is in no way a realistic soap; we're not trying to do that, which is why we never do 'issues.'

Any situation where I feel like people are looking at me and I've got to speak is the kind of thing I have nightmares about.

I'm not a gossip. The worst thing anyone can say to me is, 'Ooh, I've got some gossip.' I'm like, 'Oh, shut up.'

Having grown up quite shy and quiet, it's important that I mark out who I am in the world through my work.

I'm stupidly shy. It's the thing I dislike most about myself.

When I left university with a history degree, I had no idea what I wanted to do, and I was terrified of accidentally ending up in the wrong career.

If I die, I know the news item would be, 'Partner of Ricky Gervais and novelist dies.' That would come first. But I've come to terms with it. As long as they do still add the 'and novelist,' that will be fine.

What I like about writing novels is that I'm in my own world for nine months.

I like being on my own. I'm very happy in my own company.

It's a difficult world, and you shouldn't have kids unless you really want them.

I have a strong say in how my books are marketed, and the covers - I am very firm that I don't want pink and fluffy, or stick figures sitting drinking cocktails. That's simply not appealing to me.

What I find weird is that the term 'chick lit' is used to encompass literally anything a woman writes about relationships. It's the assumption that because you're female, you must write in a certain way. I don't understand why that is - it is a bit demeaning.

I love the tailoring of '50s- and '60s-inspired dresses.

My biggest source of inspiration is listening to people's conversations. I'm a big eavesdropper.

You come across those real, genuine friendships so rarely in your life and they are so precious, you know the people who really have your back, who love you unconditionally and aren't your family. You don't stumble across those people very often.

I love L.A. for a couple of days - I like the healthy food - but it's a one-industry town.

If you spend too much time in L.A., you might start to lose a sense of what's normal.

I hope I never become that person who is all about getting Botox.

I like to dance and throw things around as I cook.

I don't know one end of a car from another.

I'm turning into one of those people who writes to the actors on 'Coronation Street' - a really obsessive fan.

I tend to make snap judgements about people.

Luckily my own life is uncomplicated, which lets me really enjoy other people's complicated messes!

I've got a really good group of friends. I don't feel the need to go out and forge new bonds.

I'm such a solitary person that working on my own is perfect for me.

You just don't come across proper, deep, loyal friendships very easily later on in life.