"I tend to think - and I think I'm right - that I have the most loyal and intelligent and encouraging fans. Every writer feels that, I'm sure." To many, PD James - best-known as the creator of the Adam Dalgleish mysteries - is the guru of crime writing. And, as such, she's in great demand at literary festivals throughout the UK, Europe and the USA. "Writing is a very lonely business," she says. "And although [literary festival] visitors gain immense pleasure - so do we - the writers. They meet us, but it's a great privilege for us to meet them... It's wonderful to share an event with people who have the same enthusiasm... for the written word. "And it's very humbling when someone says to you that they don't know how they'd have got through an operation, or a bereavement, without your book," she continues. "And I think, yes, but these books are about murder... but nevertheless it means that they've entered into another world, which we do, when we love a book." On signings Does James find the never-ending round of signature-hunters and book signings a tiresome, but necessary, aspect of being famous? | "I love re-reading other people's books - but I never want to re-read my own" | | PD James |
"Book signing is something that all authors should do willingly," she insists. "This is a small thing that we can do for our fans in return for all the encouragement that they've given to us over the years, and I do get rather cross on those odd occasions when you feel that people are just scribbling their names." Questions, questions... James is a regular at literary festivals and says by far the most-asked question is 'Where do you get your ideas from?'. Her fans are also fascinated to know how she became involved in the genre of crime writing. However, the most exciting questions, she says, are the tricky ones that force her to think about her own views on a given subject. In the USA, in particular, James says that she's often asked about complex issues such as women's rights and the death penalty, and her regret is that she often can't answer the questions comprehensively in the limited time available at festivals. And her favourite read? PD James admits that she never re-reads her own books and often forgets who actually committed the crimes! "I love re-reading other people's books," she says, "but I never want to re-read my own. I like re-reading, especially at night. I think that when you're tired, one of the great solaces is re-reading a well-loved book. But it would never be one of my own!" You can listen to the full interview with PD James using the link below. | 
