Sebastian Faulks

I spoke to the great man yesterday. I speak to important people all the time and have met a fair few famous ones and have rarely felt so nervous.  Someone had given me his phone number and I dialled, expecting to speak to an assistant. When he answered, my mind went blank and I mumbled my way through asking him to do something for The Times.

I think my nervousness was brought on by the knowledge that he has sold 2.5 million copies of Birdsong in the UK alone, let alone his other bestsellers. If my book sells 25 copies I  shall be pleased (although I suspect my publishers won’t).