Who was your childhood hero?
Nancy Drew. Oh dear, that's embarrassing to admit! She was so cool, though. Solving crimes, whizzing around in her car, dating dreamboat Ned. Who wouldn't want to be her?
What was your favourite book when you were younger?
I had a few, but if I had to nail it down to one that's survived the test of time it would be Goodnight Mister Tom. First of all I loved stories with evacuations – I used to imagine what it would be like… only my imaginings glossed over the nasty things like, say, war and focused on the adventure side – and I just absolutely adore the storyline between Willie and Mister Tom.
Did you read a lot as a child and do you still read children's books now?
I read a ridiculous amount as a child. I'm go to the library on a Saturday, take out six books – the most you were allowed – and then be done with them all by Sunday night! Thankfully the mobile library (we lived in the countryside) would turn up on Wednesday for me to refresh my stash. I still read heaps. Now it's all on my Kindle (which I cannot go anywhere without). Right now I'm reading a really cool story about a haunting. What was the last book you had recommended to you and what book would you recommend to us?
My editor at Templar recommended Blood Red Road by Moira Young which I really enjoyed. It's dystopian but written in a really interesting form where the character's illiteracy is mirrored by the style of the writing. Took me a while to get used to, but once I got into it I really enjoyed the book. Anyone who hasn't read Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman has to read it! It's the first of four in the series and is fabulous. I am absolutely in love with the main character Callum.
What advice would you give to your 10-year-old self?
Burn the poetry, it's bad. Also, soon there will be a computer for writing on so you don't have to worry about getting arthritis pounding on this stupid typewriter! (I'm not that old, honest, but I didn't have a PC until I was 16-years-old).

What would you be if you hadn't been a writer?
I'd stick to my day job and be an English teacher, which is what I am Monday to Friday before 4pm. If I didn't have to do that, I'd be a lady of leisure, traveling the world, eating good food, lounging on beaches… If you could travel in time, where would you go first?
Ooh, I'm a bit obsessed with Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series which is adult fiction about traveling through time to 18th century Scotland, so I'd have to go there and hang out with the Highlanders! What is the weirdest thing a fan has ever said and/or given to you?
Ooh, I'm not sure. Most people have been really complimentary and any wee pressies have been fabulous things like chocolates. I did have a schools group where the pupils had left me post-it feedback notes. One body had written "good body" but I'm fairly sure he meant goodbye…!

Congratulations to Claire McFall for winning the older readers category of the Scottish children's book award with her debut novel, Ferryman. Read a member review of her new book Bombmaker.