‘It’s an addict thing’
The Trainspotting author has returned to Renton, Sick Boy and Begbie with Skagboys, a prequel to his best-selling debut novel. He explains why he continues to explore those 'dark places'When Irvine Welsh began writing 20 years ago, he hadn't much of a ...
Mike Skinner: ‘I get withdrawal symptoms if I’ve not created something for a few days’
The artist formerly known as the Streets on life after rap, the surprise of his rapid rise to fame and why years of sustained drug-taking were really great funUntil recently I would have advised anyone interested in the psychology of pop stardom to rea...
Clever klutz
With her Shopaholic series of novels, Sophie Kinsella is the quintessential chick-lit writer. Is she offended by the label? And why does she write about women who are obsessed with handbags?What do we think about chick lit? It's a question that has bee...
‘It’s not your plucky, feelgood cancer memoir’
How, exactly, do you go about writing a prize-winning book about cancer? Siddhartha Mukherjee, who has just won the Guardian First Book award for The Emperor of All Maladies, explainsIt is the convention of awards-ceremony etiquette for the winner ...
‘Guilt is my subject. I’ve taken research to an extreme’
The bestselling author of The Horse Whisperer bares his soul about the event that nearly killed him - and almost tore apart his familyNicholas Evans is a celebrated storyteller, and the story he tells me is a cracker. A man and his wife go to stay wi...
Johnny Depp: ‘I’m not ready to give up my American citizenship’
The Rum Diary star on his love of Europe, flying by private jet and why he can't stop smokingIn the weeks leading up to this interview, I began to think there must be some law that makes it illegal not to love Johnny Depp. Everyone melts into a puddle ...
Paul and Rachel Chandler: How we survived being kidnapped by Somali pirates
The British couple were held hostage for 388 days. But despite being dismissive of the Foreign Office's efforts to free them, they are largely untroubled by their ordeal – and looking forward to setting sail againBecause crime is by its nature random...
Ken Livingstone: ‘It’s an autobiography, not porn’
Ken Livingstone says there's nothing more to say about him. It's all there in his memoir, You Can't Say That. Decca Aitkenhead begs to differThere is, it has been observed, a surprising degree of symmetry between London's former and current mayors. Bot...
Louise Mensch: ‘We’re not all ogres’
She's the chick-lit author turned Conservative MP who is on a mission to change your mind about the Tories. She'll admit to drugs and bad dancing. She'll even openly admire Labour politicians. But what about a facelift? 'I'm not going to deny it…'Fo...
Alistair Darling: ‘You can’t just tell half the story and still be credible’
With the publication of his new memoir, the former chancellor talks about Gordon Brown, economic meltdown and the time he was locked out of the White HouseAlistair Darling's memoir contains an anecdote of such peerless absurdity, you literally could no...
James Frey: ‘I always wanted to be the outlaw’
The controversial novelist talks about truth, fiction and his new book The Final Testament of the Holy BibleJames Frey sprawls on his back along the couch, knees bent with one tucked over the other, his laptop propped between midriff and thighs. He hit...
