In June 2016, I interviewed Alison Rattle about her passion for stationery for the Papers Pens Poets blog. You can read the full feature on her and her stationery here.

Alison told me she does not have a favourite pen she just picks up the first thing to hand.

“When I’m writing a book I usually start off on my laptop, but then very quickly reach for a pen and notebook. There’s something very freeing, peaceful and intimate about letting your imagination run wild across a beautiful clean page.” Alison Rattle

She told me she always buy a new notebook whenever she starts a new idea for a book.

“It’s a brilliant excuse to add to my collection, but also so exciting to hold those clean, fresh pages in my hand, knowing that before long they’ll be covered in words I can’t even imagine yet.” Alison Rattle

Her most glamorous and expensive notebooks tend to be received as presents as Alison revealed she only buys reasonably priced ones, but even so they have to be pretty.

“Once I start writing in a notebook, I’m not precious about it at all. They all end up being scruffy, well-worn things that contain not only the workings of my book, but scribbled recipes, telephone numbers, shopping lists etc… a snapshot of my life during the writing process.” Alison Rattle

Alison normally writes gritty crime thrillers, published by Hot Key Books. But her latest books includes two whimsical collections of quotations published by Carlton Books. They are compilations of over 1500 amusing and insightful quotations from well-known writers, politicians, film stars, artists, musicians and philosophers.

You can follow Alison on Twitter @alisonrattle