My current writing project (the vast historical novel, or is it a trilogy?) is nearing completion and I have vowed that next I will write work that is small, compact and preferably oral. I have lots of ideas for radio pieces, and it's a medium I'd love to explore, but I'm an inexperienced scriptwriter, so help is needed.

And thanks to the marvellous Scottish Book Trust, help is at hand! I'm delighted to have been selected for their mentoring scheme for experienced writers, and even more excited that David Ian Neville will be my mentor. He has a list of writing, directing and production credits long enough to listen to all the way to Mars and back. From June, for nine months, we'll be looking at how I can turn some of my ideas into scripts and get them on air. I can't wait!