Back in 1997 I co-edited a book for HarperCollins Australia and was lucky enough to have the fabulously wonderful Anna McFarlane as my editor. She was terrific to work for, great fun to talk to, and possessed of much better taste that your humble correspondent. When someone is as good at what they do as Anna they inevitably move on to bigger and better things, and Pan Macmillan were sensible enough to recognize this, and she now works for that venerable firm in a suitably senior position.

I mention this because several years ago, not long after joining Pan, Anna recommended a book Feeling Sorry for Celia to Marianne and I, and when Anna suggests you check something out you really should. The book was every bit as good as she suggested, so when I was in the city on Sunday with Jessica and Sophie and noticed that the author of Feeling Sorry for Celia had a new book out, I Have a Bed Made of Buttermilk Pancakes, described as ‘a fairy tale for grown-ups,’ I didn’t hesitate to hand over actual cash money for a copy. I’ve just started it, and it looks like it’s going to be great. It actually, in the 10 pages I’ve read, reminds me of what I think a Kelly Link novel might be like, should she write one. Now, it almost certainly won’t be like that – it’ll probably be just like a very good Jaclyn Moriarty novel – but Anna’s in the acknowledgements which is a good sign.