Tell us your thoughts on e-reading and win a Kobo Arc tablet, plus a signed copy of award-winning author Margaret Drabble's latest novel The Pure Gold Baby

I would not be without my e-reader. It goes everywhere with me so that I can snatch a few minutes reading when I can

When you create a character where do you start - do you draw on someone you know, or a combination of people you know, or try to use purely your imagination?

I love e reading for holidays - I no longer have to put 6 books in my suitcase and struggle with poor lighting in hotels, on planes or wherever. But I'll never give up real books.

Which of your books was the hardest to write? and how much research goes into one of your book?

What book did you read that made you decide...'I want to write a book..and its going to be a bestseller' !!

I have discovered books and authors I would never have found without my online bookstore and I find an ebook reader so much lighter to hold, particularly good for reading novels in bed. No more sore wrists from struggling with a heavy hardback at 1.00 am!

I do, however, love the feel and smell of a new book with crisp clean pages for daytime reading and, for some reason, perusing non-fiction.

Margaret - how long does it take on average to research and plan your books compared to the actual writing of a new book?

I'm A Little new World Slacker Here So -

I'm Really not sure What To Think Of E readers -

But I Can Tell You This -

I Doubt an E reader Could Ever Give Me- The Touch Feel Smell

And Overall Experience Of A Book

I never thought id enjoy reading from a kindle because I love books so much. I received a kindle for my birthday in April and cant believe how much I love it its simple to use and I have found myself reading and enjoying books so much more reading everywhere.I do not think I will ever buy another book again love the ease of ebooks.
my question is where do you get the ideas to write a book and how long does it take to write one ?

thoughts on e-reading.......l love to take my ebooks on holiday with me - you can take oodles of them and no weight worries...........BUT l much prefer 'real books' for day to day reading

Being a successful author, is it still notoriously difficult to get work seen when starting out.

I admit to being a little behind the times when it comes to e-readers, but would love to try one.

it's interesting the way ebooks have changed my reading/book buying habits. I tend to read everything first on my nook and then, if it's a book I really connected with, i buy a hard copy.

e-reading is so much better than dragging heavy hard-back books around with you. The e-reader has got to adapt to various lights though, some attract the sun and you can't read in the garden.

I love reading & I love e-reading because you can enjoy your books anywhere, anytime without having to find the space to keep all your books especially if space is tight and you get through a lot of books/or you enjoy taking your books out with you on your travels. To be fair though there is nothing like reading a paperback/hardback and sometimes i miss that. I find the books cheaper though on an e-reader rather than shop bought. my children love reading and they have a huge collection of books, even though my eldest daughter has an e-reader she prefers the good old fashioned book and doesn't use it much.

I prefer reading real books but have an ereader I take on holiday to save me from packing oodles of books.

Although I do love my old books,
I have so many old books that I love,
An e-reader would be so handy,
truly a gift from above!
I think the idea is fabulous,
to have so many books in one place!
I love to read a book every night,
it puts such a smile on my face.
There are so many different old treasures,
that I can now read to the kids
and to download them is really so easy!
And doesn't cost too many quids!
So yes, an e-reader would be fabulous for me,
a present unlike any other!
Being electronic I can read 50 shades in private!
(No-one will know as you can't see the cover!)

What was you inspiration and the determining factor that got you to commit to become a writer and write your first book?

I LOVE my Kindle .. and I LOVE my books too! It's not an either/or choice! You can enjoy both. I love never losing my place on my Kindle and wasting time flipping back and forward .. here?.. no, I've read this .. I don't remember this though. I do use bookmarks but mine always seem to fall out. Or I try to remember page numbers .. and fail. I find my Kindle light (some books can be like bricks to hold - particularly for those of us with dodgy wrists!) and convenient and I feel far less conspicuous when waiting for someone if I've got something to read. But for books with photo's or illustrations I prefer a paper book. We're lucky to have the choice!

I've not tried it properly yet, but can't see it replacing physical books for me. Good idea for students or travellers, but I enjoy having a physical library.

Margaret , do you mind your books being on an e reader ? I ask because I notice errors in some books on the device , perhaps I am nit picking when I find words transposed or half of a sentence left out

I haven't really had the opportunity to try reading an ebook, but feel that there is a place for all kinds of reading material and media. It is the quality of the actual writing that counts - a good book is still a good book and a good writer is still a good writer no matter where or how that work is printed or transmitted. It's lovely to get a new book and also to go back to old favourites off one's bookshelf - but that's not lost if some of the time an ereader is used. Mix and match - that's what I believe. It's still possible to browse in a book shop and libraries offer much wider resources than used to be the case. Try them all and use them all, that way there's a chance for the survival of a diverse range of outlets.

I resisted buying an e-reader for a long time - but was kindly bought one for Mother's Day by my daughters. I love it and can now read in bed, which I always struggled to do with books as my arm tired. Still not sure about taking it on holiday though. Not so serious if your book gets stolen or drops in the pool!

I never thought I would enjoy e-reading as I love books, however the eReaders are so handy to have to save having to take books places as well as to cut down on storage

I need one