John Gordon Sinclair, actor & novelist: "I share Holden Caulfied's utter disdain for the "phony" and hypocritical in our society"

Sinclair says: 'Elmore Leonard is one of my favourite authors. I've been reading him since he cost £3.99'

Where are you now and what can you see?

I'm sitting by a pool in Marbella watching over my kids. They call it swimming, I call it stylized drowning. I can see that the factor 50 on my face is no match for my Scottish skin. When I strip for the shower tonight I will resemble a Swan Vesta.

What are you currently reading?

I've just read a whole crop of novels for the Bristol Crime Festival. Stand out reads were Rob Gittins' Gimme Shelter and Louise Millar's The Hidden Girl. I'm starting Anne Cadwallader's Lethal Allies about British collusion in Northern Ireland.

Choose a favourite author and say why you admire her/him

Elmore Leonard is one of my favourite authors. I've been reading him since he cost £3.99. The first book I came across was Swag, his "author's voice" was unlike anything I'd ever read: totally original. His ethos was, "If it reads like writing, I re-write it."

Describe the room where you usually write

I write in a hut at the bottom of my garden called the Roald Dahl Social Club. It has a wall mounted electric heater with fake flame effect, a sofa-bed and a beer fridge. If it had running water and a Nespresso machine I'd move in permanently.

Which fictional character most resembles you?

Holden Caulfied from Catcher In The Rye. I'm the same height and share his utter disdain for the "phony" and hypocritical in our society.

Who is your hero/heroine from outside literature?

David Bowie: it goes back to the "originality" thing. The only thing I covet is a photograph by Mick Rock of Ziggy Stardust called, "Backstage in Scotland May 1973".

John Gordon Sinclair's 'Blood Whispers' is published by Faber