One minute with... Andy McNab, Novelist

Where are you now and what can you see? I am in Berlin, it is freezing cold and I am looking across at a traditional Christmas market – doesn't look like there is much recession here…

What are you currently reading? I'm re reading 'Farenheit 451' which is one of my favourite books. You can totally see why the late, great Ray Bradbury was such a good science fiction writer, there is a lot of truth in his fiction!

Choose a favourite author and say why you admire her/him Ian Fleming at the moment. Having seen and enjoyed 'Skyfall', I want to start re-reading the early Bond novels.

Describe the room where you usually write ? My study has a great view of the garden and beyond but I keep the curtains closed most of the time so I don't get distracted.

Which fictional character most resembles you? It would have to be Nick Stone, the character in my own thrillers, as he is more or less based on me (all the good bits obviously and none of the bad).

Who is your hero/heroine from outside literature? Muhammad Ali. What an amazing life. I had the opportunity to shake his hand once.

Andy McNab's young adult novel, 'The New Recruit', is published by Doubleday