What’s the story?

ON a sunny summer day, bestselling author Julia Donaldson is deservedly relaxing in her new garden.

She and her husband of almost 42 years, Malcolm, have just moved from their family home near Glasgow to a small Sussex town and their new house, she excitedly reveals, has three baths. She’s not showing off her wealth, however — the baths represent potential hours of inspiration.

“You have to put in time at your desk, of course, but so many of my ideas have gelled when I’ve been in the bath. In the new house, there are three baths, so I can get different ideas in each one.”