In the internal world of the novel, the writer makes all the decisions. The starting point may be a story, an image, an opening sentence, or an idea. In my case, it was a painting: Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe. I cannot remember when I first saw it; the image of the naked woman staring out of the picture has haunted me for many years. Although she is in the company of fully dressed men, she doesn't appear vulnerable. Her body language, and her eyes in particular, unmistakably reveal a powerful, self-confident and intelligent woman.