a. because her assistant did the research for her

b. because she used to live in Japan

c. because the Japanese setting doesn't feature much in the book

2 Why did she already know much about Japanese culture?

a. she had already written a book on the subject

b. her husband is Japanese

c. she had already written some magazine articles on the topic

3 What did she think about the research process originally?

a. she was fascinated by the subject

b. it was tedious but necessary

c. she hated it

4 The legend she uses in her new book is about what sort of precious stone?

A

B

C

5 Who had the jewel belonged to?

a. a succession of Japanese princesses

b. a group of business women

c. a powerful Japanese princess

6 What is the legend surrounding the jewel?

a. it brings riches

b. it brings terribly bad luck

c. it was stolen

7 When did the jewel first disappear?

a. in 1720

b. at the end of the 16th century

c. at the start of the 17th century

8 For how long was it missing?

a. 250 years

b. 90 years

c. two centuries

9 Where was it next discovered?

a. in Kyoto

b. in the US

c. on a ship

10 Why was it sent to Britain?

a. to be sold

b. to be put in a bank vault

c. to be given to a princess

11 What are very important in a C.C. Cliff book?

a. cliffhanger endings

b. murder and crime

c. the people in the story

12 One of the characters in her latest book is based on ...

a. a dear friend

b. nobody - all her characters are fictional

c. a younger version of a close relative

13 What piece of advice does C.C. Cliff give to budding writers?

a. think out a plot first

b. read a lot

c. never base characters on real people

14 What is she writing at the moment?

a. another Jackel Jones novel

b. a science textbook

c. a futuristic adventure novel

Answers: 1. b, 2. c, 3. a, 4. c, 5. a, 6. b, 7. c, 8. a, 9. b, 10. a, 11. c, 12. c, 13. b, 14. c