Arguably luck and the films without which she would have been an adequate and entertaining children's author (at least with the first book) and nothing more.
One addendum. My kids got an early (unsigned) copy of her first book, and a first edition (I was visiting Edinburgh from an overseas posting for the week). It was in remarkably good condition. They (now 26-30) decided to sell it and it went to auction and raised a very substantial sum of money. They donated it in full (auction commissions are eye watering) and donated the money to a number of charities, including Mermaids and the Albert Kennedy Trust)
Add comment