India, July 2 -- Your darkly funny novel is also a coming-of-age story of a woman trying to emerge from her father's shadow and deal with the idea of shame, along the way.

I think it's quite an angry book, but it's really a journey into the heart of shame. I think you've hit the nail on the head.

It's interesting you call it a coming-of-age story, because, obviously, Steffie is 54 at the start and 55 at the end, but it's coming of age, as she can't step into her own shoes and be herself until she's free of her father.

[Stan Cartwright] has not just dominated her life, but he has also written the version of Steffie, this character that she is. Her challenge is to be allowed to step outside and decide what kind of a person she'd like be ...