Bromley-born bestselling author Victoria Hislop has spoken out against women-only literature prizes.

The writer, and wife of TV star Ian, revealed her thoughts to News Shopper ahead of her book signing at Intu Bromley on Wednesday evening (October 15).

Her new novel, The Sunrise, has already rocketed to the top of the bestseller charts and focuses on a couple’s fortunes in Cyprus during the devastating conflict in 1974.

The writer and journalist spends two years meticulously researching her books and said she finds gender-specific literature schemes such as the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction patronising.

She said: “I’m sceptical when people say about women writers winning fewer prizes or getting less review space for their books.

“When I looked at the breakdown of male and female winners of literary prizes over the last three or four years, there were as many women winning as men.

“I think the idea of a separate fiction prize for women is patronising.

“Some people would say why do we need a special prize for women writers. I don’t go round thinking, ‘oh no, I haven’t won this prize because I’m a woman’.”

Victoria said she was looking forward to doing the Waterstones signing on home turf.

She was born in Bromley, lived in West Wickham for a few years then moved to Tonbridge when she was six.

She said: “It felt like a million miles away although it was only about half an hour ago in the car.

“I’m sure it’s completely changed now, it’ll be nice to go back. It was quite rural in a way.

“I remember a man coming round in a horse and cart which I realised makes me sound about 90 years old. There was a wood at the back of the house.

“And I loved school – I think it was the saddest day of my life when I finished school.

“I have this vivid memory of sitting down on my first day of school and being told to write a story and thinking, this is fun.”

Victoria juggles her writing with travelling and charity work.

She said: “I’m an ambassador for Lepra, a leprosy charity, which is celebrating its 90th birthday this month. People think it doesn’t exist anymore but unfortunately it does.

“I spend around two years researching my novels and so spend a lot of time travelling.

“Mostly I write and travel – I can’t complain.”

Victoria is signing books at the Waterstones in Bromley from 7pm.

Tickets cost £3 and can be bought in the shop.

Visit victoriahislop.com