"I LIKE to write about real people and allow readers to make up their own mind about the characters," explained Orange Prize-winning author Lionel Shriver, to her audience at Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre.

As part of the Women's Arts International Festival,the famous author spoke about her new novel, The Post-Birthday World, in a rare North West public appearance.

In 2003, the American-born Shriver's chilling tale, "We Need to Talk About Kevin" was published, selling 600,000 copies in the UK alone and catapulting the author into the limelight.

The book follows the cold and cruel Kevin, through the eyes of his mother, Eva.

Days before his 16th birthday, the teenager murders his classmates in a shooting, leaving the reader to question if Kevin is wholly responsible.

Or does some of the blame lies with Eva, who admits to have never bonded with her son.

The Post-Birthday World,promises to be equally thought-provoking.

The crux of the story hangs on a kiss, which takes place in the first chapter.

For years Irina McGovern and her partner Lawrence Trainer have invited their famous friend Ramsey Acton, a professional snooker player, to spend his birthday at their home.

One year Lawrence is away, but Irina and Ramsey still decide to celebrate the day together.

Suddenly Irina is overcome with an inexplicable urge to give Ramsay a passionate birthday kiss.

From then on, the book offers alternative futures for the heroine in two different versions of each chapter.

"There's no right or wrong decision, it's up to the reader to decide what they would do," the writer explained.

Despite her prestigious award and book deal with Harper Collins, Shriver says self-deprecatingly that she does not consider herself to be "a particularly successful author."

Until Kevin, Shriver, who as a 15-year-old tomboy, changed her name from Margaret Ann to Lionel, had never truly struck gold in her long writing career.

And since its publication The Post-Birthday World has received mixed reviews.

But the audience at The Brewery were left visibly enthralled by the cleverly chosen readings from the novel.

And the sheer number of admiring readers who formed a long line for book signings afterwards, revealed that more success for Shriver is clearly on cue.