AUTHOR Roddy Doyle arrived in Liverpool last night to promote his latest novel Smile at Waterstones in Liverpool One.

The Dublin-born former teacher told a sell-out crowd of 120 fans at a special signing and question and answer session that it was a 'departure' from his other books which included The snapper and the The woman who walked into doors.

Smile - his 11th book - is about the trauma of schooldays and being taught by the Christian Brothers.

The 59-year-old screenwriter, childrens' author and now playwright talked about his own writing process and how he schedules a nine-to-six working day with time off to 'play truant' with his vinyl records.

But the Booker Award-winning writer saved his best revelation till the end of his talk.

Referring to the soundtrack to The Commitments - a book he wrote 30 years ago which was turned into a film and now stage show - he said: "I still hate Mustang Sally.

"If Wilson Pickett came to my house I'd shut the door on him."

Chairing the event, Paddy Hoey, a lecturer in media at Edge Hill University, told the Globe: "You are not supposed to meet your heroes.

"I am glad I did."

120 Doyle devotees agreed.