They made your hands clammy, your knees quiver, and sent your hormones spinning when you were a dyke-in-training. It’s time to pay homage at the altar of dyke icons. The week an author whose racy lesbian sex scenes have kept us enthralled. The three-part television adaptation of her novel Fingersmith has just started on a screen near you - don't miss it!

Name:
Sarah Waters (read our interview).

Also known as:
The one that wrote those saucy Victorian novels with all the lesbians in them.

Not to be confused with:
A Victorian novelist.

Last seen:
On the cutting room floor, alas. Waters had a small cameo appearance in the television adaptation of her novel Fingersmith but it ended up not being used.

Best feature:
Her ability to write utterly gripping period novels that feature plot twists and turns, gorgeous use of language and, ahem, some very racy lesbian sex scenes.

Candy Bar or Kenric?
Possibly Kenric.

Most likely to say:
"Hello!"

Least likely to say:
" You're the type of bitch don't appreciate shit, never had shit, so you won't be shit. That pussy there, couldn't satisfy a hair on my body, treat me like a lolli and slob me down."

Is she a sista?
Oh yes.

Do mention:
Waters' most famous novel, Tipping the Velvet, became a three-part TV series in 2002 and in the autumn of that year she was mobbed by lesbians at the Libertas! Literary Festival in York. The TV adaptation of Fingersmith, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, is due to be screened shortly and her new novel, Harm, is will be released in 2006. Apparently it's set in the 1940s.

Don't mention:
Your Mum probably doesn't know what tipping the velvet actually means, but she loves those costume dramas!

Fingersmith, starts on Sunday 27 March on BBC ONE at 9pm

Read our review of the original book of Fingersmith and our interview with Sarah Waters. Plus, look out for our interviews with Imelda Staunton and Elaine Cassidy.

Delve into the world of Sar Waters by buying the book of Fingersmith online and save yourself some money. Who knows, you might even want to put anything you save towards her other books, Affinity and Tipping The Velvet. The latter you can even buy on DVD!