You might have thought Mystic Meg and Shelley von Strunckel were two of the most prolific fiction writers around, but think again — there may be some truth in the horoscopes. Research just published suggests that your star sign could determine your destiny . . . as a writer.

A Borders survey of the 150 bestselling authors found they were evenly distributed across the zodiac signs, apart from Gemini, which was twice as likely to be the star sign of famous scribes and scribblers. The 27 great writers born under the twins include Chaucer, Salman Rushdie, Thomas Hardy, Leo Tolstoy, Margaret Drabble and Jodi Picoult.

A star sign not only suggests print potential, but may indicate which genre is the author’s forte, too. Leos, reputed to relate well to younger people, have Enid Blyton, Beatrix Potter and J. K. Rowling for company, while wannabe Aries authors should take their cue from Jeffrey Archer and Hans Christian Andersen and go for fantasy and fairytale.

This should not be taken as an absolute guide: Marcel Proust and Barbara Cartland share a star sign, and according to Borders’ fiction buyer: “One literary Gemini who wasn’t included is the supermodel Naomi Campbell, whose novel Swan is considered to be one of the worst books ever written.”

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