How long does it take to write a novel?

In reply to the question raised by Daisy W:

My first novel took a year and a half, the second four months and the most recent three months. (It always helps if you have a fierce editor looming over you with a big stick in her hand! In fact I’m so terrified of disappointing my awesome Puffin editors that I always do my best to meet deadline!)
All the funkiest,

Mx