I hate to cook and love to eat.
Writing a novel isn't like building a brick wall. You don't figure out how to do it, and then it gets easier each time because you know what you're doing. With writing a novel, you have to figure it out each time. Each time you start over, you just have the language and the idea and the hope.
I actually participated in a Little Miss Orange Blossom Contest when was I was seven or eight years old. I remember standing up on the stage and thinking, 'Oh boy, I should not be here.' Obviously, I didn't win.
'Island of the Blue Dolphins' by Scott O'Dell had a huge impact on me.
Every well-written book is a light for me. When you write, you use other writers and their books as guides in the wilderness.
Happily, I had lots of childhood heroes.
I was born in Philadelphia and currently live in Minneapolis. I write for both children and adults.
I think of myself as an enormously lucky person.
Everything I write comes from my childhood in one way or another. I am forever drawing on the sense of mystery and wonder and possibility that pervaded that time of my life.
I always write with music. It takes me a while to figure out the right piece of music for what I'm working on. Once I figure it out, that's the only thing I'll play.
I am busier now than I ever imagined I would be, but I feel blessed in that I have found what I am supposed to be doing with my life. It's wonderful to tell stories and have people listen to them.
I am single and childless, but I have lots of friends and I am an aunt to three lovely children.
I didn't know anything about writing a screenplay, but somehow I ended up rewriting a screenplay.
I didn't start working on children's books until I got a job at a book warehouse on the children's floor. When I started reading some of the books, I was so impressed.
I have a Bachelor of Arts in English, which means I had a lot of formal training in reading.
I like to think of myself as a storyteller.
I work full-time in a used bookstore. I get up. I drink a cup of coffee. I think, The last thing I want to do is write. Then I go to the computer and write.
I'm at the mercy of whatever character comes into my head.
Understand, I had absolutely no interest in writing; I wanted to be a Writer.
I'm never impressed with myself!
