When I was growing up in the 1960s, there was starting to be more books geared towards young adults.

I could not do what I do if I were not obsessive compulsive to a certain extent. I don't act clinically OCD. I'm not going to check things so many times I have to take drugs for it. But the kind of complicated and painstaking work I have to do to make my drawings, it just kind of harnesses that compulsive energy in a constructive way.

Grief takes many forms, including the absence of grief

I do sometimes miss doing that lighter, more humorous work, and I find there's a heavier responsibility that goes along with a literary reputation. You have to start knowing what you're talking about and you have to go have public conversations with writers. That's been pretty intense; I have to really stay on top of things in a way I didn't before.

I just have this sort of entrepreneurial spirit and I work really hard at promoting myself.

For some reason writing and drawing are very separate processes for me.

Yeah, I read Judy Blume. My mother didn't like that, but I read it anyhow.