All I wanted to do was read, to be told stories. Stories were full of excitement and emotions and characters that entertained and often inspired.

When a daring idea first crosses one's mind, if it is to be realized in the future it is often appealing. Then, as the time for its execution comes nearer, one begins to dread that which had once been anticipated.

I got used to being a writer. To compare it to teaching - I taught for twenty-five years; for the first two or three years it was heady. I was discovering that I could do something and do it well. Be useful to people. It was exhilarating, sort of like the first two weeks of being in love with somebody, and then it becomes like the third bite of pizza. The first bite is wonderful. The second bite is not disappointing. The third? Meh. You get used to it.

The worst things weren't outside of you.

Kids are really tougher than adults, but we tend to forget this in an affluent society that lets kids indulge themselves.

Even the bad books I write are satisfying. I'm my least critical reader.

I love teaching; I love little kids.