Some characters become your friends for life. That's how it was for me with Betsy-Tacy.

Caitlyn isn't someone to get over. She's someone to come to terms with, the way you have to come to terms with your parents, your siblings. You can't deny they ever happened. You can't deny you ever loved them, love them still, even if loving them causes you pain.

Suddenly question number four popped into my mind. Have you thought about how this relationship will end?

Do not let anyone discourage you. If they try: get determined, not depressed.

I'm an e-mail junkie though I'm trying to read my in-box only twice a day and to answer all at once.

Let children read whatever they want and then talk about it with them. If parents and kids can talk together, we won't have as much censorship because we won't have as much fear.

I meet people on the street or at book signings and they tend to treat me as if they know me, as if we're connected. It's great.