I'm really quite bad at coming up with plot ideas. I like to create characters and just see what will happen to them when I let them loose!

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 didn't know I was really a writer until I read it in the New York Times. And then I thought, "Oh my god, maybe I can really do this". That was a review of "Margaret."

My mother was my greatest fan.

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

It's strange, but when it comes right down to it I never do fall apart--even when I'm sure I will.

I like revising much, much better than getting down a first draft. The first draft is just getting the pieces to the puzzle. Then I get to put the puzzle together!