When I'm writing a book, you can't think about your audience. You're going to be in big trouble if you think about it. You're got to write from deep inside.

She wondered if all the firsts in her life would go by so quickly, and be forgotten just as quickly.

I can't let safety and security become the focus of my life.

[ Adult novels] was the world of grownups. There was nothing about teenagers.

I know where "Blubber" came from. It came from stories that my daughter told me when she came home from fifth grade. There was a kid in the class who was being bullied. We didn't even call it bullying then, that's what's so weird. Victimization in the classroom. The word bully was so out, was so not in use for all those years and now it's back big time.

A good writer is always a people watcher.

I love you, Michael Wagner.” “Forever?” he asked. “Forever,” I said.