I wasn't interested in the kinds of books that I thought I should be reading.

There's no book or play or series or anything that speaks to everyone, because then it wouldn't speak to anyone.

A good writer is always a people watcher.

Its all about your determination, I think, as much as anything. There are a lot of people with talent, but its that determination.

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.

I love to talk with children. I try to visit schools but it's hard for me to travel when I'm trying to write. Some authors are able to do both.

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."