I'm a more skilled writer now, but after 23 books it's harder to be fresh and that's really important to me. I don't want to write the same thing over and over again.

With "Margaret," I remember clearly it was, you know because I did remember it clearly. I was young. I was young in terms of experience and what did I know about and I had an incredible memory from my own childhood. And so it never occurred to me to write for any other age group. And I thought I'm going to write a book and I'm going to tell the truth.

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

My husband says I have too much imagination, but I don't think a writer can have too much imagination!

I thought [books ban] was crazy. Really my thoughts were "This is America, we don't do this here" but of course I know a lot better now. And I wasn't the only one. Norma Klein was writing at the same time. Her books were going. So many of us. When you say to me, no you can't do this I say, oh yes I can.

I am certainly a fearful person, but fearless in my writing. So there's that other person inside.

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