When I start to write, I see my stories as a kind of movie. For instance, I ask myself, "What kind of opening do I want for this book?"

I was named after my two grandmothers - Julia Elizabeth.

Public libraries are our great teachers and storytellers, and are a vital adjunct to our schools. In this day of standardized and homogenized education, a library offers individual and personalized learning opportunities second to none.

Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.

I always knew I had this voice, but it wasn't until I was in my 20s that I realized I had the power to do something with it.

Some people regard discipline as a chore. For me, it is a kind of order that sets me free to fly.

Behaving like a princess is work. It's not just about looking beautiful or wearing a crown. It's more about how you are inside.