Allow me to congratulate you on your very astute powers of observation.

So, yes, at least from my end. You could say there's a lot of Alison [McGhee] in Gollie too.

I'm just doing what I've done my whole life, which is talking to people about books and making them read. It's what I do in my friendships. "Here, you have to read this, you have to read this."

Stories are light. Light is precious in a world so dark.

Mercy Watson is obsessed with toast. What was blocking me was the challenge of trying to understand what she loves, what motivates her. That was the missing piece. Toast became the physical symbol of Mercy's hopefully endearing greed and obsession. Without that element in place, it didn't make sense.

The sound of the king's music made Despereaux's soul grow large and light inside of him.

Do you think everybody misses somebody? Like I miss my mama?” “Mmmm-hmmm,” said Gloria. She closed her eyes. “I believe, sometimes, that the whole world has an aching heart.