I was visiting my mother in Florida when the September 11, 2001 attacks happened. I was working on The Tale of Despereaux at that point. I had already gone into writing it with a great deal of trepidation and fear, and then this God-awful thing happens and it was really hard to even get back home to Minneapolis.

No matter how hard you try to be present at home, you're always doing the things that you have to do.

I journal for about half an hour, and by the time that's done, the business day on the East Coast has begun. The phone starts to ring, and the rest of the day is spent dealing with the business of writing. My workday is done at about 3:00.

Nothing new ever happens in the books. It's the same old theme.

I am just always, always paying attention - waiting for the words, or image, or name that will be the beginning of a story.

I love adventurous travel. I also love pancakes, and making pancakes for other people. You would definitely find me in the airy treetop as opposed to below ground.

I thought I was going nowhere. Now I can see there was a pattern.