I like going to schools and telling classes that when I was a child, I failed every "will this kid become a writer" test.

It seems to be that way with most things. No one to do the really disagreeable jobs except oneself.

The origin of each story is unique.

My goal is two pages a day, five days a week. I never want to write, but I'm always glad that I have done it. After I write, I go to work at the bookstore.

[Our first dinner with Alison McGhee] was at Figlio's [in Minneapolis]. I know exactly what I had, because it was so good: their three-cheese ravioli. But I can't remember what I said to Alison that night that made her laugh so hard. But she got me right away and I got her right away.

What I hope is that the book [Bink & Gollie] delights children. What I hope is that they laugh and laugh and laugh, just as we did when we wrote them.

All of that loneliness and longing in my heart got transferred into the book Because of Winn-Dixie, I guess.