Going out and not only meeting the kids, but meeting the teachers and the librarians and seeing the world, fills me up.

When I do it [writing] by myself, there's a lot more terror and uncertainty.

The Watsons have lost sight of the fact that Mercy Watson is a pig, and they love her truly, madly, deeply. They live next door to two elderly sisters, Eugenia Lincoln and Baby Lincoln. Eugenia Lincoln is horrified that a pig is living in the house next door. Baby Lincoln secretly likes Mercy a great deal.

In my stories for children, I sometimes show a hard, harsh, dangerous world. I'm going to show you the way it is, but I'm going to also tell you that there's every reason to hope.

There," she said. She rocked him back and forth. "There, you foolish, beautiful boy who wants to change the world. There, there. And who could keep from loving you? Who could keep from loving a boy so brave and true?

The world is dark, and light is precious. Come closer, dear reader. You must trust me. I am telling you a story.

The way we started was, Alison [McGhee] said, 'Tall girl, short girl.' We had no plans beyond that.