Her sister, Holly McGhee, is an agent, and she's my agent in New York. She's Alison's agent too. Even though Alison lives here in Minneapolis, I met Alison through Holly, when Holly came to Minneapolis to visit Alison.

There is nothing worse than war in the summetime.

I'm continually astonished with myself how different people bring out things in me that I never knew I had inside me. Each new friendship can make you a new person, because it opens up new doors inside of you.

The image I had was very clear, and so in that way The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane began like other books.

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

What's my weirdest adventure? Yikes, there've been so very many. Perhaps the pig+vegetable+Taiwanese-army-guys boat ride to the island off the coast of Taiwan qualifies as the weirdest. Or at least the most seasick.

Stories are light. Light is precious in a world so dark. Begin at the beginning. Tell Gregory a story. Make some light.