The funny thing is, when I've gone through the relentless editing process, my editor and I are amazed the Mercy Watson books still make us laugh. The same jokes that made us laugh the first time around still make us laugh in the 16th rendition.

And hope is like love...a ridiculous, wonderful, powerful thing.

You must be filled with expectancy. You must be awash in hope. You must wonder who will love you, whom you will love next.

I never want to be a role model.

I didn't start working on children's books until I got a job at a book warehouse on the children's floor. When I started reading some of the books, I was so impressed.

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

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