... every time you look at the world and the people in it closely, lovingly, imaginatively, it changes you. The world, under the microscope of your attention, opens up like a beautiful, strange flower and gives itself back to you in ways you could never imagine.

Life is hard. Life is beautiful. Life is difficult. Life is wonderful.

I always write with music. It takes me a while to figure out the right piece of music for what I'm working on. Once I figure it out, that's the only thing I'll play.

What was it like...to have someone who knew you would always return and who welcomed you with open arms?

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

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

Pea was aware suddenly of how fragile her heart was, how much darkness was inside it, fighting, always, with the light. She did not like the rat. She would neverlike the rat, but she knew what she must do to save her own heart.