Thus, in a real sense, I am constantly writing autobiography, but I have to turn it into fiction in order to give it credibility.

You never know ahead of time what something's really going to be like.

He [an earnest young reporter] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be art, the object of children's books is to whip the little rascals into shape.

Mandarin ducks mate for life and will die of loneliness if separated from their chosen mate.

He may not have been born with guts, but he didn't have to die without them.

Kids often ask me if characters are real or made up - and I always tell them, 'I hope they're real but I made them up.'

You don't have to fight dragons to write books. You just have to live deeply the life you've been given.