Is he a sophomore?" Lydia says. "Please tell me he's in our grade." "I don't know," I say. "But weren't you there when he came to the office?" Peyton says. "The secretary didn't get out her bullhorn and announce what grade he's in. She just took him to meet Headmaster Perkins.

Also, as an author, character has always been what I'm most interested in - much more so than plot or setting, although those are good things too.

I was just teasing," I say. "I myself don't like to eat plain butter, but hey, it's a free world.

I'm in loooove with this boy, and when you in love with someone, you don't give up on 'em, mo matter what.

I've written a lot of novels for teens and tweens ... but I'd never really tackled the North Carolina side of me. And it's so strong and so important, and yet I hadn't acknowledged it. And so one of the things I wanted to do in "Shine" is take that on.

I didn't like being alone. Being alone was slightly better than having to deal with people, that's all. Or so I'd convinced myself.

Suck it up. This is the life you chose for yourself, so buck up and deal.