God bless Interlibrary Loan. I pay a lot of library fines. In the case of 'A Single Shard,' I was using books that hadn't been checked out in 30 years, so I didn't feel too bad.

A mistake made with good in your heart is still a mistake, but it is one for which you must forgive yourself.

What I like most: Reading well-written sources that take me to another world for hours at a time - and being able to call that work! Also, of course, finding a gem of information that is either exactly what I was looking for, or else fits perfectly into the story in some way.

I can give advice to anyone interested in writing in one word: Read! I think it's much more important to be a reader than to be a writer!

God bless Interlibrary Loan. I pay a lot of library fines. In the case of 'A Single Shard,' I was using books that hadn't been checked out in 30 years, so I didn't feel too bad.

I used to sit home with my computer and write. After the Newbery, I probably spend more than half my time on the road.

I do think that part of literature's job is to comment on and participate in the social issues of the time.