My first publication was a haiku in a children's magazine when I was 9 years old. I received one dollar for it! I gave the check to my dad for Christmas, and he framed it and hung it over his desk.

In my family and among Korean-Americans, there just is no occasion that people would get together without bibimbap. It's something that people eat when they're wanting to celebrate or have a good time with friends.

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!

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

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.

Reading for writers is like training for athletes.

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