The importance and influence of books on me has been cumulative: the result of hearing and reading lots of stories about interesting people and places.

I bought a selection of short, romantic fiction novels, studied them, decided that I had found a formula and then wrote a book that I figured was the perfect story. Thank goodness it was rejected.

Never give up. And most importantly, be true to yourself. Write from your heart, in your own voice, and about what you believe in.

Sometimes I like to play the soundtracks to famous musicals so we can all sing along. South Pacific is one of my favorites. Our neighbors must hate us.

It took a brave editor in the U.S. to sign a contract for Dancing Girls, and without her belief in the book, I'm not sure it would ever have found its way into print.

The young women in my classes are feisty and clever and believe, often with the passion of youthful optimism, that feminism is a battle already won. I worry for them - and for my daughters, too.

The richest most meaningful stories are found in small places: made, carried, crafted, told, and retold by apparently unimportant people.