I generally have an idea where I want to go, but I don't know how I'm going to get there.

I don't think about it that much, but sometimes I am surprised by that. I sometimes wonder why I didn't turn out to be the kind of picture-book writer who has stuffed animals that go with their books. That would be okay with me.

I do love that discovery of when you're trying to figure out how to make something work, and it happens in a way that you didn't predict.

In the bedroom time I have generated thoughts, and then in the studio I take those thoughts and try to shape them into something.

In some ways I'm very structured.

I love that when you're writing your mind is sort of figuring things out on its own, without you directing it.

We had a dog, Lucky, who was fourteen years old. For the last year of his life, I would take him on these walks that were long but didn't cover much distance.