I remember when I was working on All Alone in the Universe, and Robin Roy was my editor. When I first sent it to her, she said kids this age don't want pictures in their books.

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.

With most of my books, there are some parts that pop up right away, and other parts I have to wait for.

I know if I did that [career as painter] all the time I would get tired of it.

I remember when I was working on All Alone in the Universe, and Robin Roy was my editor. When I first sent it to her, she said kids this age don't want pictures in their books.

I don't want to make myself sound that spontaneous, because I'm not.