I don't believe in things literally for children. That's a reduction.

I stress character, character, character.

I never set out to write books for children. I don't have a feeling that I'm gonna save children or my life is devoted.

I remember my own childhood vividly...I knew terrible things. But I knew I mustn't let adults know I knew. It would scare them

My father could be very witty, even if the humor was always on the darker side of irony.

I'm totally crazy, I know that. I don't say that to be a smartass, but I know that that's the very essence of what makes my work good. And I know my work is good. Not everybody likes it, that's fine. I don't do it for everybody. Or anybody. I do it because I can't not do it.

I did not know how to paint a mural. I did not know how to prepare the surface. There was nobody from the Renaissance around who could advise me, and I did the best I could.