I could believe only in the hell I was living in, a hell on earth, and it was man-made, not God-made.

Anything that gets children reading is fine.

I fill up the well of stories in my head - without ever knowing I'm doing it.

Wars become history all too soon and are forgotten all too soon as well, before the lessons can be learned.

We're much alike, bee, you and me," I said. "You may carry your pack underneath you and your rifle may stick out of your bottom. But you and me, bee, are much alike.

I don't consciously try to take my readers on a journey as I don't really think about my readers when I'm writing. I just try to write what I feel passionately about, to tell a story down onto the page.

Encouraging young people to believe in themselves and find their own voice whether it's through writing, drama or art is so important in giving young people a sense of self-worth.