All of my books are based in some way on my personal experiences, or the experiences of members of my family, or the stories kids would tell me in school.

Outside of family, writing is essential. To me, it's like breathing.

I want to see children curled up with books, finding an awareness of themselves as they discover other people's thoughts. I want them to make the connection that books are people's stories, that writing is talking on paper, and I want them to write their own stories. I'd like my books to provide that connection for them.

Do you all have a living room floor or a bedroom floor? Then you can write a book.

If you have a friend, things are better than if you didn't have a friend.

I cannot outline. I do not know what the next thing is going to happen in the book until it comes out of my fingers.

What inspired me to become an author? I think it was the snow in New York. I looked out the window and I said, 'Well, I have to get dressed every morning to go to teach, but if I write a book, I can stay home in my bathrobe, eat candy corn.'