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.

Drawing is what you see of the world, truly see...And sometimes what you see is so deep in your head you're not even sure of what you're seeing. But when it's down there on paper, and you look at it, really look, you'll see the way things are...that's the world, isn't it? You have to keep looking to find the truth.

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.'

I'm still writing in my old age. And still loving it. It fills my days. Writing is my salvation. I just get up in the morning, and I'm in this world that I scratch out and begin again and write over - and then suddenly it's lunchtime, and I'm back.

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.

I loved teaching. It was my world. I only left because I was overwhelmed with three careers - teaching, writing, and my family.