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.

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

When I sit and talk with a person, I'm not always paying attention. I'm looking at the person and saying, 'What is it about his or her life that appeals to me?

Revision is the heart of writing. Every page I do is done over seven or eight times.

The reasons kids get into trouble in one way or another is because - Who ever told them they were special?

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