What I think of sometimes, as I read the new books - do kids really need to see such a seamy side of life? I'm in the minority, such an old woman, perhaps. I love the books that have given kids joy, that give them hope at the end. Sometimes it seems to me the books right now are very depressive.

To me, family is everything. I want children to realize how important their families are and what a support system a family is.

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

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

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

I myself was terrified during the Second World War. The war started when I was six, and I was so sure that we were going to be bombed and killed. My imagination is my biggest plus and my worst minus.

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.