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.

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.

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.

Everything in my life affects my writing. There are no separate parts of my life.

Anyone who has problems, or worries, anyone who laughs and cries, anyone who feels can write. It's only talking on paper... talking about the things that matter to us.

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

Many times in my life I've been upset about something and said to myself, "Will this matter in two years?" Not even in two months.