I made the choice long ago to write about real life. And life is both serious and funny.

Sometimes it's easier to show than it is to tell

At age 12, I was put on tranquilizers when I should have gotten help. There was nothing major and awful, I just didn't feel my family was supportive and emotionally generous

I think my books talk about kids learning to like and respect themselves and each other. You can't write a message book; you just tell the best story you know how to tell

Pistachio nuts, the red ones, cure any problem.

I made the choice long ago to write about real life. And life is both serious and funny.

Good writing is remembering detail. Most people want to forget. Don't forget things that were painful or embarrassing or silly. Turn them into a story that tells the truth.