'Harry Potter' opened so many doors for young adult literature. It really did convince the publishing industry that writing for children was a viable enterprise. And it also convinced a lot of people that kids will read if we give them books that they care about and love.

The dead see what they believe they will see. So do the living. That is the secret.

Stuff has become the enemy. There always seems to be more of it than I have storage in my house!

Until she met the exploding statue, Annabeth thought she was prepared for anything.

As for me, I did the stupidest thing in my life, which is saying a lot. I attacked the Titan Lord Atlas.

Travis: I didn’t know they made permanent makeup. I looked like a clown for a month. Connor: Yeah. They put a curse on me so that no matter what I wore, my clothes were two sizes too small and I felt like a geek. Travis: You are a geek.

I plucked a ruby off the nearest plant and threw it at Hades.