In medieval Europe, childbirth was a leading cause of death. So widowed fathers with children were quite common, meaning stepmothers were equally common.

Since I tend to write chronologically, the middle is always the place where the process is most taxing.

In Japan, it's strange to openly take credit for giving to charity or even to donate publicly.

If some readers take away the idea that animals deserve better treatment in general, then I certainly won't argue.

I believe actual violence scars children much more than violence in storybooks.

I'd hasten to say that the prejudice in Dust City isn't completely analogous to racism in the real world.

I think a lot of things are at play when children enjoy a grisly old fairytale. I don't think many children take it literally, or rather it's quite clear to them that it's only a story, only make believe.