How old are you?
Why do you always want to know that??? I am a little bit older than The Cat in the Hat, I'll tell you that.

Do you have any kids?
Yes, two. They're just about grown now, but here is a photo of them when they were young. They were nutballs.

Are your characters based on real people?
Yes, usually. Stuart has a tiny bit of my nephew Stuart in him. Clementine is very much like my own kids I rolled the two of them into one to come up with her. I know a lot of kids like her, actually: funny, creative, curious about the world. For other characters I take bits and pieces from people I know. And all my characters have a lot of myself in them.

Were you like Clementine as a kid? Were you in trouble a lot?
No, I was shy and quiet as a kid. My main goal was not to be noticed, I think. I was creative and I sometimes had trouble paying attention - those things are the same. But I loved kids like Clementine they fascinated me and I wanted to be more like them. Maybe that's why I like to write her so much.

Why do you write for kids?
Oh, boy. That question for me is a little like, "Why do you breathe air?" I write because I need to do it, because it fascinates and challenges and satisfies me, and I'm pretty good at it. I feel its what I'm meant to do. The reason I write for kids is that they're the best audience. Kids read more than adults and they really love books and characters. Writing for people who care so much makes me want to do my best.

What do you like to read?
I like books that make me laugh and cry. Books that make me feel things.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I read a lot. I love to swim and take walks and get together with friends. I enjoy bothering my children, even though they're grown.

What's your favorite out of all the books you've written?
I think most authors would give you the same answer: The one I'm working on right now. For me, thats a mid-grade novel about two twelve-year old girls who try to run a cottage colony by themselves when the lady who owns it dies it will be called THE SUMMER OF THE GYPSY MOTHS.

What's Clementines brothers name?
Nope! I'm not going to reveal that unless I feel Clementine herself would reveal it. It may happen