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'To Kill a Mockingbird' represents Hollywood at its very finest, when a popular film could truly contain a message. It has one of the most moving scores of all time.

In 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' I was just playing and having a good time.

I was still in college when 'To Kill a Mockingbird' came out in 1960. I remember it had a kind of an electrifying effect on this country; this was a time when there were a lot of good books coming out.

I would come, many years later, to understand why 'To Kill A Mockingbird' is considered 'an important novel', but when I first read it at 11, I was simply absorbed by the way it evoked the mysteries of childhood, of treasures discovered in trees, and games played with an exotic summer friend.

When I read 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' I was so struck by the universality of small towns.

'To Kill a Mockingbird' was so important because it was such adult film-making - to see something that dealt with such an important issue and had such an enlightened outlook on the world.

The bewildering success of my books continues to surprise me.

I know some people see it as this success when the book is finally made into a movie - that marks its success. I don't see it that way.

I've never really been satisfied with a book. I always want it to be better.