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Publishers like a good buzz, and negative responses sell books just as well as positive ones.

In my experience an appreciative letter from a fellow writer means a lot.

The stories are success stories. The letters from listeners often touch the heart and can be inspiring.

I get thousands of letters, and they give me a feeling of how each book is perceived. Often I think I have written about a certain theme, but by reading the letters or reviews, I realise that everybody sees the book differently.

I get wonderful letters from kids and teachers. I must have the best readers in the world.

I receive about 10,000 letters a year from readers, and in the first year after a book is published, perhaps 5,000 letters will deal specifically with that piece of work.

One serious drawback about letters is that, in order to get them, one must send some out. When it comes to the mail, I feel it is better to receive than to give.

Letters actually work. Even the top dog himself takes time every day to read 10 letters that are picked out by staff. I can tell you that every official that I've ever worked with will tell you about the letters they get and what they mean.

Any good writer is going to be well-received and is going to not be well-received; that's how you know you're a great writer.

What I tend to get from America is very enthusiastic letters and e-mail from librarians and schoolteachers, the gatekeepers, though I hesitate to use that word. I've never been a huge seller.