I assumed 'Freak the Mighty' was probably too weird and melodramatic to find a publisher. I certainly never expected the book to have a profound influence on my career as a writer, but indeed it has.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
In the 1930s, all the novelists had seemed to be people who came blazing up into stardom from out of total obscurity. That seemed to be the nature of the beast. The biographical notes on the dustjackets of the novels were terrific.
I couldn't have known 'Crank' was going to be published, let alone become a big hit. That book was very personal for me: I had to tell the story for myself.
It was more exciting to get that first book published, I think.
Becoming a YA author was actually a very lucky accident. When I wrote the 'Queen of Everything,' I thought it was a book for adults.
My grief is that the publishing world, the book writing world is an extraordinary shoddy, dirty, dingy world.
The books are all very, very different so the publishers really had to be different too.
I had no idea I'd end up writing four books when I completed 'Mortal Engines.' I didn't even think it would find a publisher.
I didn't think I would be an exceptional writer, and I thought I might be a useful publisher. I've never regretted it.
I am becoming increasingly difficult to please as a reader, but I adore being surprised by a really wonderful book, written by someone I've never heard of before.
When I wrote 'Lord of the Flies' - I had no idea it would even get published.