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I write books that will make 10 or 12 hours disappear, and hopefully they'll resonate with you for a few days, where you'll remember the characters and the story. That suits me fine; I am happy with that.

It was a combination of an intense interest in children's literature, which I've always had, and the feeling that I'd just have a go and see if I could do it.

I have spent a great deal of my time defending my work against those who see it as too complicated, too old in approach, too bleak to qualify as children's literature. This has been the bane of my life.

With the novels, I try to write a few pages a day - it doesn't sound much, but it can be difficult if I'm not sure where the story is going.

One of the things that made me try writing novels was I could take time off to be with the kids. That's the practical side of what I love about the writing life.

People think writing a children's book is something you could do in an afternoon but it's actually really hard.

I think that writers of literary fiction would do well to read more books for children.

I always tell my students, 'If you walk around with your eyes and ears open, you can't possibly live long enough to write all the novels you'll encounter.'

As a writer, you should care about reluctant readers. You want these kids to feel like books are amazing and cool and that they're an escape.

I wrote a few children's books... not on purpose.