How long have you been writing?

I used to steal pens out of my dad's pocket and "draw" stories before I knew the words. I was fortunate to grow up in a family who read to me. Dad would load up his car with books from the Air Base library. When he pulled into the driveway, I couldn't wait for him to pop the trunk. Dad read to me every night after dinner. By age three, I was reading on my own. My parents thought that I had memorized all my favorite stories. As a test, they handed me a newspaper. After I read the headlines out loud, they hid the Miami Herald from me.

Why do you enjoy writing about teenagers?

I always dreamed of writing books. But I didn't know that I'd become a young adult author. I still feel like I'm forever teen. I believe that teenagers are the most interesting people on the planet.
 

What were you like as a teen?

I was the weirdo who didn't fit in anywhere. Junior high was hell. And heaven was cutting class to walk to the library. I'd breeze through the double doors, waving to the librarian (perched behind a "stop" and "go" sign at her desk), and sit on the ripped-up carpet (patched in places with masking tape), reading about Narnia for the ten thousandth time.

Do you have any weird habits?

Like the characters in my books, I am filled with obsessions. I refuse to crack a book's spine. When I buy a book, I always sniff the pages. Nothing like the fragrance of glue and paper, eau du ink! Believe it or not, I'm a bad speller. My grammar isn't perfect either. Or is it neither? When I listen to music, I see shapes and colors. Even numbers are good. But odd numbers are evil.

Can you help me get published?

The path to getting published is like the Yellow Brick Road...a long, strange journey filled with monsters and magic. It helps if you have a literary agent to fight the dragons for you. An agent is like a matchmaker. They help you find the right editor and publisher for your manuscript. Check out the Writer's Market (in hard copy or online) to find out how/where to send your stuff.
 

Will you critique my novel/short story/screenplay/book report for class?

Unfortunately, between teaching and writing my own stories, I don't have time. Find a critique group in your area through the SCBWI website or ask your local bookstore. Writers can't work in a vacuum! It's helpful to find another pair of eyes to catch your mistakes...as long as you trust them.
 

Any writing tips you can give me?

First...you should read. Read all the time. I'm not big on "how to" books about writing. But I'm a fan of Joseph Campbell's ideas about mythology, which helped George Lucas give shape to the Star Wars universe. Try The Hero With A Thousand Faces. Or check out Christopher Vogler's updated take in his book, The Writer's Journey. Taking classes in scriptwriting was also helpful.
 

Is Miami anything like it seems in TV or the movies?

Nope. It's a lot weirder.