When I visit schools, I meet a lot of kids. Of course, they have questions—kids always do! Here are some of the questions I’m asked most often.

How old are you?

I was born on July 25, 1962, which makes me 45 years old.

Are you married?

Yes. My husband’s name is John Bennett, and he's the creative director for a company called Broad Street Boston. He’s also the lead singer and guitarist for two bands; one is called the Big Blue Daddys and the other is called The Peacheaters. The Big Blue Daddys are currently recording their second CD.

Do you have children?

I have three: Sam is 14, Henry is 12, and Mae is 9.

Do you have any pets?

We have a dog named Harley. She's almost four now, but still acts like a an energetic puppy. She loves to chase snow and her tail.

When did you start writing?

I've been writing stories since I was in kindergarten. You can read my very first book (The Sad Shape) by clicking here. I continued to write stories all through grade school, junior high, and high school. In college, I majored in Creative Writing, so I spent a lot of my time writing short stories, poetry, and plays for adults. I began writing children's stories in 1992, eight years after I graduated from college.

How do you think of ideas for your stories?

Ideas are everywhere! You just need to listen and look for them. If I overhear an interesting conversation, or read a newspaper article that makes me think, or have a vivid dream—that might be the beginning of a book. I also get a lot of my ideas from my own children. Sometimes they say or do something and I know I want to write a book about it.

What are your hobbies?

My children and my writing take up most of my time, so I don't really have any hobbies! My favorite leisure activity is reading. If I had more time, I’d like to spend some of it in the garden. I enjoy watching things grow, but I hate to weed!

What's your favorite book?

Asking me to name my favorite book is like asking me to name my favorite flavor of ice cream. There are so many that I love, that I couldn’t possibly choose just one. I will tell you that a few of my favorite books are Ella Enchanted, Out of the Dust, A Time of Wonder, Bat 6, Goodnight Moon, The Lorax, and Tuck Everlasting.

How long does it take to make a book?

Every book is different. It took me three years to research and write Where the Ground Meets the Sky. Then I spent two years trying to find an editor who wanted to publish the book. And then it took another year for the publishing house to edit and print the book. All in all, it took more than six years to make that book!

Making The Boy Who Drew Birds took a little bit less time. I got the idea for the book in March of 2001 and the book came out in September of 2004. Just three-and-a-half years!

I wrote The Lemonade War in about 17 days. That's the fastest book I've ever written.

What can I do to become a writer?

First of all, if you write, then you are a writer. You don't need anybody else to tell you that you are.

If you want to be a published author, that is a much more difficult task. There are three things you must do to reach that goal. The first is to read as much as you can and as widely as you can. You cannot be a good writer if you are not first an active reader. The second is to write as much as you can. Try to write every day if possible, even if you write only a few lines in your journal. The third thing is to read and write some more. “Becoming” a writer is a journey down a road that never ends. Enjoy the trip!