"I wanted to make sure that it was clear that 'religious' is not synonymous with 'conservative' or 'anti-gay' or 'anti-Jewish'—instead, most religious people believe in kindness and love and tolerance."

—on WIDE AWAKE (YA)

"I was so captivated--perhaps I should say captured--by Blackbeard and his rowdy, rousing life that I couldn't help but soldier on until I had captured HIM."

—on BLACKBEARD THE PIRATE KING (PB)

"A lot of my books deal with Chinese culture because, in a way, I'm trying to find the culture I lost. When I was younger, I was ashamed or sometimes even angry about being Chinese. Most of the time I forgot that I was Chinese. Sometimes I would see myself in the mirror and be surprised to see a Chinese girl looking back at me."

—on her body of work

“I kept a highly detailed chronology of all Ruby's boyfriends, her every shrink appointment, the day-to-day chronology of her breakup and each key event in her transformation from popular girl to leper to famous slut.”

— on THE BOYFRIEND LIST (YA)

" I sold this book on the strength of some anecdotes about drama camp told to an editor at lunch. Donna Bray from Hyperion. She had amazing faith in me that I could make a book out of a few ridiculous stories. I hadn't even known it was a book idea until she told me."

—on DRAMARAMA (YA)

"Psychologically, it proved challenging to write such a personal book. It was emotionally draining to keep digging backward to old feelings with each rewrite. Having Rules' release date moved was especially hard, because I had to hold open emotions that I craved to close and grow past after awhile. But I couldn't close them, because I knew I would have to access them again with the next rewrite."

—on RULES (MG)

“As I studied the postcards, one little dancer stood out--different from the rest. She had darker skin and a beautiful sad face. She became Little Sap to me, as I looked at her picture and imagined her life.”

—on LITTLE SAP AND MONSIEUR RODIN (PB)

“I'm slowly getting oxygen back into my lungs. I think it's going to turn out okay. Did I mention that I love this book?”

— on DUNK (YA)

“I wanted to call it Flux Sux. We were all set to do that, but a couple months later, my editor got cold feet and said we should change the title.”

—on SLEEPING FRESHMEN NEVER LIE (YA)

Author Update: David Lubar

“When alcohol abuse is an issue in families, shame naturally follows.”

—on DANCING IN THE STREETS OF BROOKLYN (YA)

"I grew up in Dyker Heights and several mobsters lived on my block. When I was a kid I thought it was totally normal (doesn't everyone live this way?), but as I got older I began to realize what a unique experience I had. Finally, I figured, hey, I should write about this!"

—on BROTHERS, BOYFRIENDS
& OTHER CRIMINAL MINDS (YA)

"Since the book was present-tense, there was little room for reflection or second-guessing on Fanboy's part. We were always in his head, in the moment. And he wasn't inclined to cut people slack."

—on THE ASTONISHING ADVENTURES OF
FAN BOY AND GOTH GIRL (YA)