My early childhood was spent in Newark, New Jersey, but my family moved to Denver when I was 12.

I'm not a literary writer. I didn't go to whatever school it is or have the mentor you need to get reviewed in the New York Times.

I tell writers to keep reading, reading, reading. Read widely and deeply. And I tell them not to give up even after getting rejection letters. And only write what you love.

I never wanted Mary Poppins to be my nanny. I wanted to be her when I grew up.

I love many kinds of music: world music, jazz, classical, pop.

I lived through a classic publishing story. My editor was fired a month before the book came out. The editor who took it over already had a full plate. It was never advertised. We didn't get reviewed in any major outlets.