We came up with the (title) 'Author in the House' -- we thought it was catchy -- then wrote the grant.

We wanted them to have something. We thought this would be nice and also increase reading and writing.

Your heart, Bessie, is an autumn garage.

This is exactly what we wanted. It is very rewarding. Who knows -- we may get a writer or an illustrator out of this.

I think I settled on the title before I ever wrote the book.

Interpreter of Maladies is the title of one of the stories in the book. And the phrase itself was something I thought of before I even wrote that story.