My kind publishers, Toby Mundy and Margaret Stead of Atlantic Books, have commissioned me to write the life of Queen Victoria.
I like learning things, and I like that writing comics is an excuse to look into new stuff and research and learn new things and hopefully put them in books.
My name became a brand, and I'd love to say that was the plan from the start. But the only plan was to keep writing books. And I've stuck to that ever since.
I love thinking of movie stars who could play the characters in the books I write. I think Charlize Theron would make a lovely Marie Antoinette.
I just have to proceed as usual. No matter what happens, nothing helps with the writing of the next book.
No one can tell you what you can and cannot put in your book. So be brave and just write!
Book writing is a little different because, in my case, my editor is a year younger than me and basically has the same sensibility as me.
I can't write a book like 'Lamb' or 'Fool' every year. It just takes too much research and craft.
When I was writing my first two books I was also freelancing and teaching and doing other odd jobs.
After the children grew up, I began to focus on my writing. My first books were part of a trilogy... The 'Wind Dance' trilogy.
There are two motives for writing a book: one, that you may save what you know, the other, that you may share what you know with the public.
I worked from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. every night for a year to write the first 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' book.
But I've been at writing long enough now to know that every three or four books I have to start a new direction.
People think writing a children's book is something you could do in an afternoon but it's actually really hard.
I've heard rumors that the Petersons are writing a book. It will be very interesting to see what they have to say, but I don't know anything about the Rochas.
It can be hard to write a skillfully entertaining fiction, but a great book wants to be more, and wants more from us.
Reality is what we tell to go screw itself every time we write or read a book, shoot or watch a movie.
As the news agenda goes into warp speed, it becomes ever more difficult for authors writing about current events to keep their books timely and relevant.
I actually have, in all seriousness, in the back of my mind someday to write a book, the title of which would be 'Quit Now and Other Practical Advice for the Aspiring Actor.'
Generally, if you preface an interview request with, 'I'm an author writing a book,' for some reason, that seems to open a lot of doors.
I got done writing Ports of Call and suddenly realized I have far too much material for the book.
