Lauren Tarshis

“In quiet moments, I love to read.”

“Many writers are afraid of writing something bad, so they don't try or give up when their efforts don't lead to a masterpiece right away. If you work at it, you will improve.”

“The most important advice I can offer is that writing is a craft that you can learn by practicing. If you keep writing, you will improve.”

“That was how it always was with Colleen: No matter how sad she felt, there was always this little bit of hope - like a speck of glitter caught in your eyelash - that never went away, no matter what.”

“Colleen had this idea -- a faded, crumpled, smudged idea -- that being nice counted for something.”

“I had learning problems when I was in elementary school, and didn't really start to read well until high school. I never read any of the middle grade classics that were popular when I was young - 'Harriet the Spy', 'Charlotte's Web', 'The Witch of Blackbird Pond', 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'.”