While the cast of characters stays the same, I always try to add in new information so readers get to know the people they care about better with each story.

I love Christmas! I'm not religious, but I love the trappings of the season. I love the decorations, and the music, and Santa, and the festive food, and the cinnamon- and vanilla-infused aromas.

Actually, the first thing I do is choose the antique that will be featured in each book. I try to find unusual objects with great stories. I am fascinated by the stories.

I encourage people to read by encouraging them to read whatever they want.

The trick is to get people to read anything, to engender the love of reading. Once you can read, you can teach yourself anything. Librarians are key, I think. They hold the power to empower.

While I hear from readers all the time that they love learning new things, I never want to do an "info-dump." Boring! I try to include enticing details and skip all the rest.

You have to teach your heart and mind how to sing together... then you'll hear the sound of your soul

Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children

It is more disgraceful for a king to tell lies than anyone else.

According to the international organization for migration, more than 1 million migrants have arrived in Europe this year, the most since World War II. Half of them were Syrian.

I have worked all my life, wanted to work all my life, needed to work all my life.

When I cannot stand alone, it will be time to die.

I don't want to be THE president, but I would like to have A president.

Don't be afraid," I said, "We belong together." I was immediatly overcome by the truth of my own words.

I realized that all animals, not just dogs and cats and horses, were sentient beings; therefore, I just couldn't say I love animals and then eat them.

Reducing the price of cancer drugs is a humanitarian move.