I Didn't Know Anything About Writing A

But Let's Not Speak Of What Might Have Been. Let Us Speak Instead Of What Is. You Are Whole.

At The Thought Of Being Eaten By Rats, Despereaux Forgot About Being Brave. He Forgot About Not Being A Disappointment. He Felt Himself Heading Into Another Faint. But His Mother, Who Had An Excellent Sense Of Dramatic Timing, Beat Him To It; She Executed A Beautiful, Flawless Swoon, Landing Right At Despereaux's Feet.

No One Cared What She Wanted. No One Had Ever Cared. And Perhaps, Worst Of All, No One Ever Would Care.

Mercy Watson Is Obsessed With Toast. What Was Blocking Me Was The Challenge Of Trying To Understand What She Loves, What Motivates Her. That Was The Missing Piece. Toast Became The Physical Symbol Of Mercy's Hopefully Endearing Greed And Obsession. Without That Element In Place, It Didn't Make Sense.

I'm Grateful For Every Teacher Or Librarian Who Reads A Book And Says, "this Is Exactly The Book That So-and-so Needs To Read; I'll Get It In His Hands." I'm Amazed At The Network Of Adults Who Make Sure That Kids Get Books.