My husband wrote the story for my first book, but then he didn't want to do that anymore. So if I was going to go on being an illustrator, I had to start writing the stories, too.

I never wanted to be a writer. I wanted to be a book illustrator. I used to hurry home from school and draw.

I have a wonderful husband, and we have had a great life.

The first two books that I did by myself were long stories in verse. I knew I could do that because I'd written a lot in verse. But, verse stories are hard to sell, so my editor encouraged me to try writing in prose.

I grew up wanting only to be an illustrator. I studied art at Laurel School in Cleveland and at Smith College.

You're going to have to find out where you want to go. And then you've got to start going there.