As writers, we must keep throwing problems at our characters. Conflict is the heart of good storytelling. Hiking in nature along a twisting trail can remind us what a good story feels like. It's the opposite of a treadmill - or an interstate highway.

I'm still driven by the feeling I had when I wrote my first book or read a Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle adventure.

One of the best essays I've seen in recent years was by a young woman who wrote about how being chosen to choreograph a high school musical forced her to assume a leadership role she wasn't sure she was ready for - but of course she was.

Early in my publishing career, someone told me I'd need to have five books in print before I could quit my job as a journalist. Turns out it was closer to 10 books. It also turns out that while it's great to see my titles on bookstore shelves, my best customers are schools and libraries.

People, despite having the common interest in our band, might not be friends before meeting at a show. It's great bringing families together.

There are people who have comfortable relationships with power and people with natural antagonism to power. I think it's easy to guess where I am in that.

We always need friends. And I think we come out of these highly social environments with university, college, wherever we were, and getting to a new city could be daunting. It can be lonely, and it's almost easier to find a date than it is to find a friend.

I believe social media gives away a lot to people. I got this impression long time back when my friend was on Twitter, and he got trolled because he posted his opinion about something. He was very upset about it, as he didn't expect that people will reply in such a nasty way.