With the '39 Clues,' we were making history jump out of the page for the readers, so they don't know they're learning. The kids can't put the books down - it's so exciting.

When I set up my Web site, I made a guestbook so kids can write to me there, and that's become one of the most popular parts of the site.

I can't contain how enthusiastic I am about working on books for kids.

I like helping other writers who don't know what to do or where to go in New York.

I wanted to have the opportunity to travel to Vietnam and Sydney, and have the chance to work there.

People who might normally have to travel hours to a distant city to see a cardiologist can now do so virtually, through Cisco technology, at their local hospital or health clinic. Clinicians use technology to share patient reports and diagnostic images and collaborate on cases.

Aviation - and space travel, in particular - have always been especially captivating.

The travel that I've spent around the country, I always come back with ideas for L.A. and vice versa: My experiences in L.A. give me an immediacy to issues that sometimes people in Washington think about but aren't experiencing every day.