Caroline B. Cooney quotes:

Lying on the front passenger seat, as if it didn't matter, was Rose's Diary. It Mattered.

If you write a story based on a real person, you're trapped by the details of the real person and his life. It gets in the way of writing your own story.

I love writing and do not know why it is considered such a difficult, agonizing profession.

Actually my first eight books were historical novels, but they were never published.

I approach serious subjects, and I like to have the good guys win and have the parents among the good guys.

Stephen had just come from a class discussion in which several students believed that the right cup of herbal tea would save them from pain and sorrow. Well acquainted with pain and sorrow, Stephen did not contribute to the discussion. He merely crossed these idiots off his list of possible friends.

I'll take you to Mickey D's," said Sean. "I'll buy you a hamburger." Annie was not thrilled. Sean's offer did not compare to offers made in other centuries. "And fries," Sean said. "And a vanilla milkshake." Annie remained unthrilled. "Okay, okay. You can have a Big Mac." Romance in my century, she thought, is pitiful.

in Los Angeles ... was the thinking-est crowd on earth: how to get ahead, how to mold a better body, how to have a better relationship, how to score, earn, fight, win, get published, be a star.

People nearly always believe, and are willing to back it up with weapons and cruelty, that their religion and way of life is better than the other person's.

I'm one of the lucky writers: plots come easily to me.

My favorite book is always the one I'm working on at the moment.

My favorite book is always the one I'm working on at the moment

Guys with nice person names try to be sympathetic.

I wrote eight full-length adult novels in my twenties. None of them were published

People think they own time. They have watches and clocks and digital pulses. But they are wrong. Time owns them.

I decided to write short stories because they got rejected quicker.

I get letters from readers who say that they have always hated reading, but somebody suggested one of my books, they actually finished the book and enjoyed it, and they're going on to read another book. I'm thrilled that they have figured out that reading is fun.

What more can life hold, than to know that because of your story, somebody out there has decided to read again!

I approach serious subjects, and I like to have the good guys win and have the parents among the good guys

I love writing and do not know why it is considered such a difficult, agonizing profession. I love all of it, thinking up the plots, getting to know the kids in the story, their parents, backyards, pizza toppings.

Breakfast was only worth having when somebody else made it for you.

I believe my readers are crazy about their parents and want to be just like them when they grow up.

I thought of the parable of the prodigal son. We had made merry for the beloved child's return too - but what happens when the beloved child doesn't say she's sorry? The parable doesn't talk about that. Jesus figures of course you're sorry. Jesus, I thought, you blew it. Not everybody is sorry.

I love all of it, thinking up the plots, getting to know the kids in the story, their parents, backyards, pizza toppings.

I'm one of the lucky writers: plots come easily to me

People nearly always believe, and are willing to back it up with weapons and cruelty, that their religion and way of life is better than the other person's

I get letters from readers who say that they have always hated reading, but somebody suggested one of my books, they actually finished the book and enjoyed it, and they're going on to read another book. I'm thrilled that they have figured out that reading is fun

I believe my readers are crazy about their parents and want to be just like them when they grow up

I wonder why we always deny love. I remember in middle school, if you were accused of the crime of loving, you screamed denials constantly and stopped ever even looking at the boy you were accused of liking. The boys could destroy each other by yodeling, "An-drew lo-oves Jen-nie," and both Andrew and Jennie would flinch and blush. Love is this great thing that most songs and books and poems and lives are all about. So the minute we actually think there might be love around, we start laughing and pretending and hiding from it.

When in doubt, shut up.

She had gradually changed her name. "Jane" was too dull. Last year, she'd added a "y", becoming Jayne, which had more personality.

But I found my family. I found the right thing to do. I found the way home.

But sometimes, in tight corners, when your back is against the wall and the world is against you, you have to fight back in unexpected ways.

I believe my voice is pretty much the same. I've written 75 books, so I'm better at it now than I was earlier in my career

Actually my first eight books were historical novels, but they were never published