Oddly, the military world is one of great sameness. There is an orderly quality to life on an army base, and even the children of the military are brought up with that sense of order and sameness.
I don't read young adult or children's books, now that my grandchildren are beyond the age of my reading to them. I read reviews, and so I'm aware of what's out there. But I tend not to read the books.
Nowadays it seems as though people sit down to write what they know is going to be a trilogy.
I don't set out to transmit a message. I don't write with a political point of view. There are no religious overtones. Looking back at my books, I can say, 'Oh, yes, it is there.' But it's not in my mind when I write.
I think teens are drawn to these speculative books that portray what might happen and what could happen.
I was a sidelines child: never class president, never team captain, never the one with the most valentines in my box.
