In the 1970s and 1980s there was so little decent fiction for young people, but we're now in a golden age that shows no sign of fading. Philip Pullman, J. K. Rowling, Lemony Snicket are only three of the best known among a good number of equals.
I've played a lot of younger, more coming-of-age roles as well as roles that aren't such an imposing physical presence.
When I first began writing, and I told people what I wrote, I'd get a blank stare and sometimes a 'Huh?' They weren't sure what young adult literature was. Now everyone knows.
I don't believe in children's books. I think after you've read Kidnapped, Treasure Island, and Huckleberry Finn, you're ready for anything.
I didn't really watch action films growing up! I grew up on stuff like 'Anne of Green Gables' - that was more when I was in elementary school. It was all I ever watched.
Cinemas gained new young audiences who wanted films made for them.
My book group has one rule: no books for adults. We read young adult fiction only.
Of course Stephen King doesn't believe in teen novels. I've started to suspect he doesn't even believe in teenagers.
Kids definitely go into bookstores after reading 'Twilight' and want something else like it.
I work on the types of movies that I would have loved watching as a kid.
The key to writing successful YA is to keep the adults out of the story as much as possible.
I have so little patience with the whole Y.A. book thing. As far as I'm concerned, you either read books for children or you read books for adults.
Like a lot of people my age, I grew up on Amblin movies. They're a part of who I am as a filmmaker and, arguably, as a person.
You can talk about Michael Jackson all you want, but John Hughes was the soundtrack to my 1980s life.
The West Wing and The Outsiders are the gifts that keep on giving.
