KIRBY LARSON

I absolutely love writing and sharing my enthusiasm with students, and because of 'Hattie Big Sky,' Montana holds a special place in my heart.

It's so much fun trying to channel my inner four-year-old.

I was overwhelmed by how military families felt supported and honored by 'Nubs.'

I wanted to use my writing skills to bring attention to the overwhelming needs of the Gulf coast region.

After writing two books featuring amazing dogs, I decided to be owned by one.

In a novel, you have space to develop a character or a scene. You don't have that luxury in a 700-800-word picture book.

I sold 'Hattie Big Sky' without an agent but quickly realized a writing career required an agent.

After writing several chapter books, I found my true passion: historical fiction.

When someone is working hard on something, that always connects with people, no matter what the differences in generations are.

It seems the misfortune of one can plow a deeper furrow in the heart than the misfortune of millions.

I gotta pound the keys for the ideas to flow.

Hattie.' Grace patted my arm. 'My cows sing better than you do.

I love visiting new places but am not overly fond of the travel to get to them.

Hon, when someone's a true friend, there's no need to miss 'em." She patted her chest. "'Cause they're always right here.

I think if you find your passion and you go with it you are rewarded.

The lessons this life has planted in my heart pertain more to caring than crops, more to Golden Rule than gold, more to the proper choice than to the popular choice.

If I ruled supreme, there would be big problems.

My bounce-around life had taught me that dreams were dangerous things - they look solid in your mind, but you just try to reach for them. It's like gathering clouds.

The wren and the nightingale sound nothing alike, but think how dull the world would be without the songs of both birds.-Miss Kanagawa

Sir if I was your daughter I would wait until this train started again and throw myself in front of it!

It's the company, not the cooking, that makes a meal.

[Rejection] made me quit writing once. For six months. I started up again when my then seven-year-old son asked me to start writing again because I was too grumpy when I wasn't writing.

Why couldn't I be more like other girls my age? Take Mrs. Brown's niece. She spent every waking hour sizing up this beau or that, stitching tea towels and petticoats and putting aside a little each month for a set of Spode Buttercup dishes.

Character is everything, especially these days when that's what publishers are asking for. Make sure that yours have child appeal. Also don't have a huge cast of characters. One or two is best, four, the maximum.

Well, before writing became all-consuming, I was a quilter, like Hattie and Perilee. I don’t do that anymore, but I do knit, garden and watch the birds in my backyard. I also take lots of walks, do yoga and talk my husband into taking me out to dinner as often as possible.