Where did you get the idea for these books? 

I have two children and when they were small, I hired a lady named Mrs. Miller to take care of them so that I could go down the street to a little office and write my books. When Mrs. Miller left us, we were all sad. So I wrote a book about William and how he wanted to make Mrs. Phillips small so that she could not leave him. And once people had read the first CASTLE book they asked me to write another. 

How long did it take you to write these books? 

It takes me about two years to write a novel and that was true for both the CASTLE books. A year for the first draft, some months off to think about it and then six more months or so to revise it. Everything I write, I rewrite. I've come to believe that rewriting is simply part of writing. It doesn't mean that I did it "wrong" the first time.

Did you have a castle like the one in the attic when you were younger? 

No. But I did have a huge dollhouse with a green mansard roof and real windows. And I played in an attic in my grandmother's house just like the one in the book. I remember the smell of old wood and heaps of strang ancient objects under the eaves --- dried out leather medicine balls and musty smelling party dresses and yellowing diplomas hanging from the rafters.

What is your favorite book you have ever written?

I always say that's like asking a mother which is your favorite child. I love all my books, but ff I had to pick one favorite it would be THE CASTLE IN THE ATTIC. This is the first book I wrote without an outline and I think it is the most spontaneous as a result.

How would you feel if your books were turned into a movie? 

Movie rights have been bought for THE CASTLE IN THE ATTIC although no movie has yet been made. I would be happy to have my characters reach a wider audience and yet I feel it's very important that kids read the story too.

 Did you have to do a lot of research to write these books? 

Yes every book requires research, but it's especially true when you're writing about the Middle Ages. I visited the Metropolitan Museum in New York City where I live and walked through the Arms and Armor Hall. I listened to Gregorian Chant and other medieval music. I read about castles. I visited castles in Ireland and England. For THE BATTLE FOR THE CASTLE, I went to look at the rat lab at a local university. I took my children to see the Morris Dancers who hold a festival every May in Vermont. And of course, I read lots and lots of books. 

Do you ever reread your books once they're published? 

Sometimes. I'll walk by the bookshelf and pull a book down and peek at it. And of course,, I read out loud from them at schools and conferences. Recently I was asked to help create a multi-cast audio cassette of each book for the Words Take Wings© division of Listening Library. That was a very exciting project because the actors, the director, Bruce Coville (yes, really, the children's book writer), the sound technicians and I all gathered in a soundproof room and read the books from beginning to end. It was wonderful to feel the enthusiasm of all those people for a story that had come out of my head. My characters truly came alive in front of me. 

Are your characters based on real people? 

Mrs. Phillips is based on Mrs. Miller who helped take care of my children when they were little. William is based a little bit on my son Andrew, a little bit on experiences with my five brothers when I was growing up and a lot on the way I think and feel about the world. In fact, all my characters have some of me in them. Even the villains. 

Will Alastor ever come back? 

Not that I know of. He's encased in lead and Mrs. Phillips did drop him over the side of the boat. 

What made you think of the rats in BATTLE? 

I wanted to write about something that scared me so rats came to mind. They've never been my favorite creatures. I often go walking in Riverside Park near my apartment in New York and you can see the rats scuttling over the rocks on the edge of the Hudson River. The king rat holds the same power over his followers that a man like Hitler held over his armies. We have to stand up and speak out against people who would have us meekly follow them. 

Do you have any plans to write another book about William? 

I do have an idea for a third book about these characters. It would definitely include Gudrin and Deegan, the two new characters from THE BATTLE FOR CASTLE. But I'm only at the thinking stage. I'm making notes in my journal. I'm just as interested to see what emerges as you are. My characters often surprise me! 

What other books have you written? Click Here To Find Out!!