Paula Danziger
Normally, I name my characters after famous comedians.Collection: Famous
The books are funny and sad, and that's what people respond to.Collection: Sad
I try to be careful because technology changes so much over the years. But some things don't change. Kids and parents have disagreements, kids try to manipulate, parents try to sit down with rules and regs. That part never changes.Collection: Technology
At age 12, I was put on tranquilizers when I should have gotten help. There was nothing major and awful, I just didn't feel my family was supportive and emotionally generous.
My father was a very unhappy person, very sarcastic, and my mother was very nervous and worried about what people thought. They weren't monsters, but it wasn't a good childhood.
I think my books talk about kids learning to like and respect themselves and each other. You can't write a message book; you just tell the best story you know how to tell.
I'm very lucky. I'm very fortunate that my books have never gone out of print - none of them.
I didn't expect to be doing a whole bunch of Amber Browns. And because it was just one book, and the father had moved away, I didn't realize I was going to have to deal more with shared custody, divorce and all those issues.
When my father would yell at me, I told myself someday I'd use it in a book.
I made the choice long ago to write about real life. And life is both serious and funny.
None of my characters seem to have had sex yet - I haven't written about that. And I wouldn't want to deal with what's happening in Oregon - the school shootings.
I tried to write with someone else once before, but it was not successful.
I deal with unhappy marriages a lot. I've never been married, I'm single.
I wish I had had my books when I was a kid, I do.
Sometimes it's easier to show than it is to tell.
In my next life, I want to be tall and thin, parallel park and make good coffee. But for now, I have lots of stuff to work out in my life, but I'll have that until the day I die. I want to write more books.
I want to keep meeting new people, enlarging my circle of friends. I have great friends now... really good people. But I'm always ready for what comes next.
Good writing is remembering detail. Most people want to forget. Don't forget things that were painful or embarrassing or silly. Turn them into a story that tells the truth.Collection: Silly
We spend our whole lives recovering from high school.Collection: School
Sometimes it's easier to show than it is to tellCollection: Sometimes
Mistakes are growth, and we learn not to do it again. But it doesn't make you a terrible person. That's important to me.Collection: Mistake
Pistachio nuts, the red ones, cure any problem.Collection: Nuts
I think my books talk about kids learning to like and respect themselves and each other. You can't write a message book; you just tell the best story you know how to tellCollection: Book
I want to keep meeting new people, enlarging my circle of friends. I have great friends now... really good people. But I'm always ready for what comes nextCollection: Circles
It's not easy being so frightened of everything. And when I think of how much I've improved in the last year, I wonder when I'll ever get finished with making changes and be really grown up.Collection: Thinking
I feel like I'm addicted to the printed word.Collection: Printed Word
I deal with unhappy marriages a lot. I've never been married, I'm singleCollection: Unhappy
In my next life, I want to be tall and thin, parallel park and make good coffee. But for now, I have lots of stuff to work out in my life, but I'll have that until the day I die. I want to write more booksCollection: Coffee
I'm very lucky. I'm very fortunate that my books have never gone out of print - none of themCollection: Book
At age 12, I was put on tranquilizers when I should have gotten help. There was nothing major and awful, I just didn't feel my family was supportive and emotionally generousCollection: Should Have
I didn't expect to be doing a whole bunch of Amber Browns. And because it was just one book, and the father had moved away, I didn't realize I was going to have to deal more with shared custody, divorce and all those issuesCollection: Father
I try to be careful because technology changes so much over the years. But some things don't change. Kids and parents have disagreements, kids try to manipulate, parents try to sit down with rules and regs. That part never changesCollection: Kids
I wish I had had my books when I was a kid, I doCollection: Book