Though I've published 115 books, I feel I'm just now writing the books I was meant to write. As a ninth generation Virginian, I've often written about my native state--historical fiction, nonfiction, biography. A few years ago, I decided to write funny contemporary books set in Virginia. IVA HONEYSUCKLE DISCOVERS THE WORLD (Disney-Hyperion) and REBEL MCKENZIE (Disney-Hyperion) both celebrate life in small quirky towns that can be found anywhere in the South. Where else would you find a cat named Doublewide with a fondness for pudding cups? Where else would double-first cousins be best-best friends or (in Iva's case) best-enemies? I love writing books for kids and teens that will make them laugh and inspire them to explore the richness of their own backyards, no matter where they live.