"She’s lost on the streets of New York. She’s very lost and very alone and she’s very frightened." "And a good magician turns up and makes her life better?" She doesn’t smile. She just pushes her sandwich from one end of the plate to the other. "I dunno. I don’t think anyone turns up. She just has to make the best of the world on her own." "With her magic powers?" I ask. She can’t disappoint her readers totally! She nods. "With her magic powers… perhaps."

She takes a bite of her sandwich. ”And that’s why the late nights. Research. Imagine that - me, a crazy old bag lady wandering the streets of New York looking for a lost girl. But yes, I do go looking for her.’” “What,” I ask - “do you really think the heroine of your book is out there? A little lost girl with magic at her fingertips?” She puts down her sandwich and looks at me. There are tears in her eyes. ”I do.”