Sandi, One of my favorite things Ella says is about how her books have a lot of soul — each one being a little different. Very cool.

Oh — it is, isn’t it? There’s a lot of rich stuff in this interview, entirely due to Ella’s terrific answers and the bloglily readers’ terrific questions. It’s much longer than the usual blog post, but I think it rewards those who sit and take some time to read it. Ella has a lovely voice, doesn’t she? Also, this new book about the colors is remarkable. i can’t wait to see it.

W,R — I could not agree with you more. I forget sometimes, after spending too much time obsessing over submissions and agents and editors and the question about whether the novel dying and will it be dead by the time I ever get a book out there into the world, that this whole thing — reading and writing, I mean — has at its core the potential for enormous pleasure. And Ella knows that. Plus, she’s very funny.