Did you know that Kate DiCamillo has a staircase story in her own life that is similar to the staircase in The Tale of Despereaux?

Could Kate DiCamillo have visited a Winn-Dixie store in her own life?

Exactly how much of Ms. DiCamillo's life can be found in her literary works? How much of our own life is found in our own writings, whether we intend to put it there or not?

I'll bet a professional writer like Ms. DiCamillo can just crank out a book without ever having to edit or revise -- it just flows and is perfect the first time. Do you think she has to edit her work? What do you think her writing and editing process is like?

We have read Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux. They are very different and yet I think there are similarities between the two books. What do you think?