In a short interview on the New York Times website, Ann M. Martin talks about what she's working on, her work habits, and what she's been reading.
http://papercuts.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/stray-questions-for-ann-m-martin/?scp=1&sq=ann%20m.%20martin&st=cse I'm sure reading Dreiser had a tremendous impact on the writing of Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls.