Your success is undeniable. What is the best and the worst side of such a success?

The best part is knowing that something I created has such a profound effect on so many people. Every day, I get tons of messages from people who love the books and have been affected by the characters. It’s humbling and awe-inspiring. The worst part is simply the pressure to keep up that same standard. When so many people love what you write, you don’t want to disappoint them!

The Internet in general and the Social Networks in particular have narrowed the relationship between the writer and the reader. What do you think of this new situation?

I think it’s wonderful. Social networking allows readers to see the person behind the book. Likewise, authors get to instantly see how their books are being received. It’s still impossible to contact every reader individually, but the Internet has definitely allowed authors to reachout from what has traditionally been a very solitary job. I especially like that my readers can still get information and news from me in the long waits between new books.

Young Adult OR Adult, Adventure OR Romance... what do you think about book labeling?

On one level, labeling is necessary for publishers and booksellers to stay organized. It can even be useful for readers seeking new books because it gives them a general place to start. We have to be careful, however, that labels don’t end up restricting authors and readers. At the end of the day, the most important thing is the quality of a story—not what category it falls into.

Why did the moroi and strigoi mith call your attention in the first place?

I liked it because it was different and not something that most people in Western culture know about. It’s an exciting challenge as a writer to take something “new” like that and develop it. Plus, the idea of two vampire cultures just allows for so much variety and creativity, which is also important to a writer.

Where do you think the appeal of your characters lies? (especially Dimitri and Adrian)

Even though they aren’t human, I think a lot of my characters come across as very real and very relatable. That’s where the appeal is. The characters aren’t perfect, but they feel real. Readers care about the characters immensely and are willing to stay with them through all sorts of ups and downs.