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.

Why do you prefer to continue inside the Vampire Academy universe with a spin-off instead of to begin a completely new series?

Creating a fantasy world is a lot of work. When you’ve invested that much time in something like that, it’s hard to let it go completely. I was definitely done with Rose’s story, however, and didn’t want to return to her yet. So, a spin-off became the perfect compromise. It challenges me with a new story to tell but still lets me keep using this world that I (and readers) love.

How does the novel you are writting influence your other projects, present or future? (for instance, by triying to find opposite characters or if they mix at some level)

Each novel is its own story, independent of all others, and I never run into problems with mixing them up. They don’t directly influence other projects or books, but on a subconscious level, I’m usually drawn to new things. So, if I decided to write a new series, I wouldn’t actively think, “I’ve already done teen vampires, so I’m not going to do that.” But, my mind would simply be looking for new worlds on its own and gravitate towards something different. The variety of this job is one of its most wonderful traits.

Your Spanish readers would love to meet you in person. Meanwhile, what can you tell us about Richelle Mead?

Too much tell in so short a space! The best place to learn about me is from my website, blog, Facebook, and Twitter. You can get all the basic facts, as well as what I’m like on a day-to-day basis.

What made you realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve wanted to write since I was a child. I read a lot when I was young, and I think when people are exposed to a lot of books and stories, they eventually start to develop stories of their own. That’s what happened to me. Once I came up with them, I had to write them and share them.

The contact with readers always leads to many anecdotes. What is the weirdest, funniest or most touching moment that you have lived in a signing or presentation?

Probably one of the most astonishing moments I’ve had was meeting a family who named their baby after me. They were really lovely, wonderful people, and I hope she likes the name when she’s older!