A little about Anne: Anne Bishop lives in upstate New York where she enjoys gardening, music, and writing dark, romantic stories. She is the author of thirteen novels, including the award-winning Black Jewels Trilogy. Her most recent novel is Shalador’s Lady, a book set in the Black Jewels world. She is currently working on a collection of Black Jewels stories. Since you’re reading this, there’s no point in telling you to visit her website at www.annebishop.com.

OBS:  What motivates you to write about controversial issues and the darker side of humanity?

Anne: I don’t choose the stories; the stories choose me. It’s a bit like an oyster with a grain of sand. Something intrigues me–a thought, an image, an idea. Other thoughts, images, ideas begin accumulating around that initial one. The story continues growing that way until I have a place, the people, and the moment when their journey begins. At that point, I begin writing. I don’t ask myself if it’s dark or controversial. I just tell the story about those people in that time and place.

OBS: What inspires you in your characters formations?

Anne: I don’t think of creating characters in concrete terms, but my interest in each one begins with two questions: who are you, and what do you want?

OBS: Which character from all your books do you identify with most and why? Which are your favorites?

Anne: I identify with all the characters to some degree, good and bad. I have to see with their eyes and live in their skins in order to tell their parts of the story. Some days that is a very uncomfortable thing to do. Favorites? Daemon Sadi from the Black Jewels books. Sebastian from the Ephemera books. Morag from the Tir Alainn books.

OBS: What sort of books did you read growing up? What were your favorites then and now?

Anne: I read all kinds of books. Lots of animal stories–Lad, the Black Stallion, etc. Horror. Mysteries. Then I discovered Andre Norton, and that opened up the genres of fantasy and science fiction. Now it’s fantasy, romance and paranormal romance, and mysteries for the most part.

OBS: What future projects are you working on? Can you tell us anything about them?

Anne: The next book, which is coming out in March 2011, is a Black Jewels story collection called *Twilight’s Dawn.* I’ve just started writing a new book set in the landscapes of Ephemera, which is scheduled to come out in March 2012.

Thank you Anne for the great interview!!