Stephenie Meyer Q&A with TMs- Part 5

AmyO · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:45 am

TM: Do interviews make you nervous? You always seem so composed and down to earth - just like you are talking with a new neighbor - when you are on TV interviews. Are you just a really good actress as well? Are you prepped for the interviews? Do they give you a clue what they will be asking?

Steph: I must be a good actress, because interviews freak me out. I get physically ill, and my eye twitches.
Sometimes I get prepped for big interviews, but mostly not. Then again, most of the questions are pretty similar.

TM: I'm reading Twilight (again) and have a few questions:

1. In the beginning of the meadow scene, Bella is running her fingers along Edwards arm. It says, "I trailed my hand over the perfect muscles of his arm, followed the faint pattern of bluish veins inside the crease at his elbow". Why does he have "bluish veins"?

2. Edward and Bella in her room that night: "Carlisle has a theory... he believes that we all bring something of our strongest human traits with us into the next life, where they are intensified -- like our minds, and our senses." Okay, not really a question you'll answer right now, but I am obsessed with Bella's mind (and everything Twilight!). This makes my wonder how her private mind will be intensified?

3. I can't resist asking, and can't wait for MS -- They decide Alice and Jasper will go with Bella. Edward asks if Jasper can handle it, then says, "'Can you handle this?'" She snarls at him. "Edward smile at her. "But keep your opinions to yourself," he muttered suddenly." Of course I just HAVE to know what Alice was thinking as she is snarling.

And lastly, not a question, but I just have to echo my excitement (that's putting it mildly) that you are here with us moms! We love you! Steph

Steph:
1) The veins are still there, they just aren't functioning anymore. Like the heart.

2) You're right, I'm not going to answer that.

3) Alice is snarling because he dared to doubt her abilities. In many ways, Alice is the most formidable of all the Cullen’s. She's thinking that anything he can do, she can do better (and possibly humming that tune in her head

)

TM: So in Twilight, Bella is listening to Linkin Park in her cd player. Is that Hybrid Theory or Meteora? I've tried to guess but I'm not sure if Meteora was out when the book was being written.

Also, when Edward is driving her and asks what cd she is listening to right now, she says that cd, and he has it in his car. Did he have a copy of the cd before he started watching her, or did he get a copy after he started watching her and knew she was listening to it?

Steph: It was Hybrid Theory. But Meteora was out at the time.

Edward already had the Hybrid Theory cd in his car. They have similar taste in music, Edward's just listened to a lot more than Bella at this point.

TM: Is it really just embarrassment that keeps Bella from wanting to marry Edward? I mean, come on, this is Edward we're talking about?

Edward didn't do anything inappropriate with Tanya did he? Of course, she is part of the succubus, I'm sure she tried pretty hard.

Was Edward really not mad when Bella kissed Jacob? (I threw my book, sorry)

Did Edward ever watch Bella during those six weeks of silence or was he trying to be strong and leave her alone? When did he realize that he was falling for her?

Steph:
1. Bella is conditioned to be anti-marriage. Her problem is 25% embarrassment, 25% an inability to understand why marriage is necessary, 25% pure stubbornness, and 25% loyalty to Renee's opinions.

2. Edward did not even kiss Tanya. But he knew what she was thinking, and it was pretty bad.

3. Edward was in a lot of pain when Bella kissed Jacob, but he wasn't angry at either of them. The less selfish part of him honestly hopes at that point that she will choose Jacob. He believes Jacob is a healthier choice for her.

4. Edward did not watch Bella in her home or outside of school during the time that he was ignoring her. He was trying very, very hard to forget her existence. He already knew, thanks to Alice, that there was a great chance that he was going to impact Bella's life in a negative way. He was trying as hard as he could to change the future. He was very aware of her when he had to be near her in school. It was during this time of surreptitious watching--analyzing her every word and expression, everything everyone else said to her and thought about her--that he fell in love with her.

TM: Rosalie's friend (Vera, I think) had a baby named Henry. Was he named after Henry Cavill for fun? Just curious.

Steph: Ha ha! Good catch. The baby was originally named "Carl," but my editor felt there were too many "C" names (Carlisle, Charlie, and Carlos--who became Benito). I had to rename Vera's baby, so he became little Henry Cavill.

TM: What's your favorite Orson Scott Card book? LOVED the Enders books, and am curious where to go next. I love his writing style.

Second- Any other book recommendations? I just finished Libba Bray's 3rd book in her Gemma Doyle series and I need something new! (I love those books, by the way - you should read them if you haven't already.)

Last - if you had three days just to do exactly what you wanted to do and NOTHING else - what would you do and WHERE would you be?

Steph:
1) Speaker for the Dead. I read it first by accident, and it was actually a life changing read for me. I can't think of another book that changed my perspective on the real world that way. My second favorite, outside of Ender's world, was Enchantment. Best clean love scene ever. I also really enjoyed the first three Alvin books. And a bunch of others. OSC is the best.

2)Read Shannon Hale--particularly Austenland. Also fantastic and Austen-related, Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman--this book is a classic. A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson--I read it at least once a year like Pride and Prejudice. Dragonhaven by Robin Mckinley--one of the best books to come out last year. When I'm in the mood for violence I read Thomas Perry and Vince Flynn. The Jane Whitefield novels are Perry's best (I think Shadow Woman is the first), and Separation of Power was my favorite of Flynn's (he's a lot like Clancy minus Clancy's scene-flipping ADD). Flynn's books have gotten more graphically gruesome over time, so I prefer his earlier stuff.

3) Asleep, probably. Sleep is pretty much my favorite thing. Otherwise, it would be cool to hang out with my girlfriends without feeling like I was playing hooky. Also, I like to write for fun. I usually have some project that is not for my publisher to work on when I feel like playing. And of course I never say no to a Muse concert.

TM: I was wondering if there was anything you have learned through these characters? You said your self confidence is higher now, is it coming through Bella? I know seeing the similarities of Bella and myself helps me not feel so clumsy...and alone.

Besides the major scenes, the meadow-James climax, is there a scene or moments, in Twilight that you are most looking forward to seeing on the big screen? One you are most worried about? One that will be the most FUN to watch?

I think the beginning with Edward being tormented will be hysterical to watch and Alice playing Barbie doll with Bella for Prom would be fun too.

Thank you for adding to our obsession by coming here and answering questions. So much fun!

Steph: My new confidence didn't really come from my characters. It came from having people tell me that I was good at something, and then having that backed up by sales It came from being able to support my family all by myself. It came from simply living through all the interviews and appearances, and from surviving the traveling.

I'm worried about ALL the scenes, and excited to see them ALL. Every insignificant moment is pretty vital to me. One thing I'm looking forward to because I DIDN'T write it. I always knew how it went when Edward first walked into the sun before the meadow scene, but I couldn't put it into words (I hear music to it, though). I've always felt like that moment could only be expressed through a visual medium, so I'm hoping they get that part right.

TM: Where did the idea for the tattoos come from for the New Moon special edition?
What do you think of them?

Steph: Probably from someone in marketing. I thought it was a great idea when the publisher ran it by me. I adore fake tattoos.

TM:
1) Did Edward's mom Elizabeth know that Carlisle was a vampire when she asked him to use his power to save Edward?

2) Is there more behind Rosalie disliking Bella so much? Will we ever get to know more about Rosalie?

3) Why does Carlisle believe in an afterlife for "good" vampires but Edward can't believe it?

Steph:
1) Elizabeth had no idea that he was a vampire, but she did suspect that he was something more than mortal. She was desperate for anything that could save her baby.

2) Rosalie can't like Bella because she hates Bella's choices. She sees Bella with everything she wants for herself, and then sees Bella tossing it all aside like it's worth nothing. She would trade everything--even her face, ha ha--to be in Bella's shoes.

3) Why do some people believe in heaven and others believe in nothing? Edward isn't an atheist, but he takes the idea of evil very seriously. He doesn't think he can redeem himself for his own nature. It makes sense to him that there would have to be a price to pay for limited immortality and superhuman powers. Of course, his belief system is in flux at the moment. If God can forgive him enough to allow him to have Bella in his life, then maybe God is a great deal kinder than he'd guessed.

TM: Do you ever just crack up or shake your head when you see discussions on this forum or the lexicon or others like it about what we think might happen in the books? Do our speculations amuse and/or infuriate you? Or are you just so over it you don't even think about it?

Steph: I feel fear when people guess something close and infuriation when people guess something so out of character that I can't believe that they've read the first three books. I am rarely amused by speculation about BD, because it's sort of a sensitive subject. People hardly ever make a guess without attaching some sort of judgment. For example, "I think Bella is going to get turned into a vampire and if she doesn't I will hate Stephenie Meyer forever." Given the fact that almost everyone wants something different, it makes me feel like no matter what I write, people will be coming for me with torches.

TM: How soon will you know your touring schedule for The Host? Breaking Dawn?

You will be doing signings for the Host, right? ...wait a minute... how the heck are you gonna manage two tours for two books in one year???

Steph: How will I manage? Poorly, no doubt.

I think I will be doing a ten city tour for The Host, but I don't know the cities yet. It will probably take the majority of the month of May, given that I have insisted on travel days--with the way air travel works these days, you can't count on getting where you need to be at the time your flight claims you will arrive. I was late in Boston last fall thanks to delays, and it was really close in Chicago. The stress was giving me ulcers. Also, I have to take lots of Dramamine to fly, and it makes me really droopy. It's hard to do an event when your brain is all fogged up. So now I am not supposed to have events on the same day that I travel somewhere. I guess I'll see if that pans out when I get my schedule.

The BD tour will be shorter. The events got so out of hand last year that changes have to be made. It will be a lot more regimented, and probably less fun, in the future.

TM: Stephenie, are you concerned at all about the type of music they put in the movie? I know that you don't get any say on anything about the movie, but do you think that they will take into consideration the style that inspired you as you wrote it? I feel like these books are along the alternative/indie style of music. The characters are themselves not mainstream, so the music CAN'T be mainstream. I hope they get it right, I would be sad if they put some Brittany Spears crap in there (or whatever it is that the kids mostly listen to these days.) I imagine Edward as Mathew Bellamy when he plays the piano. Why does it turns me on?

Steph: I am concerned about the music, because music is so much a part of the story for me. Summit seems to want to do the right thing, though. I gave them a dream list of bands I would want involved (it will be mostly new music written for the movie, I believe). People like Arcade Fire and Ok Go and Gomez and My Chemical Romance and Blue October. And Muse Muse Muse MUSE!! (Of course Matthew Bellamy turns you on. Isn't everyone turned on by MB??)
I am very afraid that there will be some catering to the 13 year old audience with Brittany Spears-esque levels of pop or hip hop. Argh! I'd have to watch it on mute wearing my ipod!

TM: Have you had a chance to meet any church leaders because of your "fame"? Where you in awe? What was it like?

Steph: No. But I did get to meet Sheri Dew at a leadership conference when I was in the R.S. presidency two wards ago. She was awesome. She talked to us for a little bit because all of us were under 24, and we looked like a bunch of teenagers next to the more experienced presidencies.

TM: In Twilight, Chapter 16, page 336 when Edward is showing Bella the different paintings in Carlisle's office and is telling her the history of Carlisle, there is a painting in paragraph 8 where it states that there is a certain painting that catches Edward's interest. "It was a larger landscape in dull fall colors --- an empty, shadowed meadow in a forest, with a craggy peak in the distance." I've wondered if that was a "place" that meant something to Edward's past as well as Carlisle's; or, was it the meadow that Edward took Bella just in fall colors; or, does it have significance in your future stories?

Steph: That painting was significant only to Carlisle. It reminded him of the way the world looked to him during the first part of his life as a vampire--very lonely.

TM: Where did you come up with the idea for it to be 3 days for the change to a vampire to take place?

This could actually be 2 different questions, one being all the nitty gritty about the details on how the change happens...how to make it shorter...
but I think I’m asking more if there was anything interesting that sparked this in your brain. Like why not 24 hours... or a week... or 5 minutes?

Steph: Like 95% of the stuff in the book, I made this up in the moment. It just seemed about right--five minutes would not be much of a problem for anyone to handle. A week is so long it sounds boring. Three days seemed perfect--long enough that it was no joke, but short enough that it was endurable.

Since the books came out, I've seen speculation about religious meanings behind the time period, but that was not in my head when I wrote it.

Stephenie Meyer Q&A with TMs- Part 5

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