asks:

Laurell K. Hamilton: Thanks everyone for coming tonight! I kept getting told things like "the chat room is crowded" and "overflow amphitheater" and kept getting mental pictures of this crowded room. I had to keep reminding myself that for the most part, we're all sitting alone. Yet we're together. I think that sense of togetherness in isolation has been one of the largest changes in our society. So from one room is a light and a computer screen and darkness pressing outside (tho it may not be dark where you are), be well keep safe and remember that kindness costs nothing - you can always be mean later.

Karenbvh asks: Laurell, first of all, thank you for being here answering our questions, and for creating the AB series. As for the question: when Anita first meets Richard in CD, she can´t help but to compare him with Phillip. Does she feels atracted to him because of that??? Also, how did you came up with the AB universe idea? Oh, BTW, I´m a fan from South America, Chile. I just thought that you´ll be happy to know how your wonderful writings had overcomed both distance and languages difficulties. GP was the first book that made me go from sheer terror to histerical laughter in only one paragraph. Thank You!!!

Laurell K. Hamilton: Richard reminding Anita of Phillips probably did tug at her heartstrings because it was very difficult for her. The Anita universe owes much to the old hammer vampire films and hard boiled detective fiction and a lifelong interest in folklore and the supernatural.

Rene - asks: Hi Laurell.. I also met you at Andersons in Naperville. You were nice enough to sign a book for my friends birthday which I gave her on a cruise we took 2 wks ago. She was thrilled, so thank you again. My Q is.. if you had your druthers.. would you rather see the Anita series or Merry's series made into a movie?

Laurell K. Hamilton: Hi - I have no preference on which one would be made into a movie. My issues are the same for either. How much protection can I give my baby.

Lynn asks: Where does Nightseer fit into the series?

Laurell K. Hamilton: Neither series. Nightseer is a world unto itself.

trout_queen asks: Okay, My Q--What are your plans for Anita's emotional and supernatural development? She's reached a pivotal point in her supernatural development where she can either get knocked down a peg or two, or become nearly invincible. She's also becoming, emotionally, semi-sociopathic and to turn her into a complete socio-path would...well...take away somewhat from those delectible moral dilemmas in which she finds herself (in effect, taking away from subplots and conflicts).

Laurell K. Hamilton: Um, not so much plans for her development as reactions to what happens in books and how it affects her. I don't always know what major events are going to take place in the book. That means I don't always know what kinds of emotional details I'm going to have to deal with after a book is closed. You talked about her becoming a sociopath. In reality she's not. If she was, her moral dilemma's would become less. She's doing what everyone does when they deal with that level of violence. You shut off parts of yourself. You become cold or you go crazy or you find a different line of work.

CallieKat asks: As far as power, would you say that Anita or Merry is more powerful, both magically and socially? Also, when I was reading KOS I noticed that there were similarities between Doyle and JC. Did you mean for that to happen or did Doyle just turn out like he did when you were writing?

Laurell K. Hamilton: You're the 2nd person to comment that Doyle and JC remind you of each other. They don't actually remind me of one another. I don't know why. And yes, Doyle did come full cloth the way he is. As far as who's more powerful, Anita or Merry, I think that's like comparing apples and oranges. Anita is more likely to kill you quicker and not debate about it. She may be more dangerous in some ways. Merry is certainly more of a diplomat. Anita still cannot kill with a mere touch of her hand. It depends on what you mean by powerful. As far as socially powerful, it depends. if you want someone to go with you up against mercenaries, you want Anita. If you want someone to take you through a 10 course dinner, you want Merry. It depends on what you need.

RavenFan asks: Hi Laurell! We met at your booksigning at Anderson's in Naperville, IL. ( was the one requesting books signed to be mailed all over the world) Whom did you say it was that is writing books that were like Scooby-Doo for adults? It's one of your writer friends.

Laurell K. Hamilton: It's Mark Sumner. (Hi, I remember you!)

Heather asks: I've not read any of your books yet...although many have encouraged me to do so. So, I've got "Guilty Pleasures" on order.What I did, was make my friends tell me why they think I would like your books, without giving away any spoilers. They did a fine job. Now, if you had to convince someone to read/try one of your books, what would you say to them?

Laurell K. Hamilton: I'm not real good at short and succinct. I once had an editor ask me to describe GUILTY PLEASURES in 50 words or less. And while she did this she snapped her fingers in my face. I stammered. So asking me to say something brief and succinct is one of the toughest things you could ask me. Basically I would tell if you like hard boiled mysteries you might like the series, if you like horror you might like the series, if you like romance you might like the series, if you like strong female characters you might like the series, if you like action you might like the series. I'm not doing a commercial here, I'm writing what I like to read. If other people would write what I like to read I wouldn't feel the burning desire to write it myself.

Melanie J asks: Laurell, were you born a writer or did it come later?

Laurell K. Hamilton: Well, since I don't remember my birth, it came later obviously. :-) But I started writing stories at 12 and half. All my main characters for years and years were exactly my age. Other than being a wildlife biologist, writing is all I ever wanted to do.

Blake_Lupa - asks: Laurell did you read authers like Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett when you were young? And Edward boxers or briefs

Laurell K. Hamilton: Actually, I didn't read hard boiled mysteries until after college and then I started with Robert B. Parker, Sue Grafton, the more modern hard boiled and actually came to Raymond Chandler kind of backwards after reading the ones that had followed him. As for Edwards choice of underwear, I don't think Anita knows. And if Anita doesn't know, neither do I.

LamiaWolf asks: Fudge monekey (missed last Q) anyway hey chika! I was wondering why did you chose a werewolf for Richard and vampire for Jean-Claude. (And why do I keep thinking of Lee's when I hear his name? (lol) but that's not your problem) Was there any specific reasons why did you chose those "breeds" for them? (And why is JC so damn gothic? you'd think he'd cheer up after having sex but noooooooo (lol) sorry didn't work on Richard either anyway) Sorry for digressing by the way

Laurell K. Hamilton: I didn't choose what Richard and Jean Claude; they chose themselves. As for the rest, I don't think I know what to say to that. Jean Claude came pretty much full cloth how he is. I didn't have a whole lot of choice in that one. Richard did not come that way. He grew as a character, the fact that he's a werewolf and conflicted about that.

bibliora asks: Will Merry be getting larger acommodations, a house, in the next book or will all the guards have their own apartments or are they all staying at Merry's one bedroom?

Laurell K. Hamilton: She will be getting a larger place in the next book. When we open A Caress of Twilight, they will be looking for a bigger place.

saadiira - asks: Firstly, I wished to say how very much I have enjoyed every one of your books I could lay hands on. As well, I wished to know if in upcoming Anita books, there would be more on The Coucil, and Fey. As well, JC RULES!!! Gets my vote second to a full menage.

Laurell K. Hamilton: I will not be using Fey in the Anita books because I'm using them in the Merry books. Just as I will not be using vampires in the Merry books because I'm using them in the Anita books. We WILL be hearing more about the Council. Other than a few tidbits in book 10, I don't know exactly which books we'll be getting more details in.

Gregburrow asks: Mrs. Hamilton, I just wanted to say Hi, and to thank you for being so accessible to your fans by doing chats like these and booksignings even though it takes so much out of you. Thank you!

Laurell K. Hamilton: Thank you very much! I love talking and interacting and it's always wonderful to get feedback.

Rudy asks: Hi Laurell, so many of your characters have similer names to people in my family. (ex. anitas moms name in my grand moms, my moms name is anitas grand moms my sister is donna who has 2 cats. Pika and Boo, my brothers name is peter {and when OB came out.. he was oddly 14}) where do you get your inspiration for the names?

Laurell K. Hamilton: Interesting coincidence! I have about 4 baby name books that I keep right next to my computer. I will pick a letter - I knew I wanted Peter's name to begin with P. Then I went through the baby name book for P names and x'd out names until I found one I liked. Some people name themselves and no amount of arguing on my part will change it. Pika and Boo are actually the names of one of my good friend's sister's Maltese. I didn't make that up.

Count D asks: My question is, "Why is Merry mortal?" and I'm asking it for someone who isn't here but wants to read the archives for the answer.

Laurell K. Hamilton: Merry's mortal from the mortal blood and there are various theories. The court believes that her mortality that the Sidhe is thinning. As far as which theory is true, maybe it's just one of those genetic accidents that happen. This question ranks up there with asking which one Anita's going to choose from among the boys. It's not something I'm going to give an answer to until it comes up in the book.

Gayla asks: Hi Anita, I wanted a chance to say "hello" and tell you how much I LOVE your books!!! They are among my very favorite out of 3 decades of voracious reading. I have read every Anita Blake book at least three times and it is rare for me to re-read a book once, much less twice. I also enjoy all the St. Louis references like Pearl Street and Creve Couer. I was there a couple of months ago and can just picture the vampire district in the old historical area on the waterfront just north of the Arch. I want to make sure that you plan to keep writing more and more Anita Blake books. Jean-Claude !!!

Laurell K. Hamilton: I'll do my best to pass your hello on to Anita, but she's not here. I am! :-) Yes, I have NO plans to stop writing. I can't seem to kill this rumor. Just because I've started this new series with KISS OF SHADOWS, I have to plans to stop the Anita Blake series. I don't know what to do to stop these rumors. I'm so glad so enjoy Jean Claude and the books.

LauraAM - asks: Laurell, I would like to know where you get your research from. I find it truly amazing all the fascinating facts that are in your books.

Laurell K. Hamilton: I start off usually with a topic I'm familiar with by getting a book that has an encyclopedia or dictionary in it. For example, An Encyclopedia of Fairies by Catherine Briggs. From there I went to the bibliography. If it doesn't have a good bibliography, you don't know if enough research went into it. I also got the dictionary of Celtic Myths and Legends by Miranda Green. With those two books and their bibliography, I then had a jumping off point. Once you get that and you stick with books where the writer has done the research. That leads you to other books. With my Celtic stuff I tried to stay with anthopology, arachaelogy, folklorists. I tried to stay as much as I could with "true" stuff.

Test asks: Testing

Laurell K. Hamilton: Testing