J.D. Robb: For quite some time both my publishers and my agent urged me to take another name. I write quickly, which can be problematic for publishers when scheduling--as for some reason they insist on publishing books not actually written by me. Go figure. The idea was if I wrote under two names the publishers would be better able to handle my inventory.

I didn't like the idea, and dug in my heels. I didn't see the point in writing books that wouldn't have my name on them. Then one day my agent said: Nora, there's Pepsi, there's Diet Pepsi, there's Caffeine Free Pepsi. And the lightbulb flashed on. Ah, it's marketing, and I could be two popular brands.

Now, that I liked.

So I said I'd give it a try--if I could write something a little different. I didn't see the point in doing straight relationship or straight romantic suspense under a different name. Years before this, I'd had a glimmer of an idea for Eve Dallas--a take-no-prisoners cop in the near future. At that time I didn't know what to do with her, but now, here was my chance to see where we could go.

I had a tremendous time writing the first book, getting to know Eve, exploring the future, having Roarke walk across the page. And was surprised by my own reaction when Naked In Death was published. Seeing the book was just as exciting as seeing my very first book.

I think Eve and Roarke are popular characters because they have a lot of layers, and with a continuing series I'm able to peel them off slowly. Neither are particularly easy people, but their relationship unifies them, and has--I think--made each of them better people. Not too good, of course. Another reason they make interesting reading is their dark sides.

Writerspace: One of the coolest things when I read your books is encountering a character from a completely different book. For example, Chantel O'Hurley shows up in one of the Cordina books. Many of the books you write are continuing series, but the IN DEATH books take the cake. The way you focus on the character of Eve and her relationships with the people around her from book to book is simply amazing. Does writing an extended series like IN DEATH differ from writing shorter series and single books with no continuing characters?

J.D. Robb: Writing an extended series is considerably different from writing connections or stand-alones. First you're building a world, and as a writer you have to learn to live in that world and follow the rules. The characters' actions or decisions in one book will have ripples in books to come, then those ripples create more ripples. They should be incorporated, create story arcs, and threads should be tied up or at least move forward book by book.

It's also necessary, just from a structural standpoint, to re-introduce characters in every book. Many readers pick up a series at different stages, and deserve to be given a good sense of the characters. But many read an extended series from book one on, and don't deserve to be bored. So that's a challenge.

It's important to try not to repeat yourself, yet still remain true to character traits, habits, lifestyles, voice and so on.

It's also tremendous fun to go back, regularly, and visit characters I've become so fond of, and to peel off another layer in their relationships.

Writerspace: You know that readers love to talk about their favorite authors, comparing reading experiences and so on -- one topic that stands out when talking about the IN DEATH series is the fabulous three dimensional characters you created. How do you maintain the sense of tension and character growth while keeping the actual passage of time extremely slow? To date, only a little over a year has passed. How do you deal with this challenge as a writer?

J.D. Robb: This is part of the fun. I made the decision before beginning the series to do the books sequentially, with little time passing between each. For me it adds more intimacy and immediacy. The reader is very much a part of these characters' lives and sees them living it without huge gaps in time. I think this is another way to keep the tension high as the relationship and the actions develop book by book.

Writerspace: Readers have been anticipating REUNION IN DEATH for months now -- since we finished SEDUCTION IN DEATH and realized that the long waiting for our fix began once more. Could you please tell us a bit about REUNION IN DEATH?

J.D. Robb: Well, the wait's nearly over. In REUNION Eve will face off with a foe from her past, and one that threatens what she loves most. You'll also meet Peabody's parents, catch up with Charles and Louise.

Writerspace: One of the exciting things about your IN DEATH series is that the books are all in print, in fact, they have gone back to press a few times! Recently, all of the IN DEATH books have been re issued with newly designed covers. The UK versions of the books were originally printed using yet another cover design, with pictures of Eve on the front. Which design do you like the best, and which do you feel best reflects the character and essence of the books?

J.D. Robb: I have to admit I was a little surprised by the Brit covers. Their vision of Eve sure isn't mine. Still, they were fun. I loved the original concept for the covers here in The States. The blue lady with an element from the book worked in. Again, they were fun and they were different. But the new look just wows me. So strong, and I really like the fact they use New York as the city is so important in the series.

Writerspace: PURITY IN DEATH, which won't hit stands until September, is already much anticipated by readers. What do you have planned for the IN DEATH... series in PURITY IN DEATH and beyond? Would you care to torture your readers with any scintillating tidbits?

J.D. Robb: I don't plan ahead very much in the series. Like the reader, I take them book by book. No doubt we'll see relationships shift and grow and send out those ripples. Eve will continue to be haunted by her past. One character will have a major change coming in Purity, and I have plans for another character to undergo a change soon. Both will ripple pretty strong in the series.

No, Eve is not pregnant, nor will she be in the foreseeable future. Just wanted to get that one out of the way.

Writerspace: You are the most prolific fiction writer today; always hitting the top of the charts, and with two distinct images -- the romance and suspense Nora Roberts and the gritty, sexy J.D. Robb. Add to the mix your release schedule ... multiple book releases every month of the year. Tell us, how DO you do it? How do you keep up with this incredible schedule? And because we are greedy readers, can you tell us what is coming in the next six months for us?

J.D. Robb: Mostly I do it by writing every day and being fortunate enough to love my job. However, a lot of those multiple monthly releases are re-issues. Books written years back, primarily for Silhouette, that are being repackaged now. I think this is great--obviously for me--but also for the reader who missed these books the first time around. What's coming up? After REUNION in March, THREE FATES, a hardcover romantic suspense in April, the paperback issue of last year's THE VILLA, also in April. FACE THE FIRE, the last of the Three Sister's Island trilogy in June. A Silhouette two-in-one reissue in July. There's been a change there so I don't know which books are planned just now.

Writerspace: Would you like to torture readers a bit by telling them what you're working on at the moment? Then perhaps you could tell us when it's going to be released, just to make it hurt a bit more, since I'm sure that whatever you're working on won't hit stands for at least a year.

J.D. Robb: Actually, what I'm working on now won't come out until the fall of '03. But there's good news. This trilogy will be published by Jove in paper in sequentially months. One, two, three on this one as the trilogy comprises three months in real time, with each book involving four weeks.

The trilogy centers on three women who meet for the first time when they're challenged to take on a quest that involves Celtic gods, a soul-stealing wizard and three magic keys.