Cover Girl Stephenie Meyer: An Interview (Part One) with Deb Smouse
For those who follow the happenings of the literary world, teach junior high or have a “tweener” at home, you can’t help but have heard of our cover girl, Stephenie Meyer. After her new novel, The Host is released, the rest of the world will catch up on the works of this amazing author. Stephenie is the author of the popular Young Adult Twilight series, fantasy novels whose main characters are (mostly) vampires. Her first adult novel, The Host, is a science fiction work that, in my opinion, will appeal to anyone liking science fiction, romance, or adventure. It’s just downright amazing. (Read my review of The Host)
We were fortunate enough to sit and chat with Stephenie recently. Following is Part One of our interview (Part Two will be in the June mid-issue update).
Tell the readers a little about your background.
I’ve lived most of my life in Phoenix, Arizona, and I’m addicted to the desert heat. I have two sisters and three brothers; I loved being part of a big family, and we’re all still really close. I live down the street from my mom and dad and I talk to them on the phone probably once a day. I’ve been married for thirteen years to a boy I grew up with, and we now have three boys of our own. My favorite hobbies used to be reading, drawing, and scrapbooking, but now I mostly just write.
I got a degree in English from Brigham Young University, but I didn’t study creative writing—just literature. I was too much a coward to write my own stories and let people see what was going on inside my head. One of the biggest challenges of my writing career has been getting past that shyness.
In what ways did your childhood influence you as a writer? As a person? Most writers are avid readers. What authors do you read as a child? And today? Do you have a favorite author or book growing up?
“Reading was really my only training in fiction writing. I never took a class or read a book on how to write. I just absorbed the basics from reading thousands of other people’s stories.”
I was always a voracious reader. Since I was seven years old and I first discovered the joys of a big, fat book (The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks introduced me to that world), I’ve probably read two or three books every week, sometimes more. I loved adult novels like Gone with the Wind and Pride and Prejudice even though I was really young, because the story didn’t end too quickly.
Reading was really my only training in fiction writing. I never took a class or read a book on how to write. I just absorbed the basics from reading thousands of other people’s stories.
What is the last book you read?
Gods in Alabama by Joshlyn Jackson
What about your children? What do you read to them….and what do they like to read?
I try to read a little bit of everything to them, hoping that they’ll end up being interested in a lot of different genres. I’ve recently read them Shannon Hale’s Princess Academy, Eva Ibbotson’s The Island of the Aunts, Terry Brooks’s The Sword of Shannara (my first favorite), and right now I’m reading them The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stuart. I’ve also read them Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and The Host. They’re all fans.
For their own reading, they all love Dav Pilkey. My seven-year-old likes Goosebumps and The Magic Treehouse books. My ten-year-old’s favorite is Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.
“It took me three months of super-obsessive behavior to complete. I did no plotting or planning, I just let the story tell itself, and my only challenge was typing fast enough to keep up”
Let’s talk a bit about your Young Adult Novels. Was Twilight something you wrote at a fast pace, or is it something that you worked on for years?
I wrote Twilight at about the pace of a runaway semi on a steep down slope. It took me three months of super-obsessive behavior to complete. I did no plotting or planning, I just let the story tell itself, and my only challenge was typing fast enough to keep up.
When you wrote Twilight, did you already have the others plotted in your head? (and when you pitched Twilight for publication, did you pitch it alone – or the full series?)
When I’d finished the body of the novel, I started writing epilogues…lots of epilogues. This eventually clued me in to the fact that I wasn’t ready to let go of my characters, and I started working on the sequel. I pitched Twilight as a stand alone novel (after all, I’d only written just one book, I couldn’t be sure I’d be able to do it again), but I did tell my agent and publisher that I was working on a sequel.
Did the sequels come easier than the first? Did you feel pressure from your publishing house to move faster – or was so much of it written prior to publication?
The sequels were actually a lot harder than Twilight—not because I was lacking material or motivation, but because knowing people were going to read what I was writing gave me this weird kind of stage fright. It was tough to work through. I’ve gotten used to that now; it doesn’t bother me anymore.
I write pretty fast, so I didn’t feel pressured by my publisher in the beginning. It wasn’t until I was working on book four of the Twilight Saga (Breaking Dawn) that I really had to deal with a deadline. All the publicity and touring cut into my writing time.
Did you expect for the novels to be such a success with adults as they are for kids?
I didn’t expect the novels to be a success with anyone, so no. However, I’m not surprised that there is an adult following. I wrote the first book with no other audience in mind besides my own 29-year-old self. It seems natural to me that Twilight appeals to other women my age.
What is the approach to a “mainstream adult” novel VS the approach you make when writing the Young Adult novels you have become famous for?
“To me a story is a story—I don’t even think about where it might belong until long after it’s written.”
I did not make any changes in my approach to The Host. To me a story is a story—I don’t even think about where it might belong until long after it’s written. The world I’ve written about in The Host is quite different from the Twilight world, but I think people will find my style very consistent. The only reason it’s considered “adult” is the ages of the characters.
Maybe I am more open minded than other parents, but I can see me allowing my 12 year old to read The Host. What, in your mind, defines the difference between YA and Adult?
Actually, I don’t believe in categorizing books into age groups. (Obviously, some books have material that’s inappropriate for younger readers, but shopping in the YA section is no guarantee for finding appropriate books! Maybe a rating system would be better, like movies (or maybe that’s silly)). I think separating sections in the bookstore keeps people from reading books they would love. In my head, there is no YA and Adult. A good book is a good book for any age.
I read a large quantity of novels and The Host is truly fresh and innovative. I truly loved it…. If you had to describe it in a nutshell, what would you say?
I’m horrible at nutshells! I guess I would say it is an invasion of the bodysnatchers that succeeded, and a story of human survival against the odds. At the same time, it’s also the story of discovering what it means to be human from the outside. And it’s the examination of all the kinds of love that make us do the things we do.
How did the idea come to you?
“I have no idea what sparked the strange foundation of a body-snatching alien in love with the host body’s boyfriend over the host-body’s protest. I was halfway into the story before I realized it.”
The kernel of thought that became The Host was inspired by absolute boredom. I was driving from Phoenix to Salt Lake City , through some of the most dreary and repetitive desert in the world. It’s a drive I’ve made many times, and one of the ways I keep from going insane is by telling myself stories. I have no idea what sparked the strange foundation of a body-snatching alien in love with the host body’s boyfriend over the host-body’s protest. I was halfway into the story before I realized it. Once I got started, though, the story immediately demanded my attention. I could tell there was something compelling in the idea of such a complicated triangle. I started writing the outline in a notebook, and then fleshed it out as soon as I got to a computer. The Host was supposed to be no more than a side project—something to keep me busy between editing stints on Eclipse—but it turned into something I couldn’t step away from until it was done.
Tell me about the initial stages of writing about Wanderer and Melanie. The voices of Wanderer and Melanie are both so strong at times……and their emotions are so real and fresh…..
Wanderer and Melanie were fascinating to me from the beginning. Their relationship is so complex, and it evolves so much. That relationship was really the impetus that kept me writing. As individuals, they both have traits I envy, and traits I wish I could say I didn’t have. Melanie is so strong in both body and spirit, but she can be very unkind and inflexible. Wanderer, on the other hand, is adaptable and almost perfectly compassionate, but she can be weak—if someone was coming at you in a dark alley, you’d prefer Melanie at your side. They are flip sides to a coin in a lot of ways, and watching them react and grow in response to each other was endlessly interesting.
Contrast for me the differences between the Wander’s species (the souls) and Humans.
I don’t think I need to explain the human side of the equation; we all know the highs and lows human beings are capable of. The souls are all about the highs. After a world is theirs, there is no more hunger, no more war, no more crime. All souls are inherently kind, responsible, trustworthy creatures. There is no need for a police force, because no soul would ever harm another. There is no need for money, because no soul would shirk his job or take more than his share. In many ways, a planet occupied by souls is a utopia. It’s a great place to live—but we humans aren’t invited.
The worlds that the Wanderer comes from are so richly developed. Tell us about each of those worlds that the Wanderer has lived at……
I really don’t want to spoil too much of the fun of reading the novel. None of Wanderer’s previous worlds are studied in too much depth, and I like that the reader will be able to imagine some of it for himself or herself. These aren’t TV sci-fi worlds, though. We aren’t talking about human bodies with blue skin or ridged foreheads. The creatures Wanderer has been are not like anything that lives on this planet.
It was a love story, which wasn’t quite what I expected. However, I see more than one love story here: the love triangle of Wanda, Melanie and Jared – but also the love affair (or is it only respect?) between Wanda and Melanie, Wanda and Jamie, Melanie’s little brother, the love between Wanda and Melanie’s uncle……I could go on….
This book was my way of exploring every kind of love. In my other novels, I’ve really focused on romantic love. That’s still an element of this story, but only as important as the other bonds, the bonds between species, communities, friends, families… This was my first chance to write about the mother-child bond (though in a surrogate form), and that was a very emotional thing for me.
The ending was a true shock and not at all expected. Did you have alternate endings in mind or did you write the first chapters knowing how it was going to end……
The ending of this novel changed quite a bit from what I intended. I outlined a different ending, but that path became obsolete as some of the characters evolved in ways I wasn’t expecting—in particular, one character who was supposed to be no more than a minor bad guy but who somehow managed to become the lynch pin character in the dénouement.
The business side of writing is interesting…and you mention this on your website: tell us about the “bidding war” for The Host….and how that was handled……
There were several publishers interested in The Host. I spoke to editors with every house to get a sense of how they would handle the property. Aspects of several houses tempted me, but in the end, I went with Little, Brown for a variety of reasons. Some of that was from loyalty, because they had given me my first chance. Also, I knew from experience that their marketing and publicity couldn’t be beat. But most of all, I liked the direction they wanted to go with The Host. Instead of putting out with their science fiction imprint, Orbit, they wanted to publish it as mainstream fiction. I don’t think The Host really fits with genre sci-fi, so I liked that. Also, they offered me the fantastic Asya Muchnick as my editor. I couldn’t pass that up.
For more information on Stephenie, visit her website. You can also check out an excerpt from The Host….or purchase her amazing book. And check back with us next month when we continue chatting…..
Deb Smouse is the Editor in Chief at All Things Girl. She’s is fast approaching 40…and spends her life fulfilling her roles as a consultant, mother, friend, reader, and writer. She loves to read…and appreciates the opportunity to hear from writers…. Find out more about Deb on our About Page.
May 3rd, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I really enjoyed this interview with Stephenie Meyer– getting a look inside the mind of a famous author. Thanks!
Beth Fehlbaum, author
Courage in Patience, a story of hope for those who have endured abuse
http://courageinpatience.blogspot.com
Chapter One is online!
May 8th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I love Stephanie Meyer and I cant wait to read the host! Im getting it tomorrow!
May 8th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I finished reading it and found it so engrossing and thought provoking, and emotionally satisfying. I like the larger than life themes of examinging our culture and our future. I loved it. I am a grandmother with 18 grandchildren some of whom have read the Twilight series as well as myself and children. I love the way Stephenie writes. Few people can do first person narrator as powerfully and successfully as she does.
May 8th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I looking forward to reading The Host. Stephenie is such a wonderful writer. By just reading the first chapter, you’re hooked. I can’t wait.
May 8th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
[…] Part One HERE, and check back next month for part […]
May 8th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Stephenie Meyer is the greatest author of the decade!
May 8th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
oh my gosh!!! i can not wait to read the host i am getting it this weekend (hopefully). soooooo excited!!!! is it as amazing as twilight or is it better??!!?!? no don’t tell me!!!! i’ll just read it and find out…but just tell me this one thing…j/k lol
May 8th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
kayci: uh of course she is!!!! but i would venture to say ever. she even bets polly shulman (enthusasim) and jane austen (pride and prejudice) to most teens these days.
May 8th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I loved the Host and would HIGHLY recommend it—if you loved Twilight, you’ll love the Host.
May 8th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
lizzie- but is ti better than the twilight series?
May 8th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
it i meant is it
May 8th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
I love all of Stephenie Meyers books she is a truly inspirational author.She is indeed an extraordinary author. When each book of hers comes to an end I can’t stop myself from reading it all over again. I can’t wait for future novels.
May 8th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Also for all of the twilight and host fans you can visit my tribute to twilight site www.edwardeternally.webs.com its all about twilight! I update constantly. Visit if you would like to talk to other twilight fans like yourself!
May 8th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Thanks for the great interview! I’m currently reading the Host and I’m hooked! Stephenie Meyer is my favorite author!
May 8th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
[…] HERE to read the full […]
May 8th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Tessa Russell- I love the Twilight Saga, read it three times, so I understand what you want from The Host. But Stephenie wasn’t kidding when she said they were nothing alike. Which is rare among books written by the same author. So I am not being rude or difficult or anything of the sort when I say that The Host is both better and worse than Twilight. It is so different that I can’t even call them equal story wise they certaintly are writing wise Stephenie isn’t getting worse! Just know that it is a great book and that the cast of characters in The Host is just as diverse as that of Twilght.
May 8th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I just have to say loved the article and The Host was an amazing book to read. But you also got a name wrong, Melanie’s little brother is named Jamie not Jeremy.
May 8th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
loooveeeeeee stephenie meyer!!!! favorite author of all time…..can;t wait for breaking dawn………………..this is sooooo awesome!!!!! the movie is going to be great!!! ahhhhh…..i can’t wait until december!!!!!!!!!!! sigh
May 8th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
this was truly an amazing interview and i wish that it was longer so that i can really fanthom what it takes to write an awesome set of books like the Twilight series and the Host. i am an aspiring writer really enjoys reading books that make you think as well as experience without ever really going anwhere.
May 8th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I just finished THe Host a mere hour ago. I didn’t expect the ending at all - it was so incredible. The entire book was amazing. It was so utterly different from Twilight and I know that I love it just as much as I love Stephenie’s first book. Reading The Host made me realize just how diverse of an author Stephenie Meyer can be. I can’t wait to see what other stories she can give us. It seemes as if she pushes the boundries of what is the norm and goes above and beyond the average and makes us all fall in love with what she writes. She is one of my favourite authors and has inspired me to be a better writer. Thank ou so much for all of your books, Ms. Meyer!
May 8th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I LOVE STEPHENIE!!! She is my role model and I’m VERY pleased that I’m one of the main characters in this book! (only my name though)
May 8th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I’m not too “out of control” abt The Host b/c just thinking of “sci-fi” let’s me down.
but, of course, i will read it when i get the time
May 8th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
I love Stephenie Meyer and all the books she has written i havn’t read The Host yet but i hope to read it very soon! i Espacially like that she wrote Breaking Dawn which i can’t wait for!!!
May 8th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Ah I love Stephenie Meyer! She’s so totally fab! I agree with the whole YA vs. Adult thing, I don’t think you can split books like that. Im 15 ya know and i’ve read plenty of adult books. Books are books! There’s good books and bad books =] and Twilight is the BEST book ever!
May 8th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
[…] Stephenie has a lovely interview with the publication All Things Girl. Check out part one here. […]
May 8th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
The Host is probably my favorite book I have ever read, (well…I still can’t tell if it beats the twilight series). But it is amazing how she depicts the characters in such a way that we fall in love with each and every one of them. I cried a lot (haha) but I absolutely loved it! I hope she keeps writing books that just pop into her head. I wonder how it feels to be a regular mom, having a dream and writing about it, then having it knock off J.K. Rowling =)
May 8th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I haven’t read The Host yet but judging by the reviews it’s getting and how many people are already praising it, I can not wait. I love the article; Stephenie seems so down to earth and not caught up in all of the glamour that her books have brought her. I think that just makes her and her books all the more appealing. I love the Twilight series (literally read them about 5 times over) so I’m excited to read The Host.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
[…] There is also an interview posted at AllThingsGirl.net, to read it, click here! […]
May 8th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
If The Host sounds as good as said I can’t wait to read it!
May 8th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
i haven’t read the host yet, but i will..for sure. i hav already bought the book and will start on it very soon!i hope i can go through the same magical reading experience as i did with the twilight series!
May 8th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
i havent yer read the host but it sounds as magical and inspiring as twilight so i am about to read it
May 8th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
sweet. it is always exciting to learn more about the best author in the world. i wonder what it is like to get into the readers head for her, its amazing when you can get into the writers head an understand.
May 8th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
stephenie is truly ammazing. and i have an obsession with her books. i hope to soon get the host . i hope she writes other more of her fabulous books!
May 8th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
I’m getting The Host soon and I can’t wait! A lot of my friends have read the Twilight books and can’t wait for more. This interview was proful <33333333333
p.s.
-pokes self & friends-
FIFTEEN AND SIXTEEN YEAR OLDS HERE
May 8th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Thanks for the interview! I’m currently reading The Host and it is amazing!!!! I have not gotten very far because I am supposed to be reading another book for school and I got it yesterday afternoon, but I CAN’T stop reading!!!!
Can’t wait to finish it and read it again!
May 8th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
The Host sounds really good! I wasn’t sure about it at first but now I can’t wait to read it. But since it’s by Stephenie Meyer I’m sure it’ll be amazing!
May 8th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Thankx for writing and presenting such a great interview. Stephenie Meyer is an inspiration to me and a lot of other people out there. Keep up the good work.
May 8th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Hi again
I also wnated to say I loved the Twilight Series and I’m obsessed
thankx for writing the books
May 8th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
so going to read it sounds amazing! Loved the twilight books and i cant wait for the fourth
May 8th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
I am having a fit over the fact that I don’t have a copy of The Host right now!! I don’t have the time to get to a book store any time soon, and it’s very depressing. On the happy side of things, this was a really great interview. A tragedy of most SM interviews is that the reporters often have no clue as to what they are talking about, which leads to them asking many of the same questions over and over. Congratulations to you for asking such lovely questions! Well done. Beautiful photo of a beautiful and talented woman, as well!
May 8th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
[…] YES MORE! This is an interview with Stephenie Meyer by All Things Girl… Wow, 2-3 books a week! *pants* I shall try to read that much! […]
May 8th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Thanks for posting this great article… I’m half way through The Host and absolutely love it!
May 8th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
i love stephenie meyer’s books, and i can’t waity to read the host. plus, beraking dawn is coming out soon. AAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWW YYYEEEAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 8th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
i cant wait to get it! it should be arriving in the mail any day now…. i know stephenie will do an amazing job and capture the hearts of readers, just like she did with her twilight series!
May 8th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
[…] Also Stephenie was interviewed by the Centre Daily Newspaper and All Things Girl. […]
May 9th, 2008 at 12:55 am
Great interview and a GREAT book! It’s definitely a must read. I think I’d rather see it as a movie than I would Twilight. And I REALLY want to see Twilight as a movie! 12.12.08……
May 9th, 2008 at 1:25 am
I loved The Host. Got almost no sleep the last couple of days reading it feverishly. I usually skip to the end of a book first, to make sure the ending isn’t lame, but since I already loved the Twilight series, I trusted Stephanie and didn’t skip ahead. It was so worth it. I balled my eyes out for a good portion of the last few chapters. I love this interview and learning more about behind the scenes. Thanx!
May 9th, 2008 at 10:40 am
The Host is AMAZING! I was up all night reading it, I just couldn’t put it down!
May 9th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I was a bit skeptical when it came to reading Twilight. Many of my friends were making too many negative comments about novels with vampires and such, but when I read Twilight, I was immediately hooked. I bet The Host will do just the same.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I truly liked this interview. It was very insightful. However, I had to skip over “The Host” portion b/c I don’t want to hear ANYTHING about it until I read it (little rule of mine :] )
Thanks!
May 9th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
OMG!!!! I loved reading twilight it was a great experenace. I loved how stepenie made the book seem so real. I can’t wait to see the movie and read the host. Please keep writing awesome books stephenie!
sign,
a really impress reader.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I like it ^^ She is a very good writer
May 9th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I loved the Twilight series. They’ve become my favorite books. Can’t wait to read The Host.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I love the twilight series the only thing i wish is that i want more emotion with bella. but i cant wait to read Host
May 9th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
No words could describe the intensity and emotion I feel when reading Stephenie Myer’s work. It is truly fascinating the way she knows just what the public wants. Her unique style of writing is something I cannot comprehend because it makes all other works I have read seem obsolete. She is truly an author of great fortune in the fact that she has a natural talent to make written words upon a page breath taking. I am grateful to have had the honor to read her work and hope she will continue upon this path. It’s strange how I am one of those 12 year old girls, yet now I feel more mature. Odd, but that is something she can do.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I love this interview with Stephenie Meyer. I can’t wait to see what she come up with next. All her stories are so well written and in a way that interests every generation. I don’t agree when people say that Twilight is only known to the tween generation but this isn’t about Twilight. I can’t wait to finish reading The Host, especially after reading this
May 9th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
to anyone who saw my previous message, hehehe! any way i thought of some songs i want to see in twilight. for twilight, insepreabe by the jonas brothers, and everytime we touch by cascada. for new moon, what hurts the most by cascada, and for eclispes, listen to your heart, but i dont know the name of the artist. any way, BYE!!!!!!!!!!!
May 9th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
i really enjoyed this interview with stephanie meyer. she seems really intelectual and down to earth at the same time.(hope i spelt intelectual right…oh well what can you do?) anyways i a huge new fan of hers and i must say she is very talented. i hope she keeps writing forever.
you are awesome stephanie keep doing what you do you awesome person you!
May 9th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I have not got The Host yet but from what i’ve heard about it, it is better than Eclispe! I CAN’T wait for Breaking Dawn to come out!!!!!!
May 9th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
I think a really good song for New Moon would be Jumper by Third Eye Blind. He He!!!!!! Listen to it!D
May 9th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I just got finished with The Host. I loved it. I got it Wednesday and would have finished it that night if I hadn’t had school the next day. It was amasing. I can’t say too much because some people (what’s wrong with you?!?!? cue exasperated sigh) arn’t finished yet but all I will say is: Don’t forget to add Ian to the equation when you talk about love triangles! (though tecnically he would make it a love square)
May 9th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
something I forgot (see earlier comment). This book made me hate humans for a while. seriously it was Ian who redeemed them for me folks, when they were being so mean to wanderer at the beginning I wanted Jeb to go ahead and shoot them already! Especially Kyle. I definately could not have forgiven them like she did. i’m too human…sigh
Bye Bye this time
May 9th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Okay so I posted a second comment and I think it was lost in cyber space because I don’t see it on here…So i’ll just re-write it (if that doesn’t offend anyone?) Okay so here I go again…Spoilers ahead
I must say that for a while this book(the host) made me hate humans. Seriously. Ian was the one who fianlly regained my faith in humanity. When the humans were being mean to wanderer I wished that someone would slap them already! They were so cruel to her(I cried). I definately could not have been so forgiving as Wanda was(I’m too human: sigh). I didn’t like Jared at all until near the end when he “lied” to Wanderer (which was only a little lie if you ask me, nobody can not like Wanda once they get to know her).
In case you didn’t notice from my earlier comment and this one, I love the host, I love Wanderer(though she’s too perfect to be real) ,Melanie(how can you not like the person with whom your own personality most resembles), Jeb, Jaime, Sunny:),Walter,Jared (at the end), Kyle at the end (after Sunny), and Ian.
Really I love Ian so much (I’m pointedly ignoring the fact that he once tried to strangle her) that I’m considering making a “I love Ian” t-shirt.
That’s big for me I never even did it for Edward or Jacob (and yes I love them both equally after Eclipse, so hate me now if you must!)
May 9th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
LOVE YOU STEPHENIE!!! i have your book!! and i can’t wait to start reading it, i would of all ready have it done, but homework -sigh- makes it complicated! but i love it so far!!! :DDDD
May 9th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
That is awesome that she is reading her kids the mysterious benedict society. Its a great book and plus I live near Trenton Stewart! I would recommend it for any reader.
I really liked this interview. Stephenie Meyer is such an amazing writer. I cant wait for Breaking Dawn (but i’ll be so sad when the series is over)! I am a bookgeek, and also very critical, so when I find one I really really like, it is REALLY REALLY good. Stephenie has so much talent that I’m sure many people envy. I’m going to read the host soon and I’m sure it will be just as amazing!
May 10th, 2008 at 1:52 am
I absolutely loved The Host. I had practically no social life over the last couple of days, reading it obsessively. It was completely touching, and so wonderful. It’s impossible not to feel the love radiating from it’s pages. I cried, of course, but that’s just inevitable. :] Thanks for all the great writing Stephenie, and awesome interview.
May 10th, 2008 at 5:26 am
I live in Sweden so i haven’t read it. But i hope it will come soon to Sweden too!!
May 10th, 2008 at 10:33 am
thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!!!!
I love Stephenie Meyer. Not just her books! I mean, my friends call me crazy because of my OCD about Twilight. I absolutely love the Twilight Saga. I thank Stephenie for this wonderful series.
But anyway, thank you Cover Girl! I love reading interviews with Stephenie - she is an amazing author…and person in general!
Okay, I’m in the middle of the Host, now more intrigued then I was before! So thanks again! Can’t wait for part 2!
May 10th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Hey Stephenie can’t wait to read your new book, and see twlight!!! I can’t wait for that movie!!!!
May 10th, 2008 at 11:38 am
I can image the excitement that Stephenie Meyers is feeling this past year, euforic. She desevres it. Relish it Stephenie this is your year and I hope many more to come. As a reader I look forward to much more of your writings. I am 35 years old women and I am in love with the Twightlight series, I wish there was books like this when I was a teenager. Reading Twightlight makes me feel like that teenage girl all over again. I can not wait to read the Host, over and over again, until Stephenie pulls another rabbit out of the hat. Thanks to her my days are full of love.
May 10th, 2008 at 11:43 am
i absolutly loved the host (along w/ the entire twiligt saga). i was like totaly freaked thinking the host characters would be very similar to the twilight characters, i’ve read that a lot w/ some popular authors, but was plesantly suprized when i relized they where completely unique and just as hooking. i’m looking forward to any other storys Mrs. Meyer has for us. =)
May 10th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I’m a little past reading halfway of The Host and it is AMAZING! I usually hate sci-fi books or anything similar but because i knew Stephenie Meyer is the author, that i would like it. It’s something different than what I’ve read in the past and I am really glad Stephenie exists. If not for her, I wouldn’t be motivated to read ANYthing. It’s very difficult to please me with a book but her books have made me believe that there are really good books to enjoy out there. I recommend The Host!
May 10th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
OMG i loooooove Stephenie Meyer! She is so amazing in so many ways. I just finished THE HOST and found it equally amazing.
May 10th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I just started the Host, and even though I’m only on the first chapter, I am already hooked on to it! It’s too bad that I don’t have enough time to read it. I mean, with school and all. But I’ll try to read it as much as I can. I love Stephenie’s writing!
May 10th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I heart Stephenie…and i love her new book!!!!!
May 10th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
wow! this boook was amazing i got it the day it came out (may 6th)and finished it the next day(may 7th) the twilight series was my favorite but o man stephanie meyer sure has out done herself this book is very very surprising and mad me cry a couple of times. it is now my favorite. this book has had a big impact on my thought and it will always be my favorite! the end if the book makes you soo mad but oo wait theres more and then its like no way no no way!!! i give this book 500000000000 stars i definatly recommend this book to every one. (can’t wait for breaking dawn!!)
May 10th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Twilight is my absolute passion. I cannot describe how excited I was when I heard about The Host, and I immediately began counting down! I still continue to count down to Breaking Dawn and the Twilight movie, which I can’t wait for!!!
After finishing the Twilight Series, I was inspired (more than usual) to begin writing again. I’ve come up with a plot and almost an entire outline (around 19 chapters), plus three chapters I’ve already written. The Twilight books are what have gotten me so far. I typically give up or lose interest after finishing the second chapter, which I definitely haven’t done yet and hopefully won’t do. I have Stephenie Meyer to thank for my perseverance this time!!
May 10th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I have to say my honest opion for the host. I HATED IT! I AM SORRY BUT GOSH! that is the most stupidest title and the stupidest subject!
May 10th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Stephenie Meyer is a great novelist, when I picked New Moon up off of a Borders bookshelf just because it had a pretty cover I was hooked. I never read all that much before New Moon because I felt that I had already read all of the good books out there and now there was nothing worth reading. I do sort of feel stupid for reading New Moon before Twilight but it didn’t trip me up too bad. Stephenie Meyer is a very talented woman and I thank her for the books I have had the pleasure of reading (not to mention all of the stress and fears that she went through to create those books).
May 10th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I just finished reading the Host this morning! it was one of the BEST book EVER. Stephenie Meyer is now my role model! I have never paid any attention to the authors of books, but after I read Twilight, I was in love with Stephenie Meyer!
The Twilight series are soooo INCREDIBLE! They will always be the best books i have ever read! It is amazing how good they are! I have been counting down the days til Breaking Dawn comes out! I’M SO EXCITED!
The host wasnt anything like i thought it was going to be like, but that didnt matter because its on my top 5 favorite books ever! (I read about 3 books a week) The Twilight series would be the top three.
I’m so excited for anymore books that Stephenie Meyer comes up with! They will all be good!
May 11th, 2008 at 3:41 am
GREAT books… totally AWESOME… i always love reading books.. but these books are one of a kind.. cannot be compared by any other.. thanks stephenie..
May 11th, 2008 at 4:54 am
I ordered a copy…but I still don’t have it :(. Next week school starts again, so I won’t have much time if I get it..and I also have to make a project for school:(. I want to have the book!!! I wish I lived in England and could just go to the bookstore to buy an Englidh book instead of ordering it first..Stephenie Meyer really isn’t wellknown in The Netherands:(
May 11th, 2008 at 6:30 am
I loved it, and i loved the fact that it took me a bit longer to read than any other book of that size…not because i didn’t find it interesting, but because it has so much emotion, and like with twilight, even though it seems impossible that you can relate to an alien (or in twilights case, a girl who is in love with a vampire) stephenie meyer has made it work. Wanda/Melanie is an amazing character, but i think that from as soon as Wanda comes to the caves, it’s no longer a triangle, but a love square
May 11th, 2008 at 8:21 am
I loved this interview. I have become a huge fan of Stephanie Meyer after reading the Twilight series, which i love by the way, and was lucky enough to get hold of a copy of The Host 10 days before its official release date due to a seller who shared my love of Twilight. Naturally i had completley finished The Host in two days and loved it. It is truley a fantastic book which my friends are all now in the process of reading. We all love the books and can not wait until the release of Breaking Dawn, Midnight Sun, and the Twilight movie! I am a true twerd, along with my friends!!!
so… hello from the down under twerds!!! And good job~
May 11th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Ahh~ I love all of her books; there just so amazing. Once i started reading, i couldn’t stop. I finished The Host in one day. It was INCREDIBLE.
May 11th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
last one but i thought of another song. protecting me by aly and aj. if you don’t get why i’m saying this, see my first two comments, then you’ll get it