Stephenie Meyer

Stephenie Meyer is the author of the best-selling "Twilight Saga" series.

Last summer Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg interviewed her for the Wall Street Journal. Part of their Q & A:

WSJ: Do you consider your books to be character-driven or plot driven? Where do you put your emphasis most?

Mrs. Meyer: Absolutely character driven. The plot comes from the characters. If you have interesting personalities, the stories write themselves. Some writers love intricate plotting, some love the beauty of language. For me it's all about the people -- always.

WSJ: Why do you think certain books emerge as cultural totems?

Mrs. Meyer: I don't know. I read books that are amazing that nobody has heard of. Bookstores can be overwhelming. Word of mouth is a huge part of it. Publishing isn't about big commercials on TV. With "Twilight" it was people passing books onto their friends. That's how it started. Now it's out of control. People want to know what other people are talking about, and it gets bigger and bigger.

WSJ: "Breaking Dawn" closes the series, at least as told through Bella's eyes. Were you able to tie up all the storylines?

Mrs. Meyer: I was very satisfied with the end, but I wouldn't say it's completely tied up. Life doesn't work that way. The characters seem real to me, so you can't say that's the end. Nothing is really final. Readers will get the sense of closure. But they'll still want to know what happens next. There are always more stories.

WSJ: The books have some heavy breathing, but they are ultimately chaste. What do you hear from your readers on this subject?...[read on]

--Marshal Zeringue