Many came in groups, wearing tee-shirts they had designed themselves with slogans such as "I Love Edward," "Vampires are Cool," or "Team Edward." The chatter around the room dwindled to a hush when Vivian Jennings of "Rainy Day Books" stepped up to a microphone and announced, "Stephenie Meyer is in the building!"...

By: Deborah Ground Buckner (Kansas City Correspondent - USA) 

May 13th, 2008 

The crowd of 1000 consisted mostly of young women, from 13 to 25.  Many came in groups, wearing tee-shirts they had designed themselves with slogans such as "I Love Edward," "Vampires are Cool," or "Team Edward."  The chatter around the room dwindled to a hush when Vivian Jennings of "Rainy Day Books" (Kansas City's premier independent bookstore) stepped up to a microphone and announced, "Stephenie Meyer is in the building!" 

Seeing and hearing the rock-star like ovation that followed, warms the heart of any writer; those who are fortunate enough to have a devoted following are rare enough.  When a writer can arouse such a dedicated following comprised of young readers in an era where books compete with school, peers, television, the Internet and video games, it is an amazing and special gift.

The excitement all stems from Meyer's successful trilogy (Twilight; New Moon; and Eclipse, soon to be followed by Breaking Dawn).  These tell the story of Bella, a high school girl in love with Edward, who happens to be a gorgeous vampire.  With all this success, Meyer remains well centered, approachable and even humble.  On a stop in Kansas City, she took time to discuss her latest book, The Host, and took questions from the audience, then settled down to sign the thousand purchased books of the evening as well as other volumes fans presented.  Fan Number 1000 received the same warm smile bestowed upon Fan Number 1.

Meyer has much to smile about these days.  Twilight has inspired a film that is in production and will be released in December, starring Kristen Stewart as Bella and Robert Pattinson (Cedric Diggory in the Harry Potter films) as Edward.  Seeing her work made into a film has been "pure fun for me," Meyer said.  "If it's bad, it's not my fault."   She happily follows that, though, with "Everything I've seen has been so good!"

Not every book-to-film project can turn out as beautifully as Emma Thompson's take on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, Meyer observed.  But she thinks the casting of Twilight has been "inspired," and she has enjoyed having input on the script.  "They listen to me on all the important points."   

Meyer's latest book, The Host, is a departure from the stories of Bella and Edward.  The Host is a science fiction plot, the story of Wanderer, a soul placed in a host body, Melanie.  Wanderer falls in love based on Melanie's thoughts and memories.  The concept came to Meyer when she started out on a twelve-hour drive and thought she had to come up with a story to entertain herself.  She suddenly had the idea of "two people in love with the same guy but in the same body."

Science fiction may be a first for Meyer's writing, but it is not new for her.  "I do like science fiction.  I grew up on it.  This is my roots," she explained.  She identifies Orson Scott Card as her favorite science fiction writer.  One of Card's greatest books, Ender's Game, provided a fascinating experience in storytelling when Card followed his Ender's series with Ender's Shadow, telling the same story but from the viewpoint of another character.  In a similar venture, Breaking Dawn will tell the story of Meyer's first book, Twilight, but from Edward's point of view. 

A fan asked Meyer why she writes about characters who "don't fit in."  "How many books are there about people who do fit in?" Meyer queried.  "Every single one of us feels like we are the exception."  So, she finds it natural for her characters "to feel like their problems are different."

When asked about the lifestyle of a professional author, Meyer stated "People really glamorize it, but my life is pretty much the same."  As all working mothers can understand, "The main thing I am is a mom."  There are advantages to being an author, though.  "If I am on my computer I'm working," she joked, even if she is playing solitaire.  "The writing is the good part," the gift of being able to create something; but "there are hard things" as well.  "Someone's going to come into your story with a red pencil."  Cover art can be another issue, she noted, as "someone else gets to dress it [your story]."  Having successful sales is not what makes a person a writer.  "If you would write anyway, then you're a writer."   

When asked about the biggest change in her life post-Twilight, Meyer observed, "My garage has some pretty cars in it."  The greatest change, though, has been much more personal.  Meyer admitted to shyness in the days before going on the author's circuit.  "I was never one to share" Getting out on the book trail "was an amazing validating thing."  The result is "I believe in myself.  I can do something that people like."

To learn more about Stephenie Meyer, go to her website at: www.stepheniemeyer.com

Meyer's Newest Book: