I figured I'd write about this here, although really, it probably needs to go on my website. Hopefully I can get it up there the next time I update the site--which is eventually (fingers crossed) undergoing a remodel soon.

Anyway, I'm starting to get a lot of questions sent to me either in comments to these LJ posts, in LJ mail, or in MySpace comments/mail. I do try to keep track of these, but they tend to get lost in the shuffle, so the best way to get in touch with me is to email me. I do actually answer every email I'm sent, but I'm usually running behind. Right now, I'm a month behind in reader email, though it's better than it was a couple weeks ago when I knocked off 100 responses and got myself down from being two months behind!

I hate the lag, and I apologize to any who have been waiting for responses. I really appreciate people writing to me! Like I said, I do read every email. I also read every LJ comment (thanks for those - they're great!), though people who have been following this blog for a while have undoubtedly noticed my responses have dropped off. Every once in a while, I'll toss one out, but please don't take offense if I don't answer your question here! And please don't stop the comments. I really do love them. If I get really busy with a deadline, I tag my email and toss it into a folder that I can then go through later. LJ comments and MySpace comments are harder to tag and separate out, which is why they get missed. So, again, email me with questions! They'll get answered...eventually.

The only letters I won't answer now are if people send me stories/excerpts to read and critique. I'm sorry. Please don't send them! Make your friends read them. :) That's what I did early on, and they turned out to be my biggest source of inspiration. Also, if you do send me LJ mail, make sure you've got the thing turned on where you can receive LJ mail back! Twice now, when I actually have answered some LJ mail, I got the letters bounced back to me.

And finally, a huge percentage of the mail I get usually contains one of these questions, so here are the answers, and again, I really need to put them on my website so people aren't waiting a month!

1. Who's on the cover of Frostbite (and the other books)?
The girl on Frostbite is Rose (as is the girl on #1), but she doesn't look the way Rose is described in the book. As for the guy on Frostbite...well, actually I have no clue who he's supposed to be. He doesn't look like any of the characters! Authors often don't have much control over the covers. They're done by the book company's art department. I'm not sure who they had in mind for that guy...maybe no one. Sometimes the goal is just to have a pretty cover! Personally, I think he'd look exactly like Christian if he didn't have red eyes. The Shadow Kiss people are Dimitri and Lissa, but don't worry. He doesn't cut his hair or anything.

2. Will you make a movie of Vampire Academy?
Sadly, this isn't something I can just do. A movie type person/company has to decide to buy the film rights to the books, and then they're the ones who will make the movie. There are a couple of ways that can happen. They could stumble onto the book and decide they like it, or my agent may pitch it to them, and then they decide they like it. Really, it's a waiting game. If it happens, I'll definitely let you know.

3. How many books are going be in the VA series, and when is the next one coming out?
Right now, there will be at least five books total in the series, and I can't say for sure after that. The next book, Shadow Kiss, comes out November 13. You can follow my updates on my Calendar Page or the Vampire Academy Page. I also tend to ping my mailing list with updates.

Wow, that was a lot of stuff! I hope it helps and doesn't sound too preachy. I also hope it explains why you don't always get answers from me. It's really important to me to give everyone a response, so just hang in there with me. I'll be getting some downtime in a couple weeks or so, so hopefully I can get back on track then.