AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:  http://www.catherinecoulter.com/

From all the books you have written, do you have a favorite?

My own personal favorite of all my books, both historical and contemporary, is Beyond Eden.

At what point in time did you realize that writing was the "thing for you"?

I realized it really fast, since I am not stupid, when the editor called me at my office on Wall Street three days after I sent her The Autumn Countess and offered me a three-book contract. Sometimes there's luck and then there's luck, nor was the novel bad.

What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a writer?

To everyone, young or old, who wants to be a legitimate, bona-fide writer, I offer this advice- SIT DOWN AND WRITE EVERY DAY. Be disciplined. Never procrastinate. Read voraciously. Join the appropriate genre organization. And for heaven's sake, have some fun.

What is the name of your favorite mystery movie?

The Cove would be my favorite mystery movie, as soon as the dolts in Blah Blah Land make it and make it well, which would have to mean that I have full authority over everything they do. Now, is that a Hollywood dream or what?

What other authors do you enjoy reading?

Dick Francis is my favorite author in the known universe. Also ensconced on my special book shelves, there's a lot of Jayne Ann Krentz, Linda Howard, John Sanford, Nelson DeMille, Jacci Reding - okay, is everyone bored yet? There are lots and lots.

Is there anyone, in particular, who influenced you?

I grew up reading Regency author Georgette Heyer and Gothic novelist Victoria Holt.

What led you to write mysteries?

I'd say that regardless of the genre I'm writing, a good 80% of the books have mysteries in them, whether they're funny or deadly serious.. My brain just seems to work that way. The twistier the plot the more it suits my brain.

Do you read reviews of your books?

Only if they're good. The publisher is forbidden to ever send me a negative review.

How would you like to be remembered?

As being funny.

What do you believe is the highlight of your career so far?

Being invited to speak at the White House with Mrs. Bush at the National Book Festival in October, 2003.

Do you write on a fixed schedule?

I'm at my computer answering fan mail (email) at about 6:30a.m. Hopefully I'm ready to begin work writing at 7:30. I write my best in the morning, so this works. I go until about 11:00 and that's it for original writing for the day unless there's a time crunch in the schedule, which happens. Believe me, when there's a looming deadline, any time of the day is just fine, thank you.

Do you have a message you would like to give to all your readers out there?

I hope I can continue to please you until I croak over my computer keys.

Catherine Coulter's first novel came out at the end of 1978 when she had just reached puberty. It was a Regency romance because, as any published author will tell you, it's best to limit the number of unknowns in a first book, and not only had she grown up reading Georgette Heyer, but she earned her M.A. degree in early 19th century European history.

Following The Autumn Countess (a Gothic masquerading as a Regency, she says), she wrote six more Regency romances. Her first long historical appeared in 1982, her "baby", Devil's Embrace. She has continued to write long historicals, interspersing them with contemporary novels, beginning with False Pretenses in 1988. These days she writes one contemporary suspense novel a year and one historical romance a year.

She pioneered the trilogy/character-linked series in historical romance. They include: Song, Star, Magic, Night, Bride, Viking, and Legacy. She enjoys series because she doesn't have to say good-bye to the characters and neither do the readers.

In 1988, she first appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List with Moonspun Magic, the third novel of the Magic trilogy. She has continued to hit the New York Times Bestseller List 45 times in a row, as well as USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Washington Post, LA Times, etc. She has 43 million copies in print worldwide.