Andrew: Okay, well, it's time now for our interview with the one and only, the fantastic, the charming, the bubbly - as Laura and Elysa described her after the show - interview, Stephenie Meyer. And now, for those of you who have read Breaking Dawn or are planning on reading it, we do get into the plot of the book, but I inserted a little spoiler warning before Breaking Dawn content so you'll know when to stop it so nothing gets spoiled for you. So, we'll take it away to our interview with Stephenie Meyer. Joining us now is Stephenie Meyer, the author of the highly successful Twilight saga, which was just completed Friday when Breaking Dawn was released. Hello, Stephenie!
Stephenie: Hi, Andrew!
Andrew: How are you today?
Stephenie: I'm pretty good. I'm starting to get a little nervous [unintelligible] the show tonight. That always happens.
Andrew: Yeah, you're in the middle of this tour right now. What is this, your second or third?
Stephenie: This is my fourth tour.
Andrew: Oh, okay.
Stephenie: So both books, and then one tour for The Host, and then, you know, various international tours. [laughs]
Andrew: Right, right, and you are in Chicago tonight, right?
Stephenie: Right.
Andrew: Awesome. So, we're going to ask you some questions about the Twilight fandom and how it compares to the Potter fandom, since we are a Harry Potter fansite, and then we'll get into stuff about Breaking Dawn. Does that sound good?
Stephenie: That sounds cool.
Andrew: All right, cool.
Elysa: With the release of Breaking Dawn, the press is really all over this huge phenomenon that you've created with these books, and a lot of them are comparing you to J.K. Rowling because of the similarities in the fandoms. Why do you think so many Potter fans also enjoy Twilight and vice versa?
Stephenie: Yeah, I think everyone says that, actually, not most of them.
[Andrew and Stephenie laugh]
Stephenie: I get that all the time now, and I don't really know. I mean, when it comes down to it, there isn't that much that's similar...
Elysa: Mhm...
Stephenie: ...about the books, except for the fans of the books are very similar. And of course all my fans are Harry Potter fans because everyone is a Harry Potter fan.
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Stephenie: That just goes without saying, right?
Elysa: Right. I agree with you, yeah.
Andrew: Yeah.
Stephenie: Yeah, so, I mean, I think the fans see, and they're fun reads, but they do appeal to people who like a little bit longer books, so there's that too, I guess.
Elysa: Right.
Matt: Okay. Stephenie, in your opinion, what is it about this whole genre that appeals to so many readers?
Stephenie: The vampire genre?
[Matt and Stephenie laugh]
Matt: Yeah.
Stephenie: You know, I don't know, because I'm not - I don't read vampire books, so - and that - before, now I'll be able to. I - I've never really been into horror, so I'm not sure what the appeal is. I think it's because - you know, a lot of people like horror movies, people who aren't me, and I guess people liked to be scared, and vampires, of all the monsters that we can scare ourselves with, are definitely the sexiest. I mean, the rest are unattractive.
[Andrew laughs]
Matt: Oh. Yeah.
Andrew: Right.
Elysa: Clearly.
[Andrew and Matt laugh]
Andrew: Now, one major difference between the fandoms is that - between Harry Potter and Twilight is that J.K. Rowling has had ten years to develop her fandom, whereas yours has only had three years. So if your fandom only had - not only - if your fandom had ten years to develop, do you think it would grow into this huge thing?
Stephenie: You know, I don't know. Everything has been so much more than I expected...
Andrew: Yeah.
Stephenie: ...so it's hard to say. I kind of keep waiting for everything to crash and burn.
[Andrew laughs]
Stephenie: Something about my personality...
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: It just seems like, you know - I would have to wonder what would happen if there was just more time. It would be fun to watch, and just seeing this whole fandom grow has been a lot of fun to watch for Twilight.
Stephenie: Yeah. It's been really fast. I mean - obviously, cool and fun for me...
Andrew: Yeah.
Stephenie: ...so I don't know. I kind of like the idea of starting over with new characters though. It should be - I imagine J.K. Rowling deals with is the idea that people feel like the characters belong to them, and after a while they have their guess and idea of what they want to see happen. You don't really have to deal with that so much when you're starting over with fresh characters.
Andrew: Is that a hint of things to come?
Stephenie: Well, I - well, obviously, I've got to go and do Midnight Sun, so people don't come after me, right?
[Everyone laughs]
Stephenie: But I'm still - I'm still in the Twilight world for now, but then I've got a lot of other, you know, non-vampire: ghosts, time travel, mermaids. I got a ton of stuff...
Andrew: Wow.
Matt: Oh, wow.
Stephenie: ...to work on.
Elysa: Awesome.
Matt: Oh, cool.
Andrew: That's a spectrum there. Yeah. [Andrew laughs]
Stephenie: Yeah.
[Matt and Stephenie laugh]
Laura: So, considering that you've said the two stories don't have a lot in common, what do you think Harry Potter fans would like about Twilight, especially people who haven't read the books yet?
Stephenie: You know, I don't know. It's not - to me it's so not comparable, but I do think that people who are readers - I was always a reader when I was growing up, and I just liked really big stories. I never wanted them to end. And my stories are long, so they're - they have that going for them, but then I think they're kind of fun, fast reads, you know, for as long as they are. My top priority is always entertainment, and so I think that is similar to Harry Potter. Rowling just had such a whimsical, magical, escapism that's really cool, and I with Twilight I think it's a bit closer to home because it's set more in the world that we know, but I still think it has that escape that people might be looking for.
Laura: Right.
Andrew: Yeah. You know, and I've got to say, that's what I've always liked about your books is - it is set in today's world, and in America, too. I mean, I've always appreciated your reference to Rotten Tomatoes. I think that was in...
[Laura and Matt laugh]
Andrew: Twilight or New Moon. Just thought it was good.
Stephenie: [laughs] Well, you know, Rotten Tomatoes is a good tool.
Andrew: Yes, it is.
[Andrew and Matt laugh]
Matt: Okay, Stephenie, you've read the Harry Potter books, correct?
Stephenie: Yes.
Matt: Okay. What would you say is your favorite of the series?
Stephenie: Probably number three. I'm just a huge Sirius Black fan.
Matt: Ohh.
Elysa: Oh my God.
[Laura and Matt laugh]
Elysa: I'm there with you. Me too.
Stephenie: I had a really hard time when he died. It was not easy for me.
[Andrew and Matt laugh]
Laura: Aww. Well, I think we all felt the same way. [laughs]
Stephenie: Yeah. [laughs]
Laura: But if you had to pick something specific, or maybe not so specific, what do you admire most about J.K. Rowling's work?
Stephenie: Oh God. Her imagination. I mean, she - I - when I work, I work within the world that I'm in because I kind of like having that foundation of realism. Also it's a little bit easier. People are used to being in this world. To create a whole other world and get the walls up as solidly as she does takes a ton of imagination and just a real gift. I am constantly amazed by that with her.
Matt: Yeah. Aww.
Elysa: Okay, so if Harry and Edward had to duel against each other, using their own abilities, who do you think would win?
Stephenie: Oh gosh. Don't get mad at me, but, I mean...
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Stephenie: Okay. I don't know what a wizard fight looks like in her head. I know what it looks like in the movie, so I kind of have to go on what it looks like in the movie.
[Andrew laughs]
Stephenie: But here's the thing: if it's possible for a human to duck a wand being [unintelligible] at them, the vampire's not going to have a problem. I mean, the fight would be over in .01 seconds, because Edward would be across the room, snap his neck, and be done.
Andrew: Oh, yeah.
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Stephenie: He wouldn't even have time to say his spell word. I'm sorry. Edward would win that one.
[Everyone laughs]
Elysa: Yeah.
Andrew: All right, let's move on to...
Matt: I kind of... [laughs] ...I kind of agree with her.
Laura: Yeah, me, too.
Andrew: Let's move on to Breaking Dawn now.
Stephenie: Hi, Andrew!
Andrew: How are you today?
Stephenie: I'm pretty good. I'm starting to get a little nervous [unintelligible] the show tonight. That always happens.
Andrew: Yeah, you're in the middle of this tour right now. What is this, your second or third?
Stephenie: This is my fourth tour.
Andrew: Oh, okay.
Stephenie: So both books, and then one tour for The Host, and then, you know, various international tours. [laughs]
Andrew: Right, right, and you are in Chicago tonight, right?
Stephenie: Right.
Andrew: Awesome. So, we're going to ask you some questions about the Twilight fandom and how it compares to the Potter fandom, since we are a Harry Potter fansite, and then we'll get into stuff about Breaking Dawn. Does that sound good?
Stephenie: That sounds cool.
Andrew: All right, cool.
Elysa: With the release of Breaking Dawn, the press is really all over this huge phenomenon that you've created with these books, and a lot of them are comparing you to J.K. Rowling because of the similarities in the fandoms. Why do you think so many Potter fans also enjoy Twilight and vice versa?
Stephenie: Yeah, I think everyone says that, actually, not most of them.
[Andrew and Stephenie laugh]
Stephenie: I get that all the time now, and I don't really know. I mean, when it comes down to it, there isn't that much that's similar...
Elysa: Mhm...
Stephenie: ...about the books, except for the fans of the books are very similar. And of course all my fans are Harry Potter fans because everyone is a Harry Potter fan.
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Stephenie: That just goes without saying, right?
Elysa: Right. I agree with you, yeah.
Andrew: Yeah.
Stephenie: Yeah, so, I mean, I think the fans see, and they're fun reads, but they do appeal to people who like a little bit longer books, so there's that too, I guess.
Elysa: Right.
Matt: Okay. Stephenie, in your opinion, what is it about this whole genre that appeals to so many readers?
Stephenie: The vampire genre?
[Matt and Stephenie laugh]
Matt: Yeah.
Stephenie: You know, I don't know, because I'm not - I don't read vampire books, so - and that - before, now I'll be able to. I - I've never really been into horror, so I'm not sure what the appeal is. I think it's because - you know, a lot of people like horror movies, people who aren't me, and I guess people liked to be scared, and vampires, of all the monsters that we can scare ourselves with, are definitely the sexiest. I mean, the rest are unattractive.
[Andrew laughs]
Matt: Oh. Yeah.
Andrew: Right.
Elysa: Clearly.
[Andrew and Matt laugh]
Andrew: Now, one major difference between the fandoms is that - between Harry Potter and Twilight is that J.K. Rowling has had ten years to develop her fandom, whereas yours has only had three years. So if your fandom only had - not only - if your fandom had ten years to develop, do you think it would grow into this huge thing?
Stephenie: You know, I don't know. Everything has been so much more than I expected...
Andrew: Yeah.
Stephenie: ...so it's hard to say. I kind of keep waiting for everything to crash and burn.
[Andrew laughs]
Stephenie: Something about my personality...
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: It just seems like, you know - I would have to wonder what would happen if there was just more time. It would be fun to watch, and just seeing this whole fandom grow has been a lot of fun to watch for Twilight.
Stephenie: Yeah. It's been really fast. I mean - obviously, cool and fun for me...
Andrew: Yeah.
Stephenie: ...so I don't know. I kind of like the idea of starting over with new characters though. It should be - I imagine J.K. Rowling deals with is the idea that people feel like the characters belong to them, and after a while they have their guess and idea of what they want to see happen. You don't really have to deal with that so much when you're starting over with fresh characters.
Andrew: Is that a hint of things to come?
Stephenie: Well, I - well, obviously, I've got to go and do Midnight Sun, so people don't come after me, right?
[Everyone laughs]
Stephenie: But I'm still - I'm still in the Twilight world for now, but then I've got a lot of other, you know, non-vampire: ghosts, time travel, mermaids. I got a ton of stuff...
Andrew: Wow.
Matt: Oh, wow.
Stephenie: ...to work on.
Elysa: Awesome.
Matt: Oh, cool.
Andrew: That's a spectrum there. Yeah. [Andrew laughs]
Stephenie: Yeah.
[Matt and Stephenie laugh]
Laura: So, considering that you've said the two stories don't have a lot in common, what do you think Harry Potter fans would like about Twilight, especially people who haven't read the books yet?
Stephenie: You know, I don't know. It's not - to me it's so not comparable, but I do think that people who are readers - I was always a reader when I was growing up, and I just liked really big stories. I never wanted them to end. And my stories are long, so they're - they have that going for them, but then I think they're kind of fun, fast reads, you know, for as long as they are. My top priority is always entertainment, and so I think that is similar to Harry Potter. Rowling just had such a whimsical, magical, escapism that's really cool, and I with Twilight I think it's a bit closer to home because it's set more in the world that we know, but I still think it has that escape that people might be looking for.
Laura: Right.
Andrew: Yeah. You know, and I've got to say, that's what I've always liked about your books is - it is set in today's world, and in America, too. I mean, I've always appreciated your reference to Rotten Tomatoes. I think that was in...
[Laura and Matt laugh]
Andrew: Twilight or New Moon. Just thought it was good.
Stephenie: [laughs] Well, you know, Rotten Tomatoes is a good tool.
Andrew: Yes, it is.
[Andrew and Matt laugh]
Matt: Okay, Stephenie, you've read the Harry Potter books, correct?
Stephenie: Yes.
Matt: Okay. What would you say is your favorite of the series?
Stephenie: Probably number three. I'm just a huge Sirius Black fan.
Matt: Ohh.
Elysa: Oh my God.
[Laura and Matt laugh]
Elysa: I'm there with you. Me too.
Stephenie: I had a really hard time when he died. It was not easy for me.
[Andrew and Matt laugh]
Laura: Aww. Well, I think we all felt the same way. [laughs]
Stephenie: Yeah. [laughs]
Laura: But if you had to pick something specific, or maybe not so specific, what do you admire most about J.K. Rowling's work?
Stephenie: Oh God. Her imagination. I mean, she - I - when I work, I work within the world that I'm in because I kind of like having that foundation of realism. Also it's a little bit easier. People are used to being in this world. To create a whole other world and get the walls up as solidly as she does takes a ton of imagination and just a real gift. I am constantly amazed by that with her.
Matt: Yeah. Aww.
Elysa: Okay, so if Harry and Edward had to duel against each other, using their own abilities, who do you think would win?
Stephenie: Oh gosh. Don't get mad at me, but, I mean...
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Stephenie: Okay. I don't know what a wizard fight looks like in her head. I know what it looks like in the movie, so I kind of have to go on what it looks like in the movie.
[Andrew laughs]
Stephenie: But here's the thing: if it's possible for a human to duck a wand being [unintelligible] at them, the vampire's not going to have a problem. I mean, the fight would be over in .01 seconds, because Edward would be across the room, snap his neck, and be done.
Andrew: Oh, yeah.
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Stephenie: He wouldn't even have time to say his spell word. I'm sorry. Edward would win that one.
[Everyone laughs]
Elysa: Yeah.
Andrew: All right, let's move on to...
Matt: I kind of... [laughs] ...I kind of agree with her.
Laura: Yeah, me, too.
Andrew: Let's move on to Breaking Dawn now.
