Chapters.indigo.ca, your favourite online bookstore, is thrilled to have this exclusive interview clip of the bestselling author of the Twilight Series, Stephenie Meyer. Find out how Stephenie came up with the idea to write Twlight, the first book in the series, and much more. Watch the interview now.

On her website and in interviews, Stephenie talks about how essential music is to her creative process. For anyone who has read her books and heard any one of these bands, it is almost as if you can hear the music soundtrack in the background. Check out Stephenie Meyer's Playlist and see for yourself.

Read the Exclusive Q & A

Q: On your website, you tell the story of how Chapter 13 "Confessions" of your first novel, Twilight, came to you in a dream. We all have had those moments from time to time of waking up and remembering something profound, what prompted you to take that moment and write down your dream? Has this happened since in the course of writing New Moon and Eclipse?
A: I can't fully describe how compelling that first dream was; the idea of forgetting it was almost repellent to me. Writing it down was a compulsive act. I have not had a similar experience either before or after that one dream. However, once I got started writing, I didn't need another one. Having discovered the excitement and fun of writing, no catalyst is necessary to keep me going.

Q: Your books are not only bestsellers, but have become the subject of fan fiction, blogs, Facebook groups, and t-shirt contests. Have you pondered how and why your books have become so popular? How do you feel about this? Has it impacted the way that you write?
A: I've spent a lot of time wondering why my books have inspired so much enthusiasm and devotion, but I've never figured it out. I know how much I love my characters, so maybe that just carries through and make other people love them, too. I think knowing that people love what I do makes me more confident in my writing. I know that I can trust my stories and my style; I don't have to worry that I'm not doing it right.

Q: Did you have a YA/Teen audience in mind when you started writing your novels? Are you surprised at the cross-over in popularity of the books?
A: When I first started writing, I was my only audience. A few weeks in, my older sister joined the audience. So the entire time I was writing Twilight, my audience was an average of thirty years old. I was more surprised at how well the book ended up suiting the YA audience than I was that older readers enjoyed it, too. I love the cross-over popularity.

Q: You joke that people ask you: "What's a nice Mormon girl like you doing writing about vampires?" How do you respond to questions like this? Does your spirituality affect the themes that you write about in the Twilight Series?
A My first response is to tell people to read the books. At first glance, the idea of vampires doesn't seem consistent with my personality. Once a person knows my vampires, they understand. Though my characters officially belong in the horror genre, they're actually strong examples of people who choose to do the right thing under difficult circumstances.
My beliefs do affect my writing in that my characters are very aware of spiritual things. I think this makes them more rounded and relatable. Real people have to wonder about what's coming after this life and how it should affect the way they live. My characters think about those things, too.

Q: Do you have a favourite place to write? If so, why?
A: I'm still working on that one. I write in the middle of the madness at home, because I want to be able to see my kids (and to have them know I'm here). It's distracting, but still a good thing. More than a favourite place, I have a favourite time to write. When the kids are in bed, that's my time to concentrate.

Q: Are there specific tools that you use why you are writing to help you focus on the specific details of your novels?
A: Music is my one necessary tool. I put on music that fits the mood of what I'm writing, to help me stay in the zone and get the emotional tone right.

Q: A lot of writers have families, and I know that you have three children and other commitments-how do you balance your parental duties with your writing?
A: It's a work in progress. I still haven't found the perfect balance, and every time I think I'm almost there, something changes. Mostly my kids, who just keep getting older despite my feelings on the subject. They're so self-sufficient and even-tempered-they make my mothering job pretty easy. They're also very understanding about my writing, and proud of what I do.

Q: There is a lot of debate among your fans between siding with Edward the vampire or Jacob the werewolf, how do you respond to your fans?
A: I can't choose a side. I love both characters so much, it's like choosing between my children. I'll admit I have a special place in my heart for the Jacob fans, just because they're so outnumbered.

Q: Reading through your blog on your website,www.stepheniemeyer.com , it is clear that you feel passionate about your characters. Do you find yourself at certain times feeling more sympathetic to one character? If so, why?
A: It all depends on who I'm spending the most time with in the moment. When I'm writing about Alice, I'm very focused on her, for example. Even the characters I'm not particularly sympathetic to, like Rosalie, get some affection when I'm working on parts of the story that revolve around them.

Q: Where does the mythology behind the Twilight Series come from? Do you find that you are influenced at all by the popular "vampire themed shows" like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, vampire novels and subculture, or, do you try your best to ignore this? Do you feel that your novels are a newer extension of this trend?
A: It's easy to be positive that I am not influenced by Buffy, because I've never watched an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I've never been into the horror genre, so I was fairly free of preconceived notions when I began constructing the Twilight mythology. I think the roots of my mythology are much more influenced by superheroes than by monsters.

Q: Do you have the whole Twilight Series mapped out in your mind or do you find that it is more of an organic process where you have a general idea of how it is going to go, but not the specifics?
A: When I started with Twilight, I had no idea where it was going; it grew very organically without much effort on my part. When I was finished with that first story, I started a massive sequel that had a lot of massive flaws. Though that sequel is locked away in my files never to see the light of day, it provided a skeleton structure for the rest of the series. From the time that I sat down to write New Moon, I knew where the story was headed.

Q: Out of the three novels ( Twilight, New Moonand Eclipse) that you have finished thus far, which one is your favourite and why?
A: Eclipse is my favourite. For one thing, Eclipse is the funniest of the three, and I love to laugh. But the main reason I love Eclipse is because all the set up is all done; the characters are established and rounded and bursting with potential. In Eclipse, I got to take those very vital characters and put them in a room together. Then I just could sit back and watch the fireworks.

Q: Do you have your favourite vampire movies and books? What are they and why?
A: I have never seen a vampire movie. I think I read one Anne Rice novel a million years ago when I was in college, but I don't even remember which one it was. I'm not a horror person.

Q: Is there anything that you are currently reading with your children that you would like to recommend to our readers?
A: Right now I'm reading my kids the manuscript for my adult novel, The Host, that's coming out in the spring. They make a great sounding board. After that, we'll tackle the last Harry Potter.

Q: On your website, you mention that you need to write with music and you list some of your favourites. What are you currently listening to that you would want to recommend?
A:I always recommend the band Muse, my personal favourite. Right now, I'm listening to a lot of Arcade Fire (best CD of the year!), Gomez, Ok Go, Jack's Mannequin, and Elbow. I love the "next big thing" stations on satellite radio. I'm always looking for new inspiration.

To find out more about Stephenie Meyer and her books check out her official website. And be sure to bite into all of Stephenie Meyer's books and order your copy of her latest book, Eclipse.