Fan Q&A
You have questions? P. C. & Kristin have answers for you!
Do you have any news on the movie/TV series? We’ve been waiting FOREVER! Is it ever going to happen? (Too many of you asked this question for me to attribute it to one or a few readers, so let’s say this one is from everyone!)
P. C.: We’ve been waiting forever, too! Which makes us very, very happy to be able to tell you that our producers, Davis Films, have teamed up with Academy Award–winning producer Don Carmody and International Emmy-nominated producer David Cormican through their DCTV to adapt House of Night to a live-action television series! Kristin and I are absolutely 100 percent behind this adaptation. We adore the team and are confident that they will respect our books while bringing our beloved characters alive on the TV screen. Stay tuned for more announcements soon!
What was the first book you read that put you on the path to being an author, and when did you first start putting together the House of Night stories?
—Rachel Ann Miller
P. C.: When I was thirteen years old I discovered Anne McCaffrey’s brilliant series, the Dragonriders of Pern. It was the first time I understood that a female could write and star in a fantasy / science fiction series. I told myself right then that I was going to be an author and populate my worlds with strong women.
In 2005 Meredith Bernstein, who was then my agent, and I were having dinner at a Romance Writers of America national convention and she said she would love for me to write a series “set at a vampyre finishing school.” I was teaching high school at the time, and my mind immediately went to YA. The rest is history …
When you’re writing, do you and Kristin still have the same level of excitement for these characters in the HoN Other World series compared to when you two first started writing the House of Night series? Has your love for these characters changed over the years?
—Jennifer Smith
P. C.: I’ll always love the HoN universe. Writing in it feels like coming home. I adore the characters, and because they started so young and so immature it’s still exciting to help them grow and evolve. My love for them has changed over the years—just like your love changes for friends and family. I’ve grown closer to some, like Kevin in both of his incarnations, and some just fade out of the story and the HoN life, like Drew or Venus.
K. C.: My love for the HoN world grows with each novel because my writing and editorial skills improve with each. It’s like playing a sport—it becomes more and more fun as I hone my skills. Plus, in the Other World novels, it’s so exciting to see how different some of my favorite characters are from the original HoN books.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating the House of Night world? What about the Other World?
—Bri’ann Piguet
P. C.: In both worlds I have been surprised about how many real-life events creep into the fictional worlds. Some are planned—like highlighting the hypocrisy of the Bible Belt and the type of people who attend church constantly and carry around their Bibles but are the first to judge and condemn anyone who doesn’t look, act, or believe as they do. But often real-world themes that I do not plan to insert into the fictional HoN world become mirrored through the attitudes of my characters and the events that happen to them, like what happened between Aphrodite and her mother. I didn’t plan for her mother to play such a significant role in Lost but the level of racism, entitlement, and toxicity that I was, and still am, seeing in too many upper-middle-class white women informed the characters and the plot. When that happens, I think of it as a very special kind of magick.
What draws you to writing about vampires? Are you a vampire yourself because you really have all the ins and outs figured out of this amazing society? And which character are you most like?
—Lee Ryder
P. C.: That’s a good question! I was never drawn to writing about vampires. I was drawn to writing about teenagers and the issues they deal with on a daily basis. The House of Night is simply a vehicle to tell a larger story—one that highlights the struggles and joys young people face daily. I don’t think of the characters as vampires. I think of them as real kids (and adults), and then I put those “real” people in a paranormal setting.
I could be a vampire! I write at night and rarely wake up before noon. When I’m near deadline I usually go to bed about the time the sun is rising. But I’m a vegan, so that blood stuff is not for me.
There are pieces of me in many of the characters. The easiest character for me to write is Aphrodite. I feel a huge affinity with Lenobia—and she has several of my horses. I’m also very close to Grandma Redbird, though she is wiser than I.
I know that Neferet had bad influences in her life that led her down the wrong roads. We know that she was power hungry. Was there ever a chance in either book that she could have turned out good, like Aphrodite, if she’d had friends like the Nerd Herd?
—Denise Hapner
P. C.: That’s an interesting question and really the basis of the Other World. If you’ve just finished Forgotten, you’ll already understand that because Other Neferet’s past differed from our Neferet’s past she is different. I rely a lot on the nurture versus nature belief when I write the Other World characters.
With every character developed and their lives evolving or devolving in both series, did either of you consider the duality of Stevie Rae’s complex experiences and life and have her revert to the mind-set of the original red vampire? Where in the process did Rephaim become the choice (perfect choice BTW) to be her soul mate?
—Michelle Landron
P. C.: Aphrodite’s sacrifice enabled Stevie Rae, and the rest of the red vamps and fledglings in her world, to regain their humanity. Then it was just a matter of choice, and Stevie Rae (along with Stark) clearly chose love over hate—Light over Darkness. She will not revert because of that choice, and neither will Stark. Some characters won’t be as firm in their choice, which is why we could see others reverting—and have seen it.
I love the Rephaim question! His relationship with Stevie Rae was a total surprise to me! I planned that Stark would fall in love with Stevie Rae! Obviously, Stark had another plan—which happens frequently with my characters. I did not know that they were going to be a thing until the moment in Tempted when he speaks to her, and the humanity in his voice won’t let her kill him. Had I known that they were going to fall in love I wouldn’t have made Raven Mockers so hideous! You’ll notice as you read through Tempted and beyond that I stop describing Rephaim, except for his voice and his hands, because he is a hideous beast! Sheesh. Talk about making my writing life difficult!
K. C.: Since I edit and brainstorm as opposed to write any books in the HoN series, this is one of the character development aspects that I leave to P. C., because she can see into Stevie Rae’s future. Stevie Rae lives in P. C.’s head (as weird as that might sound) and she connects with her in a way that I’ll never be able to.
Grandma Redbird is such a constant balance within the chaos, is she modeled after someone in particular?
—Stacey Dhom
P. C.: Grandma Redbird is modeled after and inspired by the third face of the Goddess, the Crone. She is a blessing to write.
Did you already know at the conclusion of the first series that Aphrodite would be a vampyre again? What gave you the idea to make her both blue and red?
—Logan Kiner
P. C.: No! I only knew that Aphrodite would be a being like none other. At the end of the original series she was a Prophetess of Nyx—not entirely human, but also definitely not a vampyre.
Aphrodite gave me the idea for her dual tattoos when she pulled herself out of her downward spiral and chose to give herself another chance. When she did that—I realized the full extent of who she was, and that’s when Nyx gifted her with her unique tattoo and new power.
Did you originally intend for Kalona to turn good? Or was he supposed to just be a bad guy that the Nerd Herd defeats and that was that? I’ve always been fascinated by Kalona even after he “died.”
—Rachael Hillis
P. C.: From his very first scene I intended to redeem him and have him reunite with Nyx, but I had no clue how it was going to happen. I only knew he would have to work hard to earn his Goddess’s forgiveness, which he did. He is one of my all-time favorite characters, and I have loved revisiting him in the form of Other Kalona.
Did you intend for Aphrodite to be such a huge influence in the beginning of it all? She’s such a dear character now. Do you ever have any second guesses whether you guys made the right decision on her mark? (I love her so much!)
—Heaven Leigh Wallace
P. C.: I always intended that Aphrodite’s character would grow and evolve and end up being very tight with Zoey and the rest of the Nerd Herd. You can see that as early as the last scene she’s in with Z at the end of Marked. No, I’ve never second-guessed my decision to take away her Mark, and then to gift her with one that is unique to the HoN world. I love her exactly as she is.
Would you ever change Grandma Redbird to vampire as she can’t live forever?
—Kilah Gooding
P. C.: Grandma Redbird won’t be a vampyre, but I can promise you that I have figured out a way for her to live forever! I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to her.
Zoey’s birth father is never mentioned … Will he be brought up or end up being someone powerful?
—Cynthia Hobbs
P. C.: Absolutely not. Zoey’s birth father abandoned his children when he and his wife divorced. He isn’t powerful. He’s a deadbeat dad and completely irrelevant in Z’s life and in the HoN world.
Have you ever regretted a plot point in any story? Have you looked at a character and felt sad about where they have ended up?
—Carrina North
P. C.: No, I don’t regret plot points, but often characters and their choices make me sad. I snot cried when Jack died. I didn’t know Heath was going to die until that terrible moment, and then along with Zoey I was shattered. I hated that Erin Bates made such bad choices. But I’m also pleasantly surprised by characters! Shaunee’s evolution was lovely. Stark’s loyalty makes my heart happy. And Other Neferet has been a delightful discovery.
Who was your most difficult character to build, looks- and personality-wise?
—Kilah Gooding
P. C.: The most difficult character to write in the original House of Night books was Neferet. Her descent into Darkness and madness was a terrible journey to experience with her, especially because it began with a rape. I was raped when I was thirteen (NOT BY MY FATHER), and I understand all too well the lure of revenge and the self-loathing that kind of violence can create. Writing the novella Neferet’s Curse was one of the most difficult exercises of my life, but it was also cathartic. I’m glad I chose love and healing over anger and Darkness.
How have you found writing this alternative universe version of House of Night? Did you find it creatively freeing or challenging to rewrite the narrative and flip it on its head?
—Ted Ryan
P. C.: I’ve found it challenging, but also very satisfying. I have to continually remind myself that even though the characters have the same personality traits they also have had much different life experiences, and those experiences inform their actions and their emotions. It’s a little like recreating the characters from scratch. I have to know everything about their pasts in the Other World, and then allow them to show me their natures. I always know I’ve gotten it right when the writing comes easily. If I’m stuck or try to force a choice on a character everything stops and I have to go back to that character’s past. Again. This happened often with Other Neferet. She surprised me more than any character has in a long time. I think she’ll surprise you, too!
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? Also, what is your writing outline process like?
—Bri’Ann piguet
P. C.: I like to old-school research! I have a huge library. I love to pore through texts, marking up pages and writing notes to myself. As I read, ideas begin to form and characters start speaking to me. It is also important that I visit the places I write about, which is why the majority of my books are set wherever I’m living (or have lived or visited). I believe it is important to ground fantasy in reality. Even my books that are pure fantasy, like the Divine Series, have huge pieces of the real world in them.
How long I spend researching depends on how long it takes me to start seeing the world and the people who will populate it, but the truth is I continue my research as long as I’m writing.
I hate outlining. Kristin is so much better at it than I am. When I outline alone, I basically just write notes that I turn into paragraphs. I usually have the beginning and the end of a book when I start writing—and maybe a few scenes in between. Then, thankfully, my characters take over!
K. C.: I love outlining so much! It’s impossible for me to start writing until I’ve outlined, especially because I don’t write sequentially, so I need that map to help keep track of where I am and where I’m going. First, I write a general Act I, Act II, Act III outline which serves as an overview of the beginning, climax, and resolution of the novel. Then, I’ll go back and do a chapter by chapter outline that connects the three acts. As I’m writing, I consistently remind myself that my outline is just a jumping-off point and that I can always change it as the story evolves.
What compels you to take locations from places you have visited and add them to your stories? (e.g. the catacombs and the buildings of the HoN setting?)
—Rhiannon “Rhinny” Rickets
P. C.: Part of my research process is to go to the places I’m using as settings. I need to be there to really understand how it feels, looks, smells, etc. I’ve always loved writing fantasy or using paranormal elements, and because of that genre choice I think it’s important to ground my readers in reality so that they’ll come with me when I add the magick!
I would love to know—did you always see this series evolving into what it is now? Did Kristin? Do you still feel that sense of attachment, like there’s more story to tell in this world, or do you feel that after Forgotten it will be time to part with Tulsa for a while?
—Rhiannon Storm
P. C.: In 2005, I sold three books to St. Martin’s Press—Marked, Betrayed, and Chosen. I’d only written three chapters of Marked at that time, and I had zero clue the series would evolve the way it did. But by the time I was working on Chosen, the series had begun to take off, so my wonderful publisher and hero, Matthew Shear, said the words to me that every author dreams of hearing from their publisher: “P. C., write whatever you want! Do whatever you want to do with this world! We want more, more, more!” At that time, I brought in an additional mythology and began expanding the world and the characters, which is why the books shifted from Zoey’s first-person point of view to include other characters in third person—except when Z is the focus on a scene. Then she still carries the POV.
K. C.: I was nineteen when we first started writing the series and, for some reason, I assumed it would be a crazy, enormous success. Now, as a much older adult human, I’m blown away by its success!
P. C.: At this time, I don’t have any more books planned, but that doesn’t mean much. When I finished Redeemed I didn’t think I’d revisit the HoN world for at least a decade, and you see how that worked out …
K. C.: Currently, Found is the final book in the Other World series. Like P. C., I didn’t see returning to the HoN world for quite some time. In 2014 I had the idea to do an anniversary novel, (which ended up being Loved), but I never anticipated it would become its own series and breathe fresh life into the HoN. It’s all very exciting!
How do you create the spells/poetry/rhymes?
—Jessica Blaine
P. C.: The spells, etc., are really just poetry, so what I do is think of the scene as a poem—and then write it. I’m Pagan, so the spells and rituals come easily to me—writing them is my personal devotion to the Goddess.
How did you create the lore for HoN?
—Evie Lynne
P. C.: I began with biology, which means I called my dad! He taught biology for a zillion years and has always been my reference for science-based things. He makes sure my ecosystems work in all my books, and I don’t mix up stuff like meiosis and mitosis. After he answered a bunch of questions, I created the foundation of how my vampyres Changed from human to vamp. Then I delved into the sociology of the HoN world. I made the decision quickly that mine would be a Pagan matriarch, and that informed many of my world’s details. Next came the creation of my heroine, Zoey Redbird. I based her very loosely on Kristin when she was a teenager, and Kristin is of mixed heritage, which I mimicked in Z. For the rest of the lore, I went back to my Celtic roots, added a dash of Wicca and a dose of fantasy—and the House of Night was created!
When you two write a book together, do you send it back and forth or do you sit down and bounce plot ideas off of each other?
—Patricia Darlene Morales
P. C.: Kristin and I don’t write the HoN novels together. I do all the writing and Kristin is my editor. We do co-write the Dysasters, another YA series. We outline the books together and divide up the characters, choosing which characters each of us can envision the best, or has the best automatic connection with. Then when we start writing, whomever’s character is the focus of a chapter writes that chapter. At the conclusion we do physically sit together and pass the laptop back and forth, though, because there are so many characters and so many points of view going on.
Have you two ever gotten to that point where one of you does not want to work with the other for a while? If you have, how have you worked past that?
—Victoria Morrison
P. C.: I’ll answer from the mom point of view. I had a toxic mother. Not only did she constantly pick at and demean me, but she and her mother couldn’t be in a room together without sniping and bickering. Years before I was pregnant with Kristin I vowed to break that cycle. Kristin and I do not fight. When she was a child I made the rules and enforced them, but I also listened to Kristin—and tried to see things from her point of view—to really understand her. I made mistakes, all parents do, but I acknowledged them and apologized and tried to do better. I have always respected, as well as liked and loved, Kristin. So, when we began working together we already had a strong, healthy relationship. I am proud to say that relationship has continued into her adulthood. She is wonderful to work with. I know I can count on her honesty, her intelligence, and her talent. I appreciate her. If she or I ever have an issue with a project we’re working on all we do is talk about it—just like any other problem we’ve had. Kristin is my best friend. I wouldn’t fight with my bestie.
K. C.: P. C. is fantastic to work with! She’s telling the truth when she says that we don’t fight. If I don’t agree with something that’s happening in one of the books, she listens when I voice my opinion and we come up with a solution together. It really helps that we had such a strong relationship prior to working together and that we continue to have a strong relationship separate from writing.
Out of the elements, which one do you and Kristin connect with the most?
—Ande Gullickson
P. C.: I’m an earth girl!
K. C.: I totally connect with the tranquil and also destructive power of water!
There is a running theme of elemental affinity in your work. What research led you to finding that particular theme, and what goal(s) have you both in giving such descriptive language for the feeling of being attached to them? I have an affinity with air and water, and I honestly fell in love with these books and the Goddess Summoning series for the familiarity and kinship I feel with the language used!
—Elizabeth Fontenot
P. C.: Thank you, Elizabeth! I’m Pagan and respecting and honoring the elements is an important part of that tradition. I prefer to keep the magick in my books element-based because of my belief system—though I do add a nice dose of fantasy and fiction to the mix. Being descriptive is simply part of good writing!
A lot of a story involving a hero or heroine requires progression (feats, new powers, love, loss, etc.). Have you given any of your characters any power or feat that you regret? I imagine it’s difficult to constantly be trying to best your previous climaxes and gains over and over.
—Byron Cox
P. C.: I don’t have an issue with this because my characters are so much more than their paranormal abilities. They’re living, breathing people first—paranormal beings second. I don’t try to best their abilities book after book. I simply allow them to mature (or not—depending on the character’s choices), so that becoming decent human beings, or vampyres or whatever, is their superpower. The rest is just icing.
Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, I’ve always loved and appreciated the representation in your books. Why has it been important to both of you to have that representation present? Would you ever consider having one of the characters’ Other World counterparts be a different gender or identify differently?
—Daniel Jackson
Would you ever include a transgender or gender nonconforming vampyre/character in any of your books?
—Mina Baptista
P. C.: As these two questions are very similar and very important I’m going to include both and answer them together.
I taught secondary school for fifteen years in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (Go Tigers!). When I began writing HoN, I made a commitment to populate my world with characters who truly reflected the teens I interacted with on a daily basis, so it was completely natural for me to include the LGBTQ+ community. Beyond that I have long been an advocate for marginalized peoples. I am a successful, educated, upper-middle-class cis white woman. I have a powerful voice. I will always use it to protect, empower, and advocate for those whose voices have been drowned out by racism, homophobia, religious hypocrisy, and misogyny. Think of how much could change—how much true good could be done in the world—if all white women metaphorically linked arms and refused to allow the voices of hatred and ignorance to have a platform. Women are powerful. We are wise. We should be joining to nurture one another and make our country and our world a place of love and Light and acceptance. What can you do to make the world better?
I do have an awesome transgender female character, Charlotte, in the Dysasters, the YA series Kristin and I write together. And in my fantasy series, Tales of a New World, I introduce River, who identifies as gender neutral. I absolutely would add a trans or gender nonconforming character to HoN should she/he/they speak to me.
When I say the answer is “love … always love,” I’m not being hyperbolic or clichéd. I’m being real. Love has no gender.
K. C.: The reason why I feel it’s important to include LGBTQ+ representation in my novels is simple—I write stories about humans. Our species is so unique and complex. To write a book that ignores the beauty and challenges of our uniqueness and complexities wouldn’t be true to who we are as a people.
Will you continue to write about the characters into adulthood (whole new series) and make it into more of an adult series? Hope to see the characters live on in more series and spin-offs to come! PS, how’s life being a grandma/mom?
—LeAnna Herstowski
Do you think that we might get more books after the conclusion of this series? I absolutely adore your books and would love for new stories all the time from this book universe!
—Shelly Harris
Will there be more novellas on some of the characters?
—Ande Gullickson
I asked this on the last post but for good measure (because I really want this): Have you ever considered a novella about Sgiach and Seoras?
—Niki Rangnow
Will you and Kristin make anymore novellas? If so, will they be about what the whole Nerd Herd has been up to/doing since graduation? I’d really like to know their side stories!
—Ashley Munoz
Will this series be as long as the original HON series? I hope so, I love this universe and these characters. I wish it would never end.
—Alyssa Hawk
P. C.: So many of you asked questions similar to these that I grouped several together and will answer them all at once. Okay, here’s what’s up with more books—and this goes for all your favorite authors who write the books and series you love:
Career authors, like Kristin and me, who make their living writing books, write what our publishers contract us to write—it’s how we pay our bills, buy groceries, and support our families. If you want more books from them all you have to do is buy their books—encourage friends and family to buy their books—gift people with their books—spread the word and get a buzz going about their books! Publishers will only contract authors for books that sell. So, if you say you’re going to wait around until the series is completed to “binge” it, like you’re watching Netflix, chances are very good that the series won’t be completed. It has happened to me, and I’ve been a bestselling author for more than a decade. Imagine how devastating it can be for new authors! Also, never, ever download a book illegally. Not only is it stealing and creating some seriously awful karma, but you’re dooming that author to career failure.
As to whether I want to write more books in the HoN world—of course! I love this world. I’ve always wanted to tell Grandma Redbird’s story. I would love to write a book set after the first vampyre was created (you can find that creation story in Kalona’s Fall). I love Sgiach and would definitely tell the story of the Great Taker of Heads. It would be fun to write an anthology with short stories that tell about how each of the Nerd Herd was Marked. I could go on and on, but whether I do depends on whether I’m contracted to write more, and that depends on you. So, the end … for now?
PS In answer specifically to LeAnna—I absolutely love being a grandma!
Who are your personal top-three favorite characters and your top-three least favorite characters, and why?
—Josie Buckner
P. C.: FAVES: 1) Aphrodite—she has always been very easy for me to write and I love the evolution of her character, 2) Grandma Redbird—she is the incarnation of the Crone, the third face of the Goddess, so writing her feels like a blessing, and 3) Lenobia—she has my horses!
LEAST FAVES: 1) Zoey’s mom—she represents all those moms who used to sit across the table from me at parent-teacher conferences trying to justify why their teen was failing or acting out, when it was obvious that their child was screaming to be heard—to be a priority, 2) Aphrodite’s mom—she’s an entitled racist person who deserved the end she got, and 3) Neferet—I don’t actually dislike Neferet, but she is a difficult character to write because of her descent into Darkness.
K. C.: My absolute favorite characters are 1) Heath—he’s such a squishy lovebug and I absolutely adore him, 2) Aphrodite—she’s so sassy and fabulous and has grown so much. I’d love it if she was my friend, and 3) Jack—I AM SO GLAD HE’S BACK! (Still mad at P. C. for killing him.)
My least favorite characters are 1) Loren Blake—he was a total predator. And then he was murdered … twice, 2) Dallas—he turned into such an ass. Yuck! And 3) the White Bull—because, well, evil.
1) There are many inspiring and powerful quotes in all of your books. As an author, how does this part of creation work? Do you create those quotes and then insert them into the story or are they something that comes naturally during the writing process? 2) How do you feel knowing that there are so many fans around the world who are inspired and passionate about your work? 3) You and Kristin always keep in touch with all of your fans and that’s something we don’t see coming from other authors or known people. How did it start?
—T. J. Marques
P. C.: (Waving at Thiago and all our Brazilian “Nighters”!)
If you could bring alive one person from the book (from either world) who would it be and why? (A question for both P. C. and Kristin.)
—Randy Shewmaker
P. C.: Grandma Redbird because the world needs more kindness and wisdom.
K. C.: Definitely Aphrodite. We would have so much fun!
What does a real Okie twang sound like? Will you ever come to Jacksonville, Florida, for a book signing? It’s beautiful (and will still be lovely weather) in the fall!
—Sara Rennard
P. C.: Well, those of you listenin’ to the audio will hear an Okie twang right now! Ha!
Thanks for asking about book signings! Many readers don’t know that authors don’t set their tours—publishers do that. If you want to try to get your favorite authors touring near you the best things you can do are to 1) buy their books locally and encourage friends and family to buy their books, and 2) ask your local bookstore management to request, via the authors publisher(s) that their store be added to a tour stop list. Publishers listen to bookseller requests—and they also look at sales numbers when deciding where to tour their authors.
Fans always have a way of showing support for their favorite books/authors (I have a tattoo that was inspired by the cover of Untamed). What is the strangest thing anyone has given you or shown you that was inspired by your books?
—Maureen Gurney
P. C.: Oooh! I love this question! (And please share a pic of your tattoo with me online!) Fans have gifted me with so, so many fantastic things! Right now I have a hand-knitted shawl wrapped around my shoulders that a fan gifted to me almost twenty years ago after my first book was released. It’s decorated with symbols from my Partholon books and I adore it. But the weirdest thing by far was when a woman asked Kristin and me to take a picture with her “babies” that she had created based on HoN characters. I was confused because we were at a signing and she had no babies with her, but I said, “Sure!” She took off her fanny pack, opened it, and pulled out little babies that represented the Nerd Herd and they were made of hair! Kristin almost lost it. Our editor was standing behind us and (after the woman left) she said that was the strangest thing she’d ever had happen at a signing.
K. C.: The hair babies!!! I just cannot …