FROM ANNE STUART

For MarchRose -- comment # 16

I think bad girls (and bad boys) always have a reason for the way they are, and quite often that has to do with upbringing. A scarred childhood can lead to a scarred adult. Sometimes my heroes are just mischievous, without any trauma in their background, but women tend to be more emotional and sensitive (at least, my women do) and in order for them to flout convention and do bad things they'd have had to go through something really difficult to make them that way. The secondary heroine in TO LOVE A DARK LORD was a bad girl, and right now I'm playing around with a heroine who's a bad girl.

As for heroes to die for -- I write alpha males, though I've read wonderful beta heroes (and my own husband is most definitely a beta male). There are a number of characteristics that make a hero delicious -- a fierce protectiveness for the heroine while not trying to control her (unless he's trying to save her life, of course). I'm a sucker for a man who thinks he doesn't need anyone and then falls hard for the heroine. Someone with their own individual sense of honor, even if it doesn't follow conventional rules. A hero who never hesitates, never worries, just goes after what he wants. And of course, he's absolutely delicious in bed.

for Cristiana -- comment # 17

Ah, Cristiana, there have been other Richards. I love him, but I know many people who found he was too difficult. A friend of mine was so angry at the end of NIGHTFALL that she went out and broke dishes.

I like to see how far my heroes can go before they're totally lost.

It's hard to tell which hero will be too extreme for some readers, but you should probably avoid MOONRISE, RITUAL SINS, and most definitely INTO THE FIRE. He was probably the most controversial hero of all.

You'd definitely be safe with the historicals -- I just got my Italian copies of THE DEVIL'S WALTZ (IL VALZER DEL DIAVOLO) and I think you'd love that.

for Mrstll -- comment # 18

Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm not sure if all the ICE books have been purchased. The newest has done extremely well in the US, so that would probably encourage them. Your best bet would be to email or call and ask them. That way, if they haven't bought them yet, they'll be encouraged to do so. I never know ahead of time which books are going to be translated -- it's always a happy surprise.