I did indeed consider doing a book from Del's point of view early on, but the people I ran the idea by felt it would destroy the appeal of the "mystery woman." After further consideration, I decided they were right. It may well be that I write a few short stories from Del's point of view, but I'm not sure I'll do a novel now that the series is completed--at least, the series as it exists in these six volumes.

In Sword-Born, you talked briefly how Greece inspired the setting for the novel. I adore all things Greece, so that was a bonus to me while reading; the flavor of the place really came through in the writing. What else inspires your creativity?

It's difficult to boil it down. I'm a very organic writer, which means that much of what I do is on the fly. Once I get things in motion, the story tells itself. However, because I love history so much, locales of historical import do "speak" to me and inspire the imagination. I wrote my Scottish historical, LADY OF THE GLEN, after visiting Glencoe, the site of the Massacre (1692, when the Campbells attempted to wipe out the MacDonalds), and there's no doubt that that visit informed a great deal of the atmosphere of the book. I don't believe every historical novel must rely on the author's on-site research--some authors do very well despite never having been to the place they are describing--but there's no doubt that for me, visiting the locale may add depth to the writing.

The Tiger and Del books spanned a great deal of time (1986 to 2002); do you think your writing style changed from the first book to the last?

Absolutely. I write fantasy and historical novels, and with each book, regardless of genre, I push myself to improve on at least one aspect of technique. As an author matures in her craft, she can't truly repeat the same style, even if she's writing about the same characters. With the later Sword-Dancer novels, I tried some things to bring a new flavor to the books, so they weren't rehashes of what had gone before. By the same token, as I wrote the sixth and final novel, Sword-Sworn, I tried to capture the pacing of the first book, written back in 1983. It's always a delicate dance for the author of a series, because one wants to improve one's craft without altering so much of the "heart" of later volumes that readers are disappointed. Sometimes, however, the author simply must take the risk, to allow herself--and her characters--to grow.

As an author, do you have any input when it comes to cover art? Have you always been happy with your covers or are there those you would like to see changed? (I think of the Cheysuli books specifically here, as the reissued omnibus editions were very different from the original covers.)

At this stage of my career, I can request a specific artist and sometimes that request will be met, but not always. Also, there's a distinct demarcation between what one likes, and what may sell a book. Covers are considered "point-of-purchase" advertising, designed to make readers pick up the book to read what it's about. Sometimes covers are magnificent representations of the author's work, while other times they are terrible disappointments. I have loved, and hated my covers. I do own three of the original paintings done for my books--SWORD-BREAKER, LADY OF THE GLEN, and DAUGHTER OF THE LION--because I liked them so well. I like the new covers for the Cheysuli omnibus editions, because I admire Yvonne Gilbert's work. She did the covers for all three of my historical novels, and when my fantasy publisher heard how happy I was with those, they hired her to do the omnibus editions.

Desert island books--do you have a list of books you would have to have with you if you were stranded on an island?

You know, I have to confess I hate this question when it comes up. I have a house and garage full of books, 98% of which have been read more than once, and I don't think it's possible to narrow it down to a desert island list. Sorry!

Which authors did you read as a kid?

Ack, another hard one...Albert Payson Terhune, who wrote several "Lassie" books; Marguerite Henry, who wrote "Misty of Chincoteague" and several related books; Walter Farley, of "Black Beauty" fame, and a lot of others. The "Winnie the Pooh" books, of course.

What is it about the fantasy genre that appeals to you? What keeps it interesting and fresh for you?

Though hard-core science fiction authors, and many reviewers, don't understand the appeal of fantasy, it's very simple to me: it's a combination of history; history as one might wish it had happened; the challenge of the quest, be it entirely personal, or something on which the fates of kingdoms and worlds hinge; and the seductiveness of magical powers. In traditional fantasy this seductiveness, when succumbed to, also carries a huge price, which I think is a way of underscoring that magic isn't as much of an answer as we might like it to be. But it's a wonderful way to escape the tedium of everyday life. I challenge myself to find new tales to tell about new characters, or to make my series characters grow, so the genre doesn't grow stale for me. And I love to read fantasy, to suspend my disbelief and simply get lost.

How in the world do you find the time to write when you also breed, train, and show Cardigan Welsh Corgis?

Trust me, it's not always easy! But I work at home, which allows me the opportunity to play with the dogs whenever I like. It would be an entirely different story if I held a 9-5 job. When I take breaks from the writing, I play with or train the dogs. When I play with or train the dogs, my subconscious often works on the story. So the two interests actually complement one another. Showing dogs also gives me a break from writing, as very few people in the dog fancy know what I do for a living. No author can always live in his/her head. It's good to get away sometimes.

Have you ever seen the Loch Ness Monster?

I have seen Loch Ness, but not the Monster. And a brilliant rainbow arching against a blue sky over Urquhart Castle on the shores of Loch Ness; and I walked back to Drumnadrochit, the closest village, along those shores while snacking on wild blackberries in 1982.

If you could give a beginning writer one piece of advice, what would it be?

Never, ever give up...and that the only guarantee in writing is that if you never submit, you'll never get published.

Sworn-Sword is out in hardcover now. What can readers look forward to from you?

I'm working on several short stories for various anthologies, and also the first volume in my new fantasy universe, titled KARAVANS. New worlds, new characters, new challenges!

Learn more about Jennifer's books and her puppies. Author photograph used with permission.