Ziana de Bethune

answers the Usual Questions

Ziana de Bethune has written in several genres, under a few different pen names.

As well as being an author, Ziana is a Certified Reiki Master Teacher and Certified Life Coach. She paints, as well as creates original pieces of jewelry, as a hobby. (from her web site)

Has your interaction with fans, for example, at conventions, affected your work?

In some ways, it has. Interacting with fans is really an exhilarating experience, and their comments on the books I write affirm that I'm giving them what they want -- which matters to me as much as it does to write what I love to write. The relationship between writer and fan is symbiotic in that each one can't do what they do, without the other, so interaction is very important to me.

Ziana de Bethune

Is there any particular incident (a letter, a meeting, a comment that stands out?

The first letter that said, "Thank God, your vampires don't sparkle!" It just struck me as hilarious. I laugh every time I think of it.

Do you have a favourite author or book (or writer or film or series) that has influenced you or that you return to?

Believe it or not, one of my most favorite books of all time is an old one called The Thornbirds, by Colleen McCullough. It's just a beautifully written saga that has stuck with me for years and years.

Who is the person you would most like to be trapped in a lift with? or a spaceship?

Does that person have to be living? Well, let's assume so. I'd choose the Dalai Lama. What a fascinating man.

Who is the person you would most DISlike to be trapped in a lift with? Or a spaceship?

Anyone who flies into a total panic. That would drive me postal, too. Lol.

What would you pack for space? (Is there a food, beverage, book, teddy bear, etc that you couldn't do without?)

Is there internet out there? Okay, I'd bring a telescope, camera that takes high-resolution pictures, lots of yoga pants and tops, whatever food I can find, Pepsi, Soda Water, dry shampoo...oh, and lots of paper and pens for when my computer battery dies. I'd want to write about the whole event.

What is the most important thing you would like to get/achieve from your work?

What I'd like to achieve is a sense of satisfaction that I'm doing what I'm here on earth to do -- part of that is to write. Fulfilling that mission is not easy to do when writing fiction, but I also write non-fiction. For fiction, I sneak a message into every single book I write. Sometimes it's hidden, and sometimes not, but there's always a message. For non-fiction, then there's no need to sneak anything in. I just come out and lay it on the line. We're all here to leave our imprint behind, and I'm no different. I would only hope that my imprint is a good one.

What is the special satisfaction of your work?

The process of writing is satisfaction enough. I love it.