HOST TX: Hi Nora!
Sharron: Hi Nora
Nora Roberts: Hi, everyone!
HOST Bell: Hi Nora, welcome!
Bon: Hi Nora!
Ers: Hi Nora!!!
BonEK: So glad you are here, Nora!
HOST TX: Thanks for joining us tonight, Nora!
Nora Roberts: Almost didn't make it. Took me 15 minutes to sign on.
BonEK: AOL gremlins at work Phiggy: had trouble too.. glad ya made it. 

Sharron: We were talking about your xmas gift to us-Lee. We all
love it Bon: I had trouble too. That would have been a disaster! 

Nora Roberts: I'm glad so many people were able to get the booklet. 

Ers: I didn't know about it and just called the Book Store. 

HOST TX: hope the
connections problems stop for an hour at least! 

Nora Roberts: It's sleeting here. That may be part of the problem. 

Ers: I bought two of your books to add to my collection on Sunday and they didn't advertise it.
Nora Roberts: Not everyone in all the Waldens seem to know about the offer. 

Bon: Nora, any surprises for us in the coming year? 

Nora Roberts: Plenty of books--that's no surprise. <g> Bon: Nope. TV interviews maybe? I love to hear you speak! 

Nora Roberts: I can't say. My spring tour's just being set up, and there's usually some media attached. I won't know for a while yet. 

Nms: How long will your tour tour be Nora, I hope it won't be too bad! 

Nora Roberts: Four weeks. 

Bon: Who needs no introduction!! LOL. 

Sharron: Nora any of those cruises or trips coming up where the fans can join you? 

Nora Roberts: I don't have any plans for another cruise this year. But the tour hits a lot of cities, with a lot of reader events. 

Gyrf: will you be in Boston at all? or Atlanta. :) 

Nora Roberts: Boston's one of the cities on the slate,
yes. 

Bon: Took the words out of my mouth, Gyr!!! (Boston) Ers: Is New York on the list? 

Gyrf: woohoo! -Soojee :) 

Nora Roberts: I don't think I'm going to Atlanta this year. The cities and schedule should be posted within the next week or so. NY's always on it. LOL. 

Bon: What are your reader events like, Nora? They must be mob city!! 

Nora Roberts:
The signings usually bring out a lot of people. There're a lot of fun, I hope, for everyone. Booksellers always tell me what wonderful readers I have. 

HOST Bell: Any signings in Indiana? We rarely get authors here...:( Gyrf: on your website? 

Nora Roberts: Yes, it'll be listed on my website. I don't think Indiana. 

Sharron: You meet great - really great - people at them. Bon: I've heard that. Will you generally just
sign, read, or chat? 

Nora Roberts: I sign and I chat--read if the
bookstore wants me to. 

Nms: Are you enjoying getting ready for the
holidays? 

Nora Roberts: I love the holidays--and I'm pretty well set.
Just a little more wrapping to do. 

CookieLady: Hi Nora. I enjoyed Heart of the Sea so much. A lovely ending to the series 

Nora Roberts:
Thanks, Nancy! Delighted to report HOTS will debut at Number One on the New York Times! 

CookieLady: OH! Wonderful! 

BonEK: Woo hoo, Nora! 

Ers:
I am looking forward to reading that series. I haven't read it yet.
Sharron: GREAT

 CookieLady: Congrats! HOST TX: congrats Nora!
Nms: YEAH! Bon: I can't wait to read HoS. Wendy: Way to go Nora!
Nora Roberts: We're really thrilled. 

HOST Bell: Great! Ers:
Congratulations! Bon: By the way, Nora, the reader on the audiobooks for this series was fabulous.  CookieLady: I agree Nora Roberts: That's great to hear. 

Iceprincess: I love the Irish series. Your
descriptions and knowledge of glass blowing really amazed me Nora Roberts:
Thanks. I loved researching that area. 

Wendy: Nora, the excerpt from
"The Villa" was a great teaser--when can we expect it in the stores? 

Nora Roberts: It'll be in stores the middle of March. About the 19th, I believe. 

BonEK: Nora, in Ireland did you run across people who you knew
had "the look" for your characters..Guess I am hoping there really is an Aidan Gallagher out there :-) 

Nora Roberts: I certainly run into a lot of fabulous people. And there was this guy, a musician in a pub in Cork,who was about the most beautiful specimen I'd ever come across. I had to
keep wiping drool off my chin. 

Iceprincess: those really were fantastic. The depth of the male characters was rlly what got me reading.
CookieLady: Are you working on your next hardback now? 

Nora Roberts:
Next hardback is done! Woo-hoo. Three Fates. It's set primarily in NY, but travels a bit and deals with statues based on the Greek Fates. 

CookieLady: sounds wonderful. 

HOST Bell: Oh, that sounds great, can't wait!
Sharron: Any word on when your movie will air in Feb. 

Iceprincess:
movie??? what movie... did i miss something? 

Nora Roberts: The movie, Sanctuary, will be on in Feb. Don't have exact date yet.  (Note it will be on 28th of Feb on CBS)

Gyrf: Nora, how many books do you write in a year, average? Just wondering... 

Nora Roberts: I have no idea how many books I write in a year. Never keep track. Just one at a time. 

Gyrf: cool. Wendy: What are you working on
currently? 

Nora Roberts: I'm working on another J.D. Robb. Seduction In
Death. Nearly done! 

WendyW313: Oh good... another Roarke fix. <g> 

Nms:
Nora, is another In Death short story coming out soon? 

Nora Roberts: In August, in the Out of this World anthology, will be the novella Interlude In Death. 

Nms: Yeah! My dh and I read a chapter or an In Death book
every Sat night! You've made our weekends much better :) 

Iceprincess: good. I have time to finish the tapes. I "lost" them in a move and found them yesterday Bon: Nora, have you ever thought of including other ethnic groups in your series? African Americans, Hispanics, for example. I wonder if this would be easy for you -- writing from other perspectives.
Nora Roberts: I have a lot of ethnic groups in the In Death series, and often have other races and such as characters in my other work. I don't plan on writing a novel from a specific ethnic group. I'd have to have an idea that drew me into it. 

Bon: What made you start the In Death series
Nora? 

Nora Roberts: The In Death deal is a kinda long story. I'll try to
keep it short. I write a lot of books, have a fast pace. My publishers were stacking up inventory and suggested I take an a/k/a. Didn't want to do it. Resisted for about two years. Finally agreed, when my agent pointed out that there was Pepsi, Diet Pepsi and Caffeine Free Pepsi. LOL. I said I'd try if I could so something a little different. 

Bon: Well, You seem to really have hit on something. I know the In Death series is quite popular. And the way people go on about Roarke, LOL!!!! 

Nora Roberts: I really love writing those characters and that world. 

CookieLady: And we love to read about them Wendy: Amen! Babs: I like that the Death series in sent in the future. Iceprincess: ok, when you are writing, do you just write or do you automatically know where chapters begin or end?

Nora Roberts: I generally have a sense, a kind of rhythm that lets me know when a chapters peaked and is coming to a close. It's just a kind of instinct, I think. 

Iceprincess: thanks Ers: I notice that you have
written a lot involving the Celtic people. Are you of Irish Desent? 

Nora Roberts: On both sides, yes. 

Jane: Me too, Nora 

Iceprincess: it comes through in your work 

HOST Bell: I had not heard the term "black irish" until I read your books, and now I work with one..:) 

Nora Roberts: They're so gorgeous. 

Ers: I have never heard of that term. HOST Bell:
he was surprised *I* knew the term... Bon: Have you ever been tempted to place your novels in a political setting? (guess why I'm asking
that!!!) HOST TX: LOL Bonadie 

Nora Roberts: No politics for me. I don't see much romance in it. LOL. 

Jane: Nora, what do you do if you have a block writing... 

Nora Roberts: I work through it. I just refuse
to believe in blocks. Keep hacking away, even if it's lousy. and the block crumbles. Writing's exercise. Stop, and the muscles go flabby. 

Jane:hum, beat your head against the wall, walk the dog...what? Nora Roberts: I don't leave the keyboard. Just keep writing. Sharron: In all your trips to Ireland which area did you love most? 

Nora Roberts: I love Clare. Just love it. Bought 25 acres of it last trip over. 

Sharron: wow
Wendy: Are you in a world of your own when you work & get kinda grumpylike Grayson when disturbed? 

Nora Roberts: I can be really, REALLY cranky when interrupted. Even though it happens a lot. <g> I love it best when nobody bothers me and I can just dive into the story. 

Ers: I noticed your new book: The Stanislaus Brothers. Are you planning to write some books involving other parts of Europe? 

Nora Roberts: We'll have a new Stanislaski, Considering Kate, next Feb. A second generation book that deals with Natasha's and Spence's daughter. 

Ers: Sorry about the misspelling Nora. HOST TX: do you work on more than one book at a time, or finish one before starting another? 

Nora Roberts: One book at a time. Always. 

Iceprincess: do you keep on a schedule when you are
writing or just go until...... 

Nora Roberts: I'm really disciplined. I have a pretty straight schedule. Six to eight hours a day. More if it's
really cooking. If I have to fiddle, finesse, hack, I've got something to fiddle with, etc. If I hadn't kept writing, all I'd have would be the same blank page. Bon: One of your audiotapes included an interview with youby, Recorded Books maybe. It was so fascinating!!! I'd love to hear more
of that!! 

Nora Roberts: Yes, Carnal Innocence, Recorded Books, has an
interview. 

Bon: That was the one!!!! I loved it. Nms: Do you sing
at all, or your family? Music seems to come naturally in your
books...Maybe you could release a cd 

Nora Roberts: I sing in the shower. LOL. Actually I used to sing in a rock and roll band, in high school. 

Bon: You should join Stephen King's Rock Bottom Remainders, Nora!!! 

Nora Roberts: LOL. He should call me. 

HOST Bell: no Nora, you might end up
in one of HIS books! HOST TX: LOL Bell Bon: Bell, perish the thought! HOST TX: speaking of King---which authors do you enjoy reading? when you
have time that is! 

Nora Roberts: Oh, so many. Recently discovered Dennis
Lehane. LOVE his stuff. Love King, Grafton, Gaffney, Lawrence Block, Elizabeth Berg, Terry Prachett, and on and on and on. 

Jane: does it seem weird that people feel they know you, the real you, through your writing?writing, even a novel, is so personal Nora Roberts: It's both flattering and strange. I think the relationship between writer and reader, esp in romance is very strong and very personal. it's one of the lovely things about the genre. 

Bon: Nora, do your fans, ever get too, uh, persistent?
Any story to share? 

Nora Roberts: I really have wonderful readers. You
get the occasional kook. I get taken to task by some from time to time for what I think of as odd things. Using witches in my books, for example. Some people automatically get biblical about it. LOL. I wonder if they ever saw The Wizard of Oz or Bewtiched. 

HOST TX: how do you respond to readers who still "snub" romance or genre in general? if snub is the right
word 

Nora Roberts: I really don't have the time or energy to get in an
uproar about that anymore. If they want to dismiss an entire genre, I just dismiss them. 

Kris: Look down their noses, TX? <G> Ers: Good for you
Nora! You tell em! HOST TX: good way to look at it, probably wouldn't help anything to try and convince them otherwise. LOL Kris, that's a good description Jane: do you feel divorced from your works and your reallife? When I read, i love the world i step into, but know it is not real
Nora Roberts: I don't think so. I will sort of find myself absorbed by the work and the world I'm creating but life's right here and it expects me to be in it, too. I'm pretty grounded all in all. Iceprincess: do you find a deep connection with your characters as though they had a life of their own? 

Nora Roberts: They must have a life of their own or they
wouldn't draw me in, or the reader. Iceprincess: but do you have
trouble letting them go? 

Nora Roberts: Letting them go? Nope. I'm ready
to move on by the time I finish one. Bon: Have you ever had an idea for a book and then discarded it, and for what reason? 

Nora Roberts: I haven't discarded one I can think of. Retooled a basic concept along the way, but never just tossed one out. Too stubborn. 

Nmstatsoft: Didn't your write a series set in Salem that hasn't been released yet? 

Nora Roberts: The next trilogy is set on an island off the coast of MA that was conjured by witches during the Salem trials. It starts with Dance Upon the Air next summer. 

MerylSpellbinder: what island? 

Nora Roberts: I made up the island--Three Sisters Is. 

Sharronlg: How does being so famous affect you your family? Nora Roberts: I don't think it changes anything
around here much. LOL. My sons grew up with my writing, and it's all been a gradual process. I think they get a kick out of it all. 

Iceprincess: do you feel that you are critical when doing an edit of your books? 

Nora Roberts: I'm very critical. You never want to get complacent. Nms: Are you done with all three books when the first in a trilogy is released?
Nora Roberts: Yes, I'm always done with the three by the time the first hits. 

Wendy: What do your sons think about their mom writing those
terrific sex scenes? 

Nora Roberts: I think they think about them as I
do. A sex scene is just another aspect of the book. 

BonEK: "just another aspect" that often leaves me fanning myself, Nora :-) Bon: you ain't the only one! Jane: Nora, you seem to be a really nice person, perhaps you would like to become a regular in Ccino. We only tolerate nice folk..
Nora Roberts: Wish I had time to play more often in chat rooms. But I do keep up with boards, esp my board here in TBR. 

HOST Bell: We appreciate your presence on the boards. I mean that "we" as your readers, LOL HOST
TX: yes it's a very active board! CookieLady: Nora, have they
shortened your tour this year? Bon: Nora, do you enjoy book tours? You must have done so many. 

Nora Roberts: Yes, down to four weeks from six.  I just can't handle six weeks away from home. Too tough on everyone.
CookieLady: well, that's good, but 3 would be better. Iceprincess:
and will south florida be in it? 

Nora Roberts: No FL this year. We've had to fine it down a bit. Iceprincess: bummer : 0 ( Gyrf: Nora, what do you do with ideas that bombard you while you're working on a book? 

Nora Roberts: I have lots of ideas that may buzz around while I'm working on a book. They just have to wait their turn. 

Jane: Nora, just one last question...do you sit while you type, or pace around? 

Nora Roberts: I sit. LOL. I can't type on the move. Certainly I'm thinking or fiddling in my head while I'm doing something other than actively sitting and working, but it mostly comes out at the keyboard. 

Jane: You must have a really
comfortible chair. 

Nora Roberts: I have a great chair. I love my chair.
LOL. Big, high backed, swivel leather dea. Jane: cool Nms: Are you
going on a vacation soon? I love the travel logs that are on ADWOFF!!!
Nora Roberts: Going to the Grand Caymens in June. Taking my mom, my sons, and my oldest son's wife--they're getting married this coming May.
CookieLady: Nice trip. Bon: Nora, do you deliberately alternate
romance and romantic suspense novels? Or just follow the idea that emerges? 

Nora Roberts: Actually, I don't nec write them in the order
they're published. It depends. I will, most usually, write the trilogies one, two, three. Same with In Death books. Kind of a groove. 

Bon: You mean you write several In Deaths in a row? 

Nora Roberts: I usually do three in a row. Keeps me in that world. 

That's all the chat that was sent to post--will post the rest if we get it.