Writers are in the entertainment business, and it gives me lots of pleasure to entertain my readers.

But other vampire stories? Well, no, I really haven't read too many, and I can't say I'm crazy about romantic vampires anyway - to me the vampire is simply an evil monster.

I'll know when the ideas aren't fresh anymore. And I'll know when writing doesn't give me a thrill anymore.

And I have to consider myself fortunate, because there are plenty of writers who spend most of a lifetime looking for that certain something without ever finding it.

Writers are in the entertainment business, and it gives me lots of pleasure to entertain my readers.

German readers are much like Brits or Americans: They read for the thrill of it, the occasional shudder down the spine, knowing it's not real - but looking over their shoulders anyway, just in case.

Now, when I was in the Army, writing was my hobby.