Author Sherrilyn Kenyon is compulsively creative. In addition to her amazingly prolific career as the writer of several highly successful book series, she's worked in the past as a graphic artist and web designer and she embraces the holidays as an opportunity to go wild in the kitchen.

She's proud to admit that her fondness for black clothes and dark culture came to her in her childhood. When Sherri the first grader had her heart set on a black velvet dress, her beloved but uncomprehending mother proclaimed that "little girls don't wear black." It was at that time, at the age of 7, that the already aspiring novelist wrote and illustrated her first book - a horror story of course.

Sherrilyn made her first official sale to a print publication at 14, and by the age of 20, she had completed her first book manuscript. It was then that a series of personal tragedies and financial hardships interrupted her journey as a writer, but the stories that had always been waiting for her to tell eventually found expression.

Over the last 10 years, Sherrilyn attracted a devout following with her vampire mythos, her historical and paranormal romances, her tales of erotica, and her essays about various aspects of dark culture. Her interview with Dark Romance took place during a holiday rest, between book-signings for her new best-seller Devil May Cry.

Sherri, you've been a part of the gothic scene since from the beginning, and you've travelled so much, have you attended gothic nightclubs in various cities? Can you tell us which are particularly memorable to you?

I lived in them for years. Definitely 688 in Atlanta. The address in the Dark-Hunter novels for Sanctuary, 688 Ursulines, is an homage to my love of 688. My hubby and I had our first date there. And The Crystal Palace and Crow Bar in New Orleans and Uptown Lounge and 40 Watt Club in Athens will always be my faves. I literally grew up in those. And I always wanted to go to CBGB's in New York, but never had the chance.

Do you love your dark characters just as much as your heroic ones?

Absolutely. Evil is evocative. I'm always fascinated by the nuances between good and evil. The lines that are drawn and crossed by someone who's trying to be good and someone who just doesn't care. It's a great study of humanity even when the characters aren't human.

Which of your heroines, if any, do you think of as "you"?

Not a one. I have more in common with the heroes usually.

How much involvement do you have with the visual content of your books. Do you approve the art for the Lords of Avalon comic book adaptation, for example? And did you write the text?

I wrote part of it and approved the artist. Tommy is amazing and I trust him completely. They send the art and I tell them what few problems I have and they correct them. I couldn't be more pleased with the results.

Are you involved in choosing the hunky men who appear on your book covers?

(laughs) No, not at all. Covers and titles are handled by the publisher. All I can do is make suggestions and hope.

Do you find time to participate in conventions and Ren Faires?

As often as I can. Two of my sons are born in the spring and we always hit at least two Ren Faires in May which is what my eldest likes to do and then my middle son shares my love of anime and manga so we hit the Cons in April which is his birthday. I used to be really active in the SCA, but that's had to take a bit of a back seat, especially since they're now touring me during Pensic. Ugh!

I always try to make the Anne Rice Vampire Ball in New Orleans and I never forget the annual K-Con, Hypericon and DragonCon which are my staples.

Lords of Avalon concerns the knights of King Arthur - Do you recall where you first discovered the Arthurian Legend in all its complexity?

It was an illustrated version of The Mabinogian my grandfather had. I was instantly intrigued and researched Arthur in all his forms, Welsh, English, French and German. I love the beauty and variety of the myths.

Having nurtured your own beloved vampires for so long, do you follow the stories of other contemporary vampire authors that have sprung up around you?

Not as many as I'd like to. Unfortunately I don't have as much time for reading as I'd like.

Do you feel that the erotic passages are often the most dog-eared and spine-broken parts of your stories?

(laughing) That's not been my experience. Usually the dog-eared parts are where Simi, Ash or Nick appear in the books. I've had several fans bring books where they've highlighted the passages with Ash. Fans seem more captivated by the mythology and complexity of characters than anything else.

How did your mindset change toward your writing as you realized your readership was growing in size and passion?

It hasn't really. My mindset is the same as it's always been. It's just now there's a fear of disappointing the fans -- that wasn't there before. But I don't let it deter me from listening to the characters and from doing what they tell me to. It just makes me nervous when the books go out and I'm waiting to hear back from the fans.

Do you recall one particular moment of inspiration or revelation in one of your stories that REALLY excited you to present to your readers? Do you have little moments like that every day that sustain your passion to write?

I don't know if they happen every day, but they definitely happen in every book several times. I think I know what's going to go down and then boom, my people take off on their own.

Case in point, I knew Nick was going to become angry, but I had no idea how far he'd go to the dark side. And I still can't believe what he said to Acheron in the Serengeti-- that man has a death wish. I have no control over him.

When one of your characters dies upsettingly, do you find yourself commiserating with the fans when you meet them at booksignings?

I feel the death of any character very profoundly. My book people are my family and I live with them constantly. I hate saying good-bye to them. Some I knew in the beginning would go, but others surprise me.

Do you keep a completely open mind about the possible futures of all of your series?

Constantly. All of my series are works in progress and things are forever happening in them that I didn't see coming. That's why I write. I want to see how things end myself.