PAST INTERVIEW

September 28, 2001

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, THE NOTEBOOK, A WALK TO REMEMBER and A BEND IN THE ROAD are love stories, but don't call them "romance novels." Find out why --- along with why we should be careful not to confuse "easy-to-read" with low brow lit and why all love stories inevitably involve tragedy --- in Bookreporter.com writer Jana Siciliano's conversation with bestselling author Nicholas Sparks.

TBR: Your latest book A BEND IN THE ROAD is set completely in contemporary North Carolina. What in your home state most influences your writing?

NS: I suppose more than anything, it's the way of life in this part of the country that influences my writing. In Eastern North Carolina, with the exception of Wilmington, most people live in small towns. There is a culture that develops in a situation like that, one based on family and friends, church and figuring out ways to beat the heat on those steamy days of summer. The pace of life is slow and relaxed but far from backward, and that's what I try to capture in my novels.

TBR: Your books are filled with tragic events which lead to love with secrets. Why is this your chosen theme?

NS: In all love stories the theme is love and tragedy, so by writing these types of stories, I have to include tragedy. (What would Romeo and Juliet be, for instance, if they both lived happily ever after?) Tragedy is hard and sometimes painful to write, but, at the same time, the stories linger longer in people's minds.

TBR: In A BEND IN THE ROAD, love does seem to conquer all. Do you set out to only write books in which people falling in love change their lives for the better?

NS: Falling in love is a wonderful experience and can conquer most things, but a close reading of all my works shows that I don't only write "love conquers all" types of stories. In MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, the main male character dies in the end, in A WALK TO REMEMBER, the main female character dies. In THE NOTEBOOK, love can't save Allie from the ravages of Alzheimers. In this book love wins, but, to be honest, it's the first time I've written it.

TBR: Do your characters come from people that you know?

NS: All characters come from people I know, but after the initial inspiration, I tend to modify the characters so they fit with the story.

TBR: A BEND IN THE ROAD is present-day, but A WALK TO REMEMBER is set in the '50s. Do you prefer writing about historical periods or the present day?

NS: I have no preference on writing in contemporary or historical periods --- that decision is based on the story. For instance, in A WALK TO REMEMBER, I wanted to have a character who needed redemption (Landon). Yet, I didn't want Landon to be too bad, either. By setting the story in the 1950s, he could be bad in a way that almost seems quaint today.

TBR: What part of working on a book is most enjoyable to you?

NS: Writing the last page of the first draft is the most enjoyable moment in writing.  It's one of the most enjoyable moments in life, period.

TBR: Your first book was a phenomenal bestseller --- what do you think most appeals to people about your work? And how difficult was it to muster up the courage to write another, risking a 'sophomore jinx'?

NS: My first book was a huge seller --- I think it's approaching 8 million copies worldwide now, which means that people recommended the book to others. Why? I suppose it went to what's best in people --- faith, love, loyalty --- and that's how people like to see themselves. It's partly that, but there were other aspects of the novel that appealed to people --- it was easy to read, the story was compelling and original, and in the end, most people were deeply moved by the premise.

As for writing the second novel, the pressure was immense, but hey, what's life without a little challenge? I just sat down and forced myself to write and in the end, it sold as many copies as the first novel did.

TBR: You have said that you write an "easy-to-read" book --- but do you hope someday to publish something that is more literary fiction than mainstream?

NS: Please don't set those two aspects on opposite spectrums --- "easy-to-read" is not diametrically opposed to "literary." Besides, "easy-to-read" is harder to accomplish and do well, since "easy-to-read" also requires a compelling plot, which many (if not most) current literary novels lack. Writing is communication above all and I've made the choice to communicate with a large audience, which again is very hard to do. What's the challenge in writing a novel that few people will read? I'm more than happy writing what I do and have no plans to change that.

TBR: Do you write books with having them adapted to the movies in mind?

NS: My novels are just that --- novels. Movies are fun, movies are an honor, but it's not something I dwell upon.

TBR: What is the best part of having your books adapted for the screen? Meeting Kevin Costner or expanding your audience or what?

NS: The best part of having a movie adapted is knowing that more people will become familiar with my work. The other parts are fun as well (premieres, meeting the stars, etc.) but as an author, I want people to read my work.

TBR: If you weren't writing romance novels, what would you most like to be doing?

NS: I don't write romance novels, any more than Tom Clancy writes legal thrillers. Yes, I write about love and relationships and Tom Clancy writes a thriller, but what I do would not be accepted by romance publishers, since the romance genre has numerous requirements and I don't satisfy any of them. I write love stories, a completely different genre. If I wasn't doing this, I have no idea what I'd be doing.

TBR: Who are your influences, writing-wise?

NS: I suppose I'm most influenced by any good, commercial writer. I learn from everyone.

TBR: What is your writing day like?

NS: I write 2000 words a day when I write. It sometimes takes 3 hours, it sometimes takes 5 hours. At the beginning of the day, I edit what I've written the day before.  Other than that, I live my life.

TBR: The first time you saw your book in a bookstore, what did you think?

NS: I thought it was awesome. Really, really cool.

TBR: What is the next project you're working on?

NS: I'm writing a new love story, set in eastern North Carolina. Surprise, surprise, huh? I'm nearly finished and I hope my editor will like the story as much as I do. It's been a lot of fun to write.

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October 29, 1999

Nicholas Sparks is back with A WALK TO REMEMBER, another romantic novel to capture our hearts. He's already got a hold on ours --- we've reviewed all of his books and this is our fourth interview with this bestselling author. Carol Fitzgerald, TBR's Executive Producer read A WALK TO REMEMBER and interviewed Sparks on everything from the power of first love to movie rights. Find out why this book was set in the '50s, the potential teenage audience for his new book, a poignant story about what one reader did with THE NOTEBOOK, the most romantic thing Nick has done for his wife recently, and more in this most recent interview with the author we love to read, and love to talk to.

TBR: We'll start with an obvious question from your book A WALK TO REMEMBER. Is the young man in the story, Landon Carter, or the young woman, Jamie Sullivan, based on anyone you know or grew up with?

NS: In part, Jamie Sullivan was inspired by my sister. Granted, I see my sister through a biased lens, but in many ways, Jamie Sullivan is her. As for Landon, I sort of view him as a composite of many people I knew growing up, though his "voice" is actually fairly close to my own.

TBR: Are any of the characters in the story actually based on real people in your life? If this book pure fiction, where did you get the character ideas from?

NS: The characters in my novel, while inspired by others, are then changed to fit the story. Characters and their personalities all come from people I know in my own life.

TBR: In the past you have told us that when you start to write you always start with a theme. Was the theme here the walk? It is a metaphor that comes up more than once in the book because there is more than one memorable walk.

NS: The theme for this novel is "The beauty and power and innocence of first true love."  With THE NOTEBOOK, it was "everlasting, unconditional love," with MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, it was "A second chance at love."  I vary the theme so that readers will never know exactly what to expect.

TBR: Do you think it is possible for someone to love once and never love again as Landon did?

NS: Loving once and only once is possible --- anything is possible.

TBR: The voice in this book is very different from the ones found in THE NOTEBOOK or MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE. It is more relaxed, more off the cuff in its conversational tone. Does the comfortable nature of this voice have anything to say about where you are now in your writing and your life?

NS: The voice in A WALK TO REMEMBER in many ways was very easy to write, since it's largely the way that I myself talk. However, it doesn't say much about my writing, since the "voice" always flows from the story I'm trying to tell.  This was a story that needed to be told in first person to be effective; in the same way, MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE had to be told in third person to be effective.

TBR: If THE NOTEBOOK was the story of a commitment that lasted a lifetime, what is A WALK TO REMEMBER?

NS: A WALK TO REMEMBER is about the power of first, true love and the way it transforms an individual.

TBR: While this story is clearly set in the 50s, do you think it could still happen today? Many parts of it seemed rather timeless.

NS: A WALK TO REMEMBER is set in the late 1950s because that was the last really innocent period in schools.  I saw a list once of what teachers back then regarded as the biggest problems in school.  Number 1 was chewing gum, number 2 was running in the halls.  Because I wanted to write a love story --- and not a story of what it's like for a teenager in high-school nowadays --- I set the story in the 1950s. Had I set the story in current times, I would have had to address a number of social issues, which would have detracted from the story.

TBR: If you were asked to read a chapter from this book, is there one that you would select to share?

NS: I'd read the second to last chapter --- it's the most emotionally poignant.

TBR: Have you ever met anyone, besides your wife, of course, who taught you something important about love?

NS: My wife, my family, my friends --- they've all taught me things about love and what that emotion really means. In a nutshell, loving someone is about giving, not receiving. There's an old quote "Love in your heart wasn't put there to stay; Love isn't love until you give it away." I like that.

TBR: What do you want your children to know about romance and love?

NS: I want them to know that love is about giving, about caring, about being the best person you can be. It's also the most wonderful feeling in the world.

TBR: There are so many strong messages in this story for teens. What do you think about this book as a title for teens to read? Is it being marketed at all as such?

NS: I believe that teenagers --- as well as everyone, really --- will enjoy this book. It was picked up by Scholastic, by the way, in their catalogue they offer to schools. Other than that, it isn't being strictly marketed to teens. After all, everyone had a first love.

TBR: You write very vividly about Bogue Banks in North Carolina. Is this place particularly special to you?

NS:  l love Bogue Banks, which is an island off the coast in North Carolina. It's a beautiful, if hurricane plagued, area of the country. I own a home there.

TBR: Any reflections on Eastern North Carolina and the recent floods from the hurricane?

NS: Hurricanes are part of southern history, remembered for the damage they caused. We've had a tough three years (seven hurricanes) and I hope that everyone who lost their homes and possessions will find the relief they need.

TBR: In the office we all think of you as one of the most romantic men we know. Do you think that most men really understand how to romance a woman?

NS: I think that men know how to romance a woman and most do it well, at least for a time, otherwise women wouldn't marry them. The problem is that most of them begin to rest on their laurels. Romance isn't easy to sustain, but it's possible --- and in the long run, it makes both men and women happier.  

TBR: Can you share something romantic that you have done recently for your wife?

NS: I sent my wife 3 dozen roses last week.

TBR: Did you feel as much pressure when you were writing this book as you did during MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, which was following on the success of THE NOTEBOOK?

NS: There's always pressure, a great deal of pressure, when writing, since my first books were so successful. I don't want to disappoint my readers and it takes a long time to come up with a story that I think will work.

TBR: Does it get easier to go out and promote a book the third time, or is it always like the first time.

NS: Promoting a book is always the same --- busy but fun. I like to meet people who enjoy my work.

TBR: Can you share some stories that you have heard on the road while promoting this book?

NS: People tell me the most wonderful things. One woman shared the story of how her husband had died recently and she'd buried a passage from THE NOTEBOOK with him. I was so touched, I barely knew what to say.  

TBR: Have the movie rights to A WALK TO REMEMBER been bought yet? Any thoughts on casting this one?

NS: A WALK TO REMEMBER is with Warner Brothers and Denise DiNovi, the same team behind MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE. As for casting, since it deals with young people, it would probably be television stars on shows like Dawson's Creek or Felicity. But in the end, that's up to Warner Brothers.

TBR: Do you have a personal website?

NS: I don't have a website.

TBR: What's next for you?

NS: Novel #4 is completed; I'll start working on my fifth as soon as I get back home.

TBR: We know our readers want to know...are you planning a follow-up to THE NOTEBOOK?

NS: I think there will be a follow-up to THE NOTEBOOK, maybe three books from now.  I have to come up with a story that I think will work, one that also fits in with the movie.

TBR: What are you reading right now?

NS: I'm reading THE WARBURGS, by Ron Chernow.

TBR: What are your thoughts on the millennium?

NS: The millennium?  I guess it's neat to have lived in two different ones, though in reality, nothing much will change.

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PAST INTERVIEW

February 11, 1997

On February 11, 1997, THE BOOK REPORT welcomed Nicholas Sparks, author of THE NOTEBOOK, to discuss true love, romance, and writing. The interviewers were Jennifer Levitsky (BookpgJL) and Kelly Milner Halls (WiserDino).

Marlene T: Hello, Jennifer, Kelly, and Mr. Sparks, welcome!

BookpgJL: Thank you for being here, Nick and Kelly.

N Sparks97: Thank you. I am glad to be here.

Wiser Dino: My pleasure, Jen.

BookpgJL: So you've written this incredibly romantic book. What does true love mean to you?

N Sparks97: True love means enduring love. Love that stands the test of time. Love that makes it through the ups and downs of any relationship.

BookpgJL: Do you believe in happily ever after?

N Sparks97: I believe that happily ever after is possible for a few people if they work on it. Every relationship goes through ups and downs. It is possible if that is what you are looking for that is what you get if that is what you are looking for. If you are looking for love, you will find love.

BookpgJL: We're coming up on that romantic day -- Valentine's Day -- any big plans? Surprises for your wife?

N Sparks97: Not really, a romantic candlelit dinner, a gift, a dozen roses. Real romance happens at other times of the year -- when it is not forced down your throat. Romance is thinking about your significant other, when you are supposed to be thinking about something else, and you are thinking about the one you love.

BookpgJL: THE NOTEBOOK is based on your wife's grandparents....tell us a little about what seeing them in love was like.

N Sparks97: Her grandparents taught me what enduring love and committed love was all about. The day after our wedding, we talked to them and they treated each other, after 60 years, the way we were treating each other after 12 hours of marriage.

Wiser Dino: Nick, we know that lasting affection influenced the flavor of THE NOTEBOOK.  Can we see your relationship between the lines too?

N Sparks97: There is definitely the flavor of my relationship with my wife -- you tend to draw on your own experiences when you write. The first time when Noah met Ali is the way I felt when I met my wife.

BookpgJL: What made you want to turn their love into your lovely story?

N Sparks97: I think that enduring, committed love between a married couple, along with raising children, is the most noble act anyone can aspire to. It is not written about very much. I wanted to capture what I believe makes the world go around --- to capture the essence. My wife is my best friend.

Wiser Dino: So would you say lifelong love is more central to the theme than love rekindled?

N Sparks97: Yes, lifelong love which has withstood the ups and downs. Rekindled love is generally short-term.

Question: Did you ever expect your readers to fall in love with you as much as the book?

N Sparks97: That is a very sweet thing to say. I wanted for my readers to relate the book to the best people they know in their lives --- their parents, grandparents, their husbands, their wives.

Question: Mr. Sparks, I hear the book is based on your grandparents.  Are they still living?

N Sparks97: They are both deceased -- they both died prior to me starting the book. They died within six months of each other.

Question: Please....!!!!....tell me about the poetry in the Notebook?  It was as lovely or lovelier than the story itself which was grand.

N Sparks97: I read a lot of poetry and that poetry was very carefully selected to match the scene. The final three poems were my own.

Wiser Dino: Nick, did you ever consider any other plot twists, say between Noah and Ali's fiance?

N Sparks97: Yes I did, in fact, that might be a future book.

Wiser Dino: Can  you tell us a little about the new book?  Will it be as sweet and sentimental as THE NOTEBOOK?

N Sparks97: Yes, it is a contemporary love story with very universal characters with a bitter-sweet ending -- I am almost done with it.

Question: I have read the book and loved it. I have also heard there is a movie in the makings. What, if anything are you writing now?

N Sparks97: There is a movie in the makings. Mark Johnson of Rainman and Risky Business fame is the producer, the screenwriter of Shine wrote the screenplay.

Question: Were you surprised by the immense success of The Notebook?

N Sparks97: You hope for the success, you dream about it, but you  never expect it. In my heart I hoped it would touch as many people as it has and be as meaningful as it has been --- as it was for me.

BookpgJL: What do you think about the inevitable comparisons to BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY?

N Sparks97: It is a double-edged sword. Bridges was the most successful hardcover book in history. If they are comparing me on the basis of that, I am OK with that. Otherwise, there is no comparison at all. Bridges is the story of adultery and The Notebook is the story of committed love. I am not into adultery!

Question: When can we expect the new book??

N Sparks97: Spring of 1998

Question: That's terrific. How can you miss with all that support. Will we see the movie on the screen this year?

N Sparks97: It will probably be out summer of 1998 -- because of long production times

Question: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THE NOTEBOOK?

N Sparks97: I was inspired to tell a story that people wanted to read.  There are very few books written about the love of a single couple that spans a lifetime.

Wiser Dino: Nick, as you've toured the country, have you been met with dozens of romantic stories? Are your readers eager to share their experiences?

N Sparks97: Absolutely, I have heard so many wonderful stories --- I have received about 2500 letters which often begin with "you remind me so much of my grandparents."

Wiser Dino: How many cities have you been able to hit in the past months?

N Sparks97: I stopped touring in December but I ended up doing about 60 cities.

Wiser Dino: Any special ways you romance your lady long distance? When you have to be apart?

N Sparks97: When I met my wife on Spring Break my junior year of college, I wrote her 200 letters in about 2 1/2 months, 2 a day, and sent her flowers telling her how much I thought about her, chatty letters. She has boxes of love letters.

Wiser Dino: So you wrote her letters while you were touring THE NOTEBOOK?

N Sparks97: When you don't get to see each other, you get to have an emotional attraction. Yes, letters, phone calls, flowers, came home with gifts. The first thing I did when I sold my book was buy a new wedding ring for my wife and asked her to marry me all over again. I like romance -- I think it is fun.

Wiser Dino: Nick, do you feel your book can help teach American men the value of romance?

N Sparks97: I think that it is possible that some people might pick up on that but romance takes effort and it is easy to neglect -- it takes effort to keep the spark alive.

Wiser Dino: "Sparks"  

N Sparks97: You know, I do do the laundry in my house!

Question: Nick, are you a regular user of AOL and can I send you E-mail in the future?

N Sparks97: Yes, I read everything I receive, but due to the volume of mail I receive, I can't respond to everything I get. I hang out at the Writer's Cafe frequently.

Question: How many years are you married?

N Sparks97: I have been married 8 years and I love my wife more now than I did when I married her. Our relationship has so much more depth than it did. We have been through our ups and downs -- we have learned so much from that.

Question: Nick, could you comment on the difference between personality and character, and its bearing on love?

N Sparks97: I think that some people are more prone to having more outward signs of affection. Noah is dominated by the feeling of undying love that he felt for Ali from the moment he met Ali. He is me in a lot of ways.

Question: Nicholas, do you have children?

N Sparks97: I have two sons, 5 and 3, and they are fabulous -- my best friends aside from my wife. I tell them that I love them and I am proud of them every day. I think that is where it all comes from.

Question: Did your wife keep your letters?

N Sparks97: Yes she did and she occasionally reads through them. The letters in THE NOTEBOOK were drawn from the various letters I have written her over the years.

Question: Ever thought of publishing your letters to your wife?

N Sparks97: No, because there really isn't a story --- except that I loved my wife and I missed her. But my next book is entitled LETTERS TO CATHERINE -- which is my wife's name.

Question: Will you ever write the love story of your life, Nicholas?  -Debra

N Sparks97: Debra, perhaps one day!

Question: What will you get your wife for Valentine's??

N Sparks97: Flowers, I will make her dinner -- carbonara over ziti  --- and a gift.

Question: How many times have you experienced the "real" love in your life and how soon did you realize it?

N Sparks97: Twice. I had a very special girlfriend when I was younger -- she is one of my wife's best friends now. The day after I met my wife, I told her that we would get married one day. I just knew. She had these incredible eyes. I just knew.

BookpgJL: One last question from the audience....

Question: Mr. Sparks, how difficult was it to create fiction from a true story??

N Sparks97: I would take the basic true elements in the grandparents' story and I would add fiction to make it a more  compelling story -- because above all a good novel is a wonderful story told in a compelling manner.

BookpgJL: That's all folks. Thank you so much, Nick, for such a romance-filled evening. I'm sure everyone is in the mood for Valentine's Day now. :) Thank you also, Kelly, for helping with the interview!

Marlene T: One last question, Mr. Sparks? I'm interested, myself to know the answer to this one!

Wiser Dino: Always a treat talking to Nick.

N Sparks97: Thank you so much for having me. I really enjoyed being here. I am very proud of you guys!

Question: Do you have a twin brother?

BookpgJL: He does have a brother.....not a twin. :) But he's gone now! Thanks for coming everyone! :)

Marlene T: Thank you all!!

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PAST INTERVIEW

April 28, 1998

On April 28, 1998, Nicholas Sparks, bestselling author of THE NOTEBOOK and MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, joined us to discuss life, love, and his work. Our interviewers were Jennifer Levitsky and Niloufar Motamed. Our host was MarleneT.

Marlene T: Jennifer Levitsky of THE BOOK REPORT will be interviewing Nicholas Sparks tonight. Good evening Jen and Mr. Sparks, welcome!

N Sparks: Hello everybody!

BookpgJL: And you're off the second time around with another best-selling romance. How does it feel to have done it again?

N Sparks: Well, it feels very exciting. The second book was a lot of pressure to write because I wanted to come up with something that would please the readers of THE NOTEBOOK.

BookpgJL: MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE centers around a very romantic gesture. What attracted you to the idea of messages in bottles?

N Sparks: Whatever I write, I start with a theme. The theme for MESSAGE was inspired by my father. Nine years ago, my mother died and my father wore black for a year and a half. I wondered if he would  ever fall in love again. And that is essentially the theme behind MESSAGE. As for messages in bottles, I thought that was a vehicle that was both universal and unique in literature to bring two characters together.

Question: Mr. Sparks, how did you research your character Theresa?

N Sparks: Theresa is a composite of many people I have met in my life and I thought her character would be recognizable by a large number of people.

BookpgJL: Was it difficult for you to write from a woman's perspective?

N Sparks: I'm from Venus! It is always difficult to write from a different perspective but I think that is the challenge of writing -- going from an 80-year-old man to a 36-year-old divorced woman -- that is the challenge of writing.

BookpgJL: Tell us why you chose to make Theresa a mother. Was it for the complication?

N Sparks: Single motherhood is a reality for a lot of women in my age group and the time difficulties in their lives are universal. I admire people who do the best they can as both a parent and a career person. Also, it wouldn't work if she were married, would it?

Question: Why such a sad ending?

N Sparks: Because life, sometimes, is a sad ending and more than anything, I want my novels to reflect the things that people go through in life. I don't write fantasy, I write reality. Also, my novels have roots to Greek tragedies and as such, there has to be tragedy. They are not romance novels.

BookpgJL: Let's talk a bit about the movie. Has it started filming? What's your involvement?

N Sparks: The movie of MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE just started filming on April 15th. It is starring Paul Newman, Robin Wright-Penn, and Kevin Costner. The screenplay is phenomenal, though I didn't write it. When asked, I offered my opinion but that is all. It should be out in February of '99.

BookpgJL: Is it hard to see a different rendition?

N Sparks: The screenplay is remarkably true to the novel.

BookpgJL: Are you pleased with the casting?

N Sparks: Of course! Who wouldn't be?

Question: Do you have another book in the process?

N Sparks: Yes, the next novel will be published in the fall of 1999. In the end, I think it will be better than the first two. I can't tell anymore because it is coming up for sale in Hollywood very soon. Looks like Spielberg is going to do THE NOTEBOOK. Pretty fun!

BookpgJL: Do you like romantic movies and books?

N Sparks: CASABLANCA is one of the best films I have ever seen. ROMEO AND JULIET by Bill Shakespeare and THE NOTEBOOK. Laughs!

BookpgJL: This transition to besetting author has been fast. Could you have imagined this a few years ago?

N Sparks: Yes and no. When I first started THE NOTEBOOK, I thought it would be very successful though to have it pan out is still a dream come true.

BookpgJL: Now the hypothetical: What would you do if you found a message in a bottle?

N Sparks: I'd open it, read it, and probably respond (if requested).

BookpgJL: Would you go to the lengths Theresa did?

N Sparks: I am happily married so I might pass it on to a single friend.

Question: Is this a book a teenager should read?

N Sparks: It is important to realize that my books do contain love scenes though they are relatively mild in description. I think it is a choice a parent should make.

BookpgJL: When would you let your kids read your books?

N Sparks: I would let them read them about the age of 15.

Question: I like the relationship between the son and father in MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE. Does it reflect your own relationship with your father?

N Sparks: My father passed away so I suppose it is more of an idealized relationship between father and son. Though my father was indeed a loving and caring man.

Question: Will you be touring? In Knoxville or East Tenn.?

N Sparks: Unfortunately, no trips to Tenn. on the schedule.

Question: Are you as romantic as your books are?

N Sparks: Ladies Home Journal called me the most romantic husband in America. Though it is probably best to ask my wife about it. My wife and I do share a very special, warm relationship in which we do nice things for each other.

BookpgJL: Why did you choose to leave North Carolina for the setting of MESSAGE, meaning where Theresa finds the message?

N Sparks: Because the gulf stream flows north. If you drop a bottle in North Carolina it flows north.

Question: Where did you attend school and what southern authors influenced or inspired you?

N Sparks: I attended University of Notre Dame on a full athletic scholarship in Track and Field. I still hold the school record -- for the last 13 years. Pat Conroy and David Payne who wrote EARLY FROM THE DANCE.

Question: Where can we find a copy of your tour schedule? Is it available at Bookwire on the internet? Do you have a web site?

N Sparks: Warnerbooks.com or PublishersWeekly.com under "authors on the highway." I do not have a personal website.

BookpgJL: Why do you think people respond to your love stories?

N Sparks: First and foremost, the characters are universal and the stories could be their own. None of my characters are rich or famous and the situations they find themselves in could happen to anyone.

Question: Nick: D.West from Simpsonville: Will book #3 include Noah?

N Sparks: No, though a follow-up to THE NOTEBOOK is definitely planned. Maybe book 5.

Question: Will those who loved the eloquent work of THE NOTEBOOK and MESSAGE like the movies?

N Sparks: Yes, absolutely. The screenplay is the finest I have ever read. And I have read lots.

Question: I understand you will be speaking at the Maui Writer's Conference. What will your topic be?

N Sparks: At the conference, I am a keynote speaker. I'll let you know more about me, how I started writing and writing in general. As well as the movie business.

Question: I saw you on a television show. You seem rather shy and modest. Would you say that is your personality?

N Sparks: I have seldom been described as shy. Though I don't take myself too seriously. My work, however, I take extremely seriously.

BookpgJL: We're just out of time now. Thanks so much for joining us here tonight.

N Sparks: Thank you all for coming. I hope you enjoy or enjoyed MESSAGE. I appreciate your support from the bottom of my heart.

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PAST INTERVIEW

February, 1999

Ahh romance...it's almost Valentine's Day and everyone is getting geared up to impress the love of their life. We at TBR have a suggestion for the ultimate romantic experience --- read a book and go to a movie...preferably the same one. Anyone looking for a love story this Valentine's Day can't go wrong with Nicholas Sparks' book, MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, which is also a movie starring Kevin Costner, Robin Wright-Penn and Paul Newman. TBR was lucky enough to catch up with Nicholas right in the middle of his whirlwind tour. He returned to TBR to answer some very pertinent questions about the new movie and his plans for Valentine's Day. Find out the most romantic thing that ever happened to this author and what plans the movie industry has for his other book, THE NOTEBOOK, in his most recent interview.

TBR: Have you seen the movie version of MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE? If so, with whom did you see it and what were your reactions?

NS: I saw the movie in Atlanta with 18 members of my wife's family. When I first sat down, I was nervous but I found myself getting swept up in the performances. It's a wonderful film.

TBR: What is it like having one of your books be made into a movie?

NS: It's always exciting to sell a project to Hollywood, but it's scary at the same time because I give up all creative control. Luckily, I worked with wonderful people who had the same vision for the project that I had.

TBR: How has it affected your life?

NS: So far, having a movie made of my novel hasn't really affected my life all that much. I still live in a small town, my wife and children keep me grounded. More people, however, will be exposed to my work, and I'm thankful for that.

TBR: How do you feel about Kevin Costner, Robin Wright-Penn and Paul Newman as the leads?

NS: The cast was perfect --- I don't know if it could have been any better than it was. Kevin, Robin and Paul were fantastic in the roles.

TBR: Did you have any input in the screenplay?

NS: I didn't have a lot of input into the screenplay, though my input wasn't really needed. Gerry D. Pego did a great job.

TBR: Are sceenplays something you'd like to write?

NS: I have no desire to write screenplays --- at heart, I'm a novelist.

TBR: The book has been published, the movie is about to be released, and it's almost Valentine's Day --- we want to know --- do you still believe in happily ever after?


NS: I believe in happily ever-after, though not for everyone all the time. Life doesn't work that way. That's why we appreciate it when it does.

TBR: You told us last year what your plans were for you and your wife for Valentine's Day --- we were all envious and impressed. What are your plans this year?


NS: Valentine's Day? I'll make my wife dinner, light some candles and listen to the soundtrack from the film. It's romantic, and I think we'll just go from there…

TBR: What is the most romantic thing anyone has ever said or done to you?

NS: My wife sometimes encloses cards or notes in my suitcase when I have to travel, without telling me first. Then when I arrive in some strange hotel and unpack, I'll find it. My wife is a doll.

TBR: What is the most romantic thing you've ever said or done to someone else?

NS: My wife had gone to visit her parents with the kids, and there was a blizzard all week long. She was trapped inside the house for a week and on the flight home both kids were sick. Her plan was delayed for two hours ... it was terrible and she was tired. When she got home, I led her to the bathroom where I had a tub drawn, candles lit, with a stack of magazines. I said "Honey, you relax --- I'll take care of the kids, given them supper and put them to bed. You just relax for a while." Then, I did just that.

TBR: Do you see THE NOTEBOOK as a movie as well?

NS: Hopefully THE NOTEBOOK will start filming this year. The script is finished and New Line is very excited about the project.

TBR: When you visualize writing your next book, do you "see" it as a movie?

NS: I don't really "see" it as a movie, though I do picture everything so I can write it down.

TBR: What are you working on now?

NS: I have a novel coming out in September entitled A WALK TO REMEMBER, and I'm currently working on my fourth novel, as yet untitled.

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