On March 30, 1996, the Piers Anthony Club on Prodigy a visit from Piers Anthony. The following notes were answers to questions posted to Piers Anthony by the members.

Note: The questions presented here are possible ones as I do not have the original list of questions.

Q: How do you manage to avoid writer's block?

A: How do I manage to avoid writers block. Well you see its actually very easy, you keep writing.

When I come upon an area where I don't know exactly what I want the character to do I start with parenthesis, and make notes within the text.

I begin describing the situation, then write possibilities of what could happen. Something to the effect of saying if a character looks in a particular direction, what he might find or how the circumstances might change in each situation (one time I wrote 3 days in brackets).

From this point I continue to go forward into the story line. In going forward you actually change the nature of the previous text. Then at a point, you can go back and answer all the questions you have created. The section where you drew a blank, seems to then form itself.

If I just stopped writing, I would just get myself in a hole. The best thing for me to do is just keep going.

Q: How long will you write Xanth novels?

A: Xanth.. I will write Xanth novels as long as there are publishers that will print them and readers that will buy them. Sales are going down, however I find some fans have asked for books and stores just don't have them in stock.

If you don't see a book you want, make sure your book store orders it for you. Book Stores are a business and work on demand and supply. Sometimes books that would really sell are overlooked just because of the volume of new books.

I'm afraid that the MODE series fell into the missing category and was never really promoted or recognized. I enjoyed writing that series, however if I can't sell it, its best to write books in the other better known series. DoOon Mode, the next book has been completed, it's on hold for printing at the publisher level. I don't really have much control over that one.

Q: What other novels are you writing?

A: I do have a new series in the works, however it is historical in nature. Geodyssey is more of an Adult Historical Fiction novel. Isle of Woman and Shame Of Man are already out, Hope of Earth is the next.

Q: Do you like the term Sci-Fi?

A: I write Science Fiction not SCI-FI. As most writers of this genre, I feel that the term Sci-Fi does not leave the reader with the image of the art of the work. At a convention recently, I asked Management to remove the term and put up the more classical term, Science Fiction.

Q: Which do you enjoy writing more, Science Fiction or Fantasy?

A: I enjoy writing both, and its really hard to tell which I like best. Fantasy is fun and easy and I write it with great humor. Actually what I really love is Historical fiction but it doesn't sell real well.

Q: Have any of your novels been sold to movie producers?

A: The movie rights to Killobyte have already been purchased and it is in the scriptwriters hands as we speak. However the Scriptwriter is not letting me look at it. I'm afraid they know I will speak my mind honestly about it, and they might just not be ready for that yet.

Q: What will happen to your novels when you die?

A: When I die, I plan on being half-way thru a new novel. I love writing.

Q: What is the "Adult Conspiracy?"

A: I had a friend that wrote a book called "Down in Flames" where he asked several of us to take apart our stories. The "where babies come from" was in grizzly detail.. basically they were stolen by ..ha.. I'm not telling.

It's an "Adult Conspiracy" as in Faun and Games. The storks were watching the computer monitors and the little bleeps and someone walked into the room asking where the babies were coming from. The reply was "Are you cleared for this information?"; "Are you trying to sneak by the conspiracy??" and so I have to ask you.. "Are you trying to sneak by the conspiracy??

Q: Are there any differences between the computer game Companions of Xanth and your novel Demons Don't Dream, which the game was based on? Was it successful?

A: The Xanth Book and game are rather different, because I wrote the book and the programmers didn't.

I worked out the details in a novel type of form as to what I thought my readers would like, and I do know my readers. Well I believe the gamers have a different mode of operation and they didn't blend as well with my thoughts as I had hoped. However, there is a sequel [scheduled] and it will probably be another year or so before it is out.

Q: Can you tell us some of the Xanth children coming?

A: Mela and Naldo's kid. Well, I see them as being in a more human like form, but being able to change.. The daughter> changing like the mother. The son changing like the males of the species, more snake like.. The point will be that they can change forms.

Merci is a different type of mermaid. Merci can change because her mother can. Demonica, well maybe I'll just have to see how this story develops.

Murphy and Vadne spent time in Xanth then they moved to Mundania.. In mundania you can step into any time.

Q: (From Carol) Are there any interesting things going on in your life now?

A: My! There are a number of you Carol's, Carolyn's. (I even have a wife named Carol and a daughter with a middle name of Carolyn to add to the confusion: I don't think either of you are either of those, either.) My Carol has a tendency to schedule me for fun events such as a dental visits. (sometime next week) I seem to be surrounded.

Interesting things, well yes. I had a major blowout with a publisher regarding a book How Precious was that While! This is a book of about 100,000 words already and picks up just after the Bio of Ogre. I may even go to a small press have it published.

Q: Do you enjoy corresponding with young kids that are troubled and suicidal?

A: It is rather, deep and sensitive and I will be publishing some poetry of approx. 20 kids that have had somewhat tortured lives. I find myself endeared to many of my fans and many have poured out their hearts to me, telling me things that they have kept from parents/friends/teachers. These poems have a terrible beauty to them about the injustice they have suffered. I feel a strong responsibility to get this one published.

Q: Are you going to write more Incarnations of Immortality books? We would really like to see more, such as on the character Nox.

A: Many people have suggested that I write more on these books, however, I have 7 books in this series that worked up to a ending that seems complete to me. So as of now, its not in the works.

Thank you for your suggestion, I'll think on it.

Q: Will there be another Xanth game?

A: Actually there is another game in the works and should be out within the next year. Probably Fall of 96.

Q: When is a cartoon of Xanth going to be done?

A: A frequently asked question by others is "When is the cartoon of Xanth going to be released."

There are no current plans to produce a Xanth movie, cartoon or otherwise. Apparently, the deal with that originally fell through - as Hollywood deals tend to do, I've noticed there are still plans in the works for Killobyte, but with the current glut of VR films on the market, I am forced to wonder how it will fare. Hopefully, the movie producers will not warp it to the degree that it is just another pointless action-film (hint! hint!) and will keep it faithful to the high moral standards of the book it will represent.

Q: When will DoOon Mode be published? What else is going to be published soon?

A: DoOon Mode is on hold just now. There doesn't seem to be any interest in it. There are three books due to be released in the Xanth series.

I write a book and it takes up to two years before it reaches the public. So there are a few out there waiting and a few more in the works.

Q: Do you still write to Jenny? How is she doing?

A: Jenny, ah yes. I write Jenny every week and once in a while her Mother will call and tell me how she is.

She can talk a bit now, and with walkers and various equipment take a few steps.

But her spirit is high, she is planning on college, her brain is good. Her only limitations will be physical. The method she needs to get around is difficult enough without environments that are not well adapted to help her.

Q: Is it true the Killobyte is going to be a movie? I just love your books!

A: Believe it!

The movie Killobyte is in the making and hopefully it will be out within the next year or two. I think it takes movie people longer than publishers to get out a new feature/book.

Thank You for loving my books

Q: What books do you have coming out soon?

A: There are three books already written in the Xanth series that are to be released, hopefully this summer.

Right now I'm working on my Historical series.. GEODYSSEY I make money in Fantasy but my heart is in history.

Q: Do you feel a responsibility towards your fans? How is Jenny doing?

A: Thank you, I do feel a responsibility to those that read my books. You would be surprised at the kids that write me and pour out their hearts. One of the books I'm working on will have some outstanding poems of "Terrible Beauty" that I have received from them.

Jenny is doing well. She can say a few words, all in one breath, then she has to wait for the next breath. She can walk a few steps now. She has a heart and soul of a lion; her goal is to go to college.

Q: Do you enjoy writing? What is your schedule like?

A: I love writing and know that I will be half way through a new novel the day that I die. I begin my day around 9:00 work for a few hours then take off for lunch. I do try to have fixed hours but all kinds of things get in the way. The most difficult is to try and write when there are things going on around you.

When my daughter was a baby, I stayed at home with her. My wife worked outside the home and I found it very interesting juggling baby, feeding time and typing. It got so that she would sleep as I typed. So if I wanted to keep her sleeping, I had to keep typing, sometimes that was a real challenge.

When she got older, Penny would sometimes stand at the end of the typewriter, only moving back when the carriage pushed her. She's my computer person sometimes, I'm not connected otherwise, so outside of today.

Q: How many novels have your written? How is Jenny doing?

A: There are about 102 novels that I have published. You can also ask your local bookstore to back order, many are still in print.

Jenny is doing well, as I have mentioned in other notes. I love her courage.

Q: Have you ever played the Xanth boardgame?

A: I played the board game a couple of times. There should be a new one coming out sometime in the fall of 96.

Q: How do you feel about your critics? What is your advice to new writers?

A: Don't get me started on Critic's or Reviewer's. They are aliens of a different species. I've had more than my share of abuse from them and the editors that want to tell you how to re-write a book. Well I say, If they are so good, why aren't they writing?

My advise to new writers is do something else, cause these guys will break your heart.

Q: How long with Xanth go on? Do you have any twins in Xanth?

A: Xanth lives on ... and on. As long as you, the readers want the books, they just flow out of my imagination.

You'll like Faun and Games. My daughter met a friend in school a few years ago and discovered that this new friend's birthday was exactly the same as her's. She decided they were twins. So Ivy gained a friend named Ida.

You know of course that there are asteroids out in Mundania. Well Ida has her own moon. It's about the size of a ping pong ball and reflects her moods. This moon is a whole new World. Our hero is on a mission that involves him going to this world and he has to reduce in size to make the journey.

This was a Xanth novel I really had fun with.

Q: How often do your books come out? How do you know you have a best-seller?

A: I write constantly. It takes about two years for the publishing houses to get a book on the market, so there are many already in the process of being published.

However I am working on a series that is more Adult and more in the historical vein.

I don't really know when I have a best seller, you and the publishers and books stores, see to that. Its a mystery to me.