An interview with Erin Hunter (Victoria Holmes) from Chapters/Indigo booksellers.

Erin Hunter is the author of the bestselling middle-grade series, Warriors. But, actually, Erin Hunter is the pen-name of three people: Cherith Baldry, Kate Cary and series creator, Victoria Holmes. There are three main streams in the Warriors Series: The original six Warriors books,Warriors New Prophecy and the latest, The Power of Three. Three books have been made into Manga comics and there are also two special editions.

In Warrior Power of Three #3 Outcast, a secret prophecy shapes the lives of three younger cats, Jaypaw, Lionpaw and Hollypaw. They are called to the mountains to discover the hidden secrets of their ancestry. Be sure to check out our Warriors Series book boutique and complete your Warriors Series collection today. In the following interview, Victoria Holmes discusses the creative process when developing Warriors Series and her upcoming series in May,Seekers.

Q:  Do you like touring? What is your favourite city to visit?
A: I love touring! It's a chance to meet the readers in person and hear what they like about the stories -- and what they don't like, which is almost as welcome. I don't have much time to look at each city that I visit, although Seattle was memorable for its beautiful water and bright green trees. It's the people that I meet who make each location special for me, and I've never been to a place where I felt less than welcomed with open arms.

Q:  When you are writing your books, do you ever lose track of who's who, who's done what, and which clan is which?
A: Er...yes! As readers can attest. They are quick to point out when I make a mistake! I have several documents that are basically lists of names, eye colours, relationships, littermates, and past history, but they can vary mysteriously, which is when errors creep in. I promise I try as hard as I can to keep everything straight -- and I'm genuinely grateful when readers let me know I've gone astray because then I can put things right.

Q:  Which is your favourite clan and why?
A: Much as I love writing from the point of view of ThunderClan, I'd choose to be a WindClan cat if I could because I've always wanted to be sleek and good at running. Plus they must have some awesome views from up on their hill.

Q:  Do you have a favourite Warrior cat? Which one?
A: The cat I admire most is Cinderpelt; she had incredible strength of character, dignity, and a great sense of humour even though she didn't get to achieve her ambition of becoming a warrior. The cats that are most fun to write about are the ones with the most shades of grey in their character, like Brambleclaw and Jaypaw. They're always at the thick of the action, but it's impossible (even for me) to figure out whether they're good or bad...

Q:  Why did you choose bears for your next series, Seekers? Do you like bears more than cats?
A: I chose bears because I wanted to write about a totally different animal than cats -- purely wild, solitary by nature, roaming over vast distances without being constrained by a close-knit, hierarchical community. I don't think I could say that I like bears more than cats, but I have huge respect for their strength and wildness, which I hope comes across in the stories. I love all animals equally (except maybe dogs, horses, and otters, which are the best animals ever!).

Q:  How do the three writers work together on the Warriors Series? Are there ever any conflicts over plot lines, etc.?
A: We have a very good system in which I come up with storylines, characters, and series ideas, and Kate and Cherith take turns to expand my ideas into full-length manuscripts. Often they'll come up with a way of presenting a scene differently, or an idea for something a character should do, but we've never fallen out about it! We work really well together, and I love the fact that Erin Hunter is truly POWER OF THREE.

Q:  What advice do you have for young writers?
A: Read! Read everything you can lay your hands on, from sports features in newspapers to the back of cereal packets. That's the only way you can learn about style, voice, plot, and genre. It'll also teach you about the sort of writing you like and don't like -- and show you some examples of bad writing to avoid. Then write as much as you can, and in every different sort of style, from articles for your school newspaper to poetry to online blogs. There are many, many different kinds of writers in the world, not just fiction writers, and if you love words, there will always be a place for you.

Q:  Do you have a favourite writing spot?
A: I must confess I often end up curled up on the sofa with my laptop on my knees, my dog beside me, and MTV playing in the background! That doesn't make me a very good role model for posture or concentration!

Q:  Which children's books influenced you the most? What were your favourites growing up?
A: I read so much as a child that it's hard to pick out one single book. I read a lot of books by Enid Blyton, a prolific British author who is a little old-fashioned now but who wrote fantastic adventure stories that galloped ahead on every page. She also managed large casts of characters without getting muddled up, which is something I need to learn how to do! More recently, I am a huge fan of Jacqueline Wilson, another prolific British author who writes breathtakingly beautiful books about children in everyday situations, often living hard lives but remaining optimistic and charming.

Q:  How did the Warriors Series evolve? What is the story behind the books?
A: I was approached by my publisher to write a book about cats, and once the very first storyline was in place (about a kitten named Rusty becoming a warrior in the woods beyond his backyard fence), we realized there were a lot more places the characters could go. It grew and grew very quickly, and I started to introduce "human" themes that meant a lot to me, such as being the new kid on the block, feeling different, trying to decide what is the right thing to do even when the law says you should do something else. I think that's what the readers respond to most -- the way that these cats are going through situations that everyone experiences at one time or another -- and now it feels as if I'll never run out of stories! Which is just as well, since the series is destined to keep going for a lot more books!

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