JA: I don't really have one. It may once have been the princess in the fairy tale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon," which my favorite sixth-grade teacher read to the cla.s.s. Though I didn't realize it at the time, I think the reason is that in this fairy tale, the man is captured and the princess has to perform feats of skill to save him. That was the trouble with so many of the books I read when I was young. The ones I liked were full of action and adventure, but it was always the men who were acting and adventuring. I never identified with the heroine that was sitting around waiting to be rescued. I was with the hero, snick-snicking snick-snicking with the sword, or whatever. I still identify with the one actively making the story happen, and I enjoy both male and female protagonists. I don't think it was a conscious decision, but when I started writing, I wanted to write about a woman who did interesting things. I guess that's why she is a heroine. with the sword, or whatever. I still identify with the one actively making the story happen, and I enjoy both male and female protagonists. I don't think it was a conscious decision, but when I started writing, I wanted to write about a woman who did interesting things. I guess that's why she is a heroine.

RH: What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

JA: You learn to write by writing, and by reading and thinking about how writers have created their characters and invented their stories. If you are not a reader, don't even think about being a writer. If you want to write, don't say you want to do it someday, don't wait until the spirit moves you: Sit down and do it every day, or at least on some kind of regular basis. But I would warn those who aspire to it that writing fiction is the hardest work I have ever done. Sometimes words don't want to come. For me, the way to get past writer's block, or whatever those periods are called, is to sit and put down one word after another. I may not even keep that work, though often I do. It doesn't matter. I need to get something written. Inspiration happens when you are working at it. At other times I can be so completely immersed in the story that I don't know where the time has gone, but when I get up, I'm drained. I have poured everything I have into the work-and sometimes I find myself finding ways to stall before I sit down to work the next time. But for all the effort, it's what I want to do for the rest of my life.

Coming Spring 2011 The highly antic.i.p.ated sixth book of Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series, series, The Land of Painted Caves, is the culmination fans have been waiting for!

Continuing the story of Ayla and Jondalar, Auel combines her brilliant narrative skills and appealing characters with a remarkable re-creation of the way life was lived more than 25,000 years ago. The Land of Painted Caves The Land of Painted Caves is an exquisite achievement by one of the world's most beloved authors. is an exquisite achievement by one of the world's most beloved authors.

The Land of Painted Caves A Novel $30.00 hardcover (Canada: $35.00) 978-0-517-58051-6Available wherever books are soldAlso available as an eBook and a Large Print edition

ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

JEAN M. A M. AUEL is a firmly established literary presence whose first novel, is a firmly established literary presence whose first novel, The Clan of the Cave Bear The Clan of the Cave Bear, was heralded by the New York Times Book Review New York Times Book Review as "exciting, imaginative, and intuitively solid." Her prodigious research, begun in 1977, has led her to prehistoric sites in Europe to add to her firsthand knowledge of such arts as flint knapping, the construction of snow caves, tanning hides, and gathering and preparing wild foods and medicinal plants and herbs. The remarkable Earth's Children's series continues with as "exciting, imaginative, and intuitively solid." Her prodigious research, begun in 1977, has led her to prehistoric sites in Europe to add to her firsthand knowledge of such arts as flint knapping, the construction of snow caves, tanning hides, and gathering and preparing wild foods and medicinal plants and herbs. The remarkable Earth's Children's series continues with The Valley of Horses, The Mammoth Hunters The Valley of Horses, The Mammoth Hunters, and The Plains of Pa.s.sage The Plains of Pa.s.sage. Mrs. Auel is now at work on her next novel in Oregon, where she lives with her husband.

Novels by Jean M. Auel

THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR.

THE VALLEY OF HORSES.

THE MAMMOTH HUNTERS.

THE PLAINS OF Pa.s.sAGE.

THE SHELTERS OF STONE.