Interview with Sylvia Day

It began with Bared to You—and now it's coming to an end with One with You. Over the course of five books, Sylvia Day has spun an irresistible epic out of Eva Trammel and Gideon Cross's often rocky, always steamy romance. Have you fallen under her spell? If you have, you wouldn't be alone. One with You was one of our Highly Anticipated Books of 2016 here on Goodreads. While Day is best known for her Crossfire series, her Renegade Angels and Jax & Gia books are also readily devoured by romance fans around the world. And if you like a little supernatural sizzle in your stories? Well, Day has something for you, too. She publishes more fantastical fiction under the pseudonyms S.J. Day (urban fantasy series Marked) and Livia Dare (futuristic thriller In the Flesh). What's next for the bestselling author who is recognized internationally? We don't know, but we bet we're going to like it.

Read on as Day answers your questions about how her book tours inspired her writing, why she cried when she finished One with You, and where we might get our next Gideon fix.


Luthermilla Ecole: I am a huge fan! I am ANXIOUSLY waiting for One with You. After all these years writing about Eva and Gideon, are you having—or did you have—any problem letting them go?
I wrote a few different drafts of One with You that weren't right before I finally wrote one that worked. I knew something was wrong with the earlier attempts when I didn't feel the grief I expected to feel at the end. That said, when I finally wrote the manuscript that became the finished novel, I cried but not with sorrow. I was so happy for Gideon! I'd finally reached the point where I had done what I needed to do, and it was time to wish him and Eva well as they move forward without me.

Nicole: Did you always want to be a writer? How old were you when you decided to pursue it professionally?
I knew I wanted to be a novelist when I was 12 years old. I was 30 when I finally sat down to write my first book.

Maria: I absolutely adore your Crossfire series! I'm a clinical social worker and have worked with trauma survivors (and thrivers, as we sometimes refer to them). I was struck with how accurately you told Gideon and Eva's story—and how you showed how trauma survivors react in certain situations. You do such a splendid job of it! What sort of research did you do to convey such authentic responses?
Thank you. It was very important to me to accurately portray the ramifications of childhood sexual abuse in young adults. I started by reading self-help books for survivors, then moved on to clinical guides for therapists. I also spoke with actual therapists and their patients.

Brittany H.: My grandma and I are in love with your Crossfire series! What is your favorite scene from each book?
I loved the Bryant Park fight scene in Bared to You, the night Gideon came to Eva after she wrote him a heartbreaking email in Reflected in You, the wedding weekend in Entwined with You, the café scene in Captivated by You, and the afternoon in the Outer Banks in One with You.

April: I am so happy that One with You is coming out on MY BIRTHDAY. Happy birthday to me! What other books would you recommend for readers who don't want to say good-bye to Gideon and Eva?
The Fifth Favor by Shelby Reed, Naked in Death by J.D. Robb, Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh, and pretty much anything by Olivia Gates.

MC: I would argue your characters have a greater depth than in most other romances. Is character development the most important aspect of your storytelling? Or do you find a good plot or do steamy descriptions drive your writing?
Characters are the driving force, completely. For me, the evolution of the hero and heroine is the plot. Situations and secondary characters around them are catalysts, but they're not the engine powering the story.

Machi: If you lost the ability to read and write for 24 hours, how would you spend that day?
I'd do anything from getting lunch and seeing a movie with my kids to just being lazy on the couch or heading to an amusement park.

Teresa Breckenridge: I'm always intrigued with the lifestyles of creative individuals like yourself. You must meet so many interesting people when you travel for book tours! Have any of those experiences influenced your writing or inspired some of your characters?
Absolutely! Gideon's bachelor party weekend in Rio was directly inspired by my book tours in Brazil.

Liz: If you wrote a book about your life, what would the title be? What would the genre be?
Breakaway. Contemporary women's fiction.

Thai Holman: Will we hear from Gideon Cross after One with You? We'll miss him!
Yes, we'll see Gideon again. All of my characters exist within one fictional universe. Whether I've written a historical or a paranormal or a futuristic novel, the world is the same and all of my characters live within it. This means the great-grandchildren of my historical characters may appear in my contemporary stories and so on. As I move on to different series, my newer characters will exist in the same world as Gideon, and considering the extent of his fortune and influence, we'll be sure to cross paths with him again.