Stephenie Meyer admits to Vogue that she is an 'amateur'

February 28, 7:45 AMSeattle Books ExaminerDanielle Dreger-Babbitt

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In the March issue of Vogue, journalist Robert Sullivan sits down with Stephenie Meyer in what is possibly the most uninteresting interview ever done.  I think the only way the story could have gotten even more dull was if Sullivan interviewed Meyer with Gwyneth Paltrow, or better yet if Paltrow interviewed Meyer.

Don't get me wrong, I like Twilight (the first book, not the entire series.  I thought Breaking Dawn was quite possibly the worst book of 2008).  I have yet to see the movie, though that may change after March 21st when the DVD is released and I can rent it for free at my library.  I thought Meyer's first book was a really fascinating and engaging story.  I read the book in about four hours.  I fell in serious like with the character Jacob.  

As the series progressed I got even more annoyed with Bella.  I actually found the characters in the Gossip Girl series less annoying than our spineless, vampire-loving narrator.  I couldn't understand her attraction to Edward.  Reading the books became a chore.  Then Breaking Dawn totally jumped the shark.

The interview Meyer gave Vogue is a lot like Breaking Dawn: uninspired, uninformative, and kind of tedious.  We learn basically nothing about her or how this small town writer managed to sell 28 million copies of her novels.  Instead we are introduced to a Meyer who loves Greek salads, Batman, and drives like Danica Patrick.  Oh, and she doesn't like vampires (she'd  pick Batman over Edward).  The Twilight saga actually came to her in a dream.  The most revealing part of the interview is when Meyer says that she is not Gertrude Stein

 "I'm not a professional yet," she says. "I'm still just an amateur."

Perhaps Stephen King wasn't so far off with his assessment of Meyer.  At least she didn't compare herself to J.K. Rowling like King implied in his interview with Weekend Today last month.

Update:  There has been some confusion, and I just want to say I am not trying to bash Meyer here, though it may sound like I am.  She is a far better writer than I'll ever be and I only wish I could duplicate her success.  Twilight and The Host were well written, compelling, and had me hooked.  It is okay that I didn't think the last three books of the saga were up to par.  I think she will only improve as a writer over time and grow even more successful.  I am very much on Team Meyer.  I hope she continues to write for young adults.  Her books have the Harry Potter effect, after all she got a whole generation of reluctant readers to pick up a book and start reading.  Her stories got people back into libraries and bookstores.  Selling 28 million books is no small feat.

I think the interview in Vogue was poorly executed and I wish we could have seen the questions that were asked.