One of my all-time favourite series in the world is Kate Forsyth's Witches of Eileanan series. I discovered these books back when I worked at my  little retail mall bookstore. This is one series I actually read in the proper order. Go, me!There are six books in that series and I fell head-over-heels for them. I loved them so much that when I discovered that the sixth book was being released in Australia (where the author is from) and wasn't due in North America until a year later, I begged a friend of mine over there to pick up the book for me so I could find closure for the series. I gave up on my obsession with my series looking the same just for this one book. That, my friends, is dedication.I was thrilled to see more books from Kate Forsyth a few years later when the Rhiannon's Ride series was released. She has also published many children's books and other works.1. You have quite the impressive bibliography of works. Do you happen to have a favourite series/book out of all that you have written? (The Witches of Eileanan being one of my favourite series of all time. I have reread them countless times.)Each book has been both a joy and a challenge, and all of them have different reasons for being very special to me. The Witches of Eileanan, for example, was my first published book and changed my life . The Starthorn Tree was the book I wrote for my inner child, the sort of book I so loved to read when I was 12. The Gypsy Crown was an extraordinarily rewarding book for me, both in terms of the pleasure it gave to me to write it, and the financial rewards that came from writing it. However, to be completely truthful, it is always the book I am writing NOW that I am the most connected to, and interested in.2. I see the first book of your Chain of Charms series (The Gypsy Crown) is still waiting to be released in Canada (per Amazon.ca) and yet there are already 6 books that have been published in Australia. Can you give us a little insight as to why releasing a book internationally sometimes takes so long?My books are always published in Australia first, and then come out overseas a year later. That is because I am Australian, and so I try and support my local publishers and booksellers, and also because of international publishing rules which say there must be a lag - I know, I know, Harry Potter was published simultaneously around the world, but unfortunately I am not at the same level at J.K Rowling and that was a world-first. Basically, it allows my Australian publishers to make some profit off my books before people can buy them overseas at a cheaper price. Books in Australia are much more expensive than in the US and Canada because of our government's tax system. I hope this explains it!Also, you should know that The Gypsy Crown as the first in a series of six in Australia, and yet a stand-alone novel in US and Canada. It was condensed and rewritten for the US market. So you will not be reading the same story as Australian readers, unless you order the six book set over the internet. This is quite simply because I'm a well-known writer in Australia, but not so well-known overseas, and my US publishers did not feel a six-book series would sell well there. It's like a whole new book!3. Might there be more stories from the world of Eileanan? Similar to the Rhiannon's Ride series?I am begged every day to write more stories set in Eileanan, and have some ideas I'd like to explore one day. However, I also have lots of other ideas I'd like to write as well! I'm planning on writing the two sequels to The Starthorn Tree first, and then another two stand-alone adult novels (all of which will take me about 4 years) and then I'll see what takes my fancy next. If only I could write as fast as you can read!4. When you are not writing, what do you like to do for fun?I love to play with my children, go out with my friends, see a movie, go dancing, drink champagne, have dinner at some swish restaurant, walk by the harbour, swim in the sea, travel the world ...5. If you were a tree, what tree would you be? Ha ha! I'm kidding! If you had the opportunity to ask your favourite author 5 Questions who would it be and why?In my imagination, I'd be a treeshifter - willowy, beautiful, and magical ... but in reality, I'm something sturdy and practical like a pine tree ...and I'd ask any one of my favourite authors what they like to eat and drink, and would they like to come over for dinner, and then I'd cook them a feast - the sort of meal that makes everyone sigh with pleasure - and then I would ask them to tell me about their childhood, and what sort of books they liked to read, and whether they ever read books up a tree, or hiding under the bed, and what are they reading now, and do they like it and why, and what oddities and obsession they have, and what's the worst thing they've ever done, and the best, and the most scary, and the most exciting ... and do they believe in God ... and if so, why ... and if not, why not ... and when they drift off to sleep at night, what do they dream of ... and then I'd let them tell me stories till dawn ....and yes, I know that's more than five questions, but I was always curious ...If you don't already know of Kate Forsyth's works, I hope that this might have helped you find some new and fun reading material. The books on my shelves are worn because they are so well read. And I am very good at not even breaking the spine of a new book when I read it. But I have read the Witches of Eileanan so often, it just happened. Here are some links to her books on Amazon.ca:The Witches of Eileanan series - 6 books

• The Witches of Eileanan
• The Pool of Two Moons
• The Cursèd Towers
• The Forbidden Land
• The Skull of the World
• The Fathomless Caves

Rhiannon's Ride series - 3 books

• Tower of Ravens
• Shining City
• Heart of Stars

Other works:

• Gypsy Crown
• The Starthorn Tree