We asked: If you could spend a 1920s evening in New York with one of the bright young things, who would you choose, and what would you want to do? Anna answered . . .

Well, it's not that the ladies aren't a good time, but I think if I had just one night, I'd want to go for a drive with Thom Hale. He's sort of a slick character, and he knows all the hot spots, and he can get in anywhere. He would be the best tour guide to a bygone era, and plus, he's adorable!

We asked: You've explored two distinctly different eras in Bright Young Things and The Luxe series. If you could choose, would you prefer to live in 1899 or 1929—why? Anna answered . . .

I'm in a '20s state of mind now, so I'd have to go for that. This is probably a good thing, as I am really best with simple clothes, and would never be able to pull off a ball gown anyway! I loved writing about Victorian manners and about Penelope's cruel parlor games, but I am too modern and too soft to be convincing at either one. And I love 1920s style anyway—cloche hats and Coco Chanel's little black dresses, who wouldn't?

We asked: Flapper, gangster's daughter, or songbird? Which '20s life would you want to live for a night? Anna answered . . .

I have no musical talent, and get very shy and blushing when I am on stage, so songbird is out. Being a gangster's daughter would be thrilling, but probably in reality a little frightening, too. That leaves me with flapper, which I think would be just about the perfect combination of high times and darling clothes and irreverent lifestyle, right?

We asked: What's the best question you've ever received from a fan (and the answer)? Anna answered . . .

A reader once asked me for a secret about one of my characters, something that hadn't appeared in the books, and I answered that Diana had a small mole on her right clavicle. This really wasn't the best answer—I'm not as good on the spot as I am alone at my desk, with lots of time! But I love the idea behind the question, which is that there is this whole world of unwritten information about a character that doesn't end up in the actual novel, because it's just not relevant to the story at hand. And while I have thought about and may be aware of a lot of that information, or perhaps just know it subconsciously, I am sure readers have their own ideas, too. They get pretty familiar with the characters, after all, and can imagine what kind of boy a certain character's first crush was, or what that character likes best and least when she looks at herself in the mirror, just as accurately as I could.

We asked: Finish this sentence. When I'm writing a novel, I . . .

am excited, fearful, indolent, hungry for other writers' writing, hungry for snacks, abuzz, sleepy, sharp, distracted, vulnerable, fortified, full.

View Anna's slideshow »