From the November 2005 issue. Interview conducted by Marc Tyler Nobleman. Typed copy provided by Caitlin.

How do you come up with the names for your characters?
I try to make up names that are a little outlandish, but also have meaning. For example, the name Artemis Fowl - Fowl obviously sounds like foul, horrible - and then Artemis is the name of the Greek goddess of the hunt. So, his name means "the nasty hunter", which is what he is.

What prompted you to create an actual alphabet for the Fairy Code, the language of the People?
I mentioned the code in the book, but I never thought that I would actually invent one. But then my English editor suggested it would be nice if we got an artist to make a font. It has become one of the most popular things in the book series. Kids write to me in code all the time.

Before you started writing, did you have a plan for how magic would work in the world of Artemis Fowl?
I decided very early on that the magic would have to be quuite limited - the fairies have to recharge their powers - or else Artemis would never win.

How did leprechuans end up as a fairy police force in your books?
I was just looking at the word leprechaun and I thought if I spelled that differently, it could be LEP Recon, which even sounds like a police force, the LEP (Lower Elements Police) Recon (Reconnaissance). I knew I was on to something. Once I began to think about it, the plots of the first three books came very quickly.

What character from another book would you like your characters to meet?
I would love Artemis Fowl to meet Huckleberry Finn because I think they could have great adventures.

What's your favorite fantasy creature?
Vampires. Someday I'm definitely going to have a go at a vampire story.

Has a fan ever caught a mistake in any of your books?
Oh, all the time. I was doing a live television interview, and person in the audience had found a mistake in the code. She proceded to tell us about it, much to my editor's mortification.