Q:  How does it feel as an author to have your book come to life on the television screen?

A:   It’s pretty crazy.  I’ve seen the pilot, and it is really, really close to the first book. I just kept giggling the whole time that I saw it because it was surreal, but really amazing.  I almost couldn’t comprehend what I was seeing: that this thing that I thought of is now on TV.  It’s pretty great. 

Q: Can you tell us about the endgame for the series? 

A:  The final book Wanted comes out the same day that the show is premiering and it is the conclusion to the series, so A will be revealed and a lot of the mysteries will be solved.  It is left a little creepy and open-ended, but there is an end to the series. The thrilling conclusion is coming out June 8^th, and it will be really fun that readers who have hung on from the very beginning will be able to read the very last book and then go right into watching it on TV.  I’m very excited for that.

Q:  How much influence did you have in the casting process?

 A:   I did not have input into the casting process.  That was all done on the other side of the country, so I didn’t know who they were going to cast, but when they did cast the girls I was very excited to see who they chose to be Ali, who they chose to be Aria, and Spencer and all of the rest.  They don’t necessarily look like the girls that I described in the books but I think that’s okay because they really embody each of the characters and they do a great job playing [them].

Q: Do you regret killing any of the characters off through the series?

A: I still am very, very sad that Toby is dead.  I know some people I talk to are like “Eww, Toby is horrible.”  I got really attached to Toby when I was writing about him and yes, he had a troubled past and wasn’t really so nice but it’s just heartbreaking the misunderstanding that happens at the end of Flawless. He had a little bit of a romance with Emily and I thought that was really sweet, so I am a little sad that he’s dead.  Some of the other deaths, no, not so much.  I think they served writing purpose.

Watch the series premiere of “Pretty Little Liars” Tuesday, June 8 at 8/7c.