On the heroine of her new novel, Inés of My Soul. She was the only Spanish woman to accompany the conquistadores who conquered Chile in 1540. She didn't go for glory or for gold. She went for passion. That is the way women act most of the time.

On living in Marin County. I had left Chile and moved to Venezuela, which was rich and disorganized. Then I came to Marin. Everything was so safe — and so beautiful. In Marin, I like going to coffee shops. I go to Book Passage bookstore.

On building a new house. My husband, Willie, found a spot on top of a hill with a view of the bay and built the house. I added a few touches to make it look old.

On wine. In the evening, I drink red wine. I have a Chilean friend who's a winemaker, Agustin Huneeus. He owns Quintessa, in Napa Valley.

On chocolate. When I travel, I miss Bay Area chocolate. It has to be the darkest of the dark. Milk is for sissies.

On Chilean food. We have great seafood, great fruit. And we have our famous empanadas of course. I make them very thin, and fill them with meat and onions.

On her Reconciliation Soup. It uses fresh mushrooms. It’s so much effort, but it really works: The smell is so good that the other person always knows you're ready to make up. (For her recipe, visit www.isabelallende.com and click on "Books," then "Aphrodite.")

Isabel Allende has written nine novels, including The House of the Spirits, along with three memoirs and three children’s books. Inés of My Soul is being published this month by HarperCollins.

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