And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

Our Mystery Author this round is Marie Force.

She is from the United State's smallest state, Rhode Island. She is married to a former Navy man and has two children. Having had the pleasure of living in different locations as a Navy wife, she and her family are now back home on the east coast.

Below, Marie tells us about herself, her family and her books. When you are done, visit her at her website. http://marieforce.com/

Thanks Marie!

1. Tell us about growing up in the smallest state, Rhode Island.

We like to say that Rhode Island is "the biggest little state in the union" because there's so much to do and see here. I'm blessed to have been brought up in the Newport area, where I now live again after ten years away from home when my husband was in the Navy. My favorite part of life in Rhode Island is the water. I love nothing more than spending a warm summer day on my dad's boat with my family and my brother's family, something we've done all our lives. I also love to be at the beach and go as often as I can all summer long. Every time we step foot on the sand, I remind my kids (ages 13 and 10) how lucky they are to live in a place others flock to. Now they see me coming and tell me I can skip the "how lucky are we?" speech. Brats! :-) My husband, who is from Indiana, loves when people refer to Rhode Island's size to make a point. "An oil spill the size of the state of Rhode Island..." I say, "Why not Delaware? That's a small state, too!"

2. I know you majored in journalism but when did you decide to become a novelist?

Becoming a novelist wasn't really a decision, per se. It was always something I had in mind for "later." I finally started a book in 2002, but worked on it only sporadically for a few years. Then my mother died in 2004 and that was a real catalyst to get moving toward making my dream a reality. I wanted to be sure my dad would be around to see me published, and I have to say that sharing this with him has been one of the best parts of the last few months. He's just delighted to see something we talked about for years coming to fruition.

3. Do you think being a journalist gave you an advantage in your writing or no? I mean, they are distinctly different types of writing...

Absolutely! Journalism school and the two years I spent as a general assignment reporter were the best gifts I could've given myself as a writer. I learned how to be an efficient, economical writer thanks to that training, and it has definitely helped me with novel writing. I'd recommend that path for anyone who wants to write for a living. It's now been twenty years since I graduated from college and worked as a reporter, but I still carry with me so many of the lessons learned during those years.

4. Your new book is LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. Can you tell us about it?

LINE OF SCRIMMAGE is the story of an NFL quarterback who mounts the Hail Mary play of a lifetime to stop a divorce he never wanted... and he has to act fast because his soon-to-be ex-wife is already engaged to her high school boyfriend who has come back on the scene. LOS was so fun to write, mostly because my hero, Ryan, is a trip. In some ways, he's exactly what you expect him to be, but as readers have discovered, there're many unexpected layers to him as well.

5. Where did you get the idea?

I had a vision of boots dropping in a foyer, and I knew those boots were unwelcome. That's the premise I started with. Soon I discovered the owner of the boots was none other than NFL superstar Ryan Sanderson arriving "home" while his ex-wife entertained her fiance and his parents. In a desperate attempt to stop the divorce, Ryan blackmails Susannah into spending their final ten days as Mr. and Mrs. together. She thinks he'll grow tired of the charade after a few days, but she soon discovers there is nothing Ryan won't do to win back her love. Let the games begin!

6. Are you a big fan of football? Of sports in general?

Um, no to football... or at least I wasn't a fan before the muse delivered Ryan, every inch the NFL quarterback. I've always been a huge baseball fan... the Boston Red Sox in particular... so I tried to remake Ryan into a baseball player. However, he had other ideas, and soon I realized he could only be a football player. I was forced to immerse myself in a game that had never appealed to me before, and slowly I became a legitimate fan. It didn't hurt that my hometown Patriots went undefeated last year, except for that last unfortunate game known as the Super Bowl!

7. What do you like to do in your free time?

If I'm not writing, I'm devouring romance novels, hanging out with my family, working the day job, or spending time on the boat or at the beach. I love to hibernate in the winter and write, write, write while it snows outside. I also have one must-see T.V. show for just about every night of the week... but only after the Red Sox's season is over.

8. You have a new book coming out in Spring, 2009. Can you tell us a little about SAME TIME SUNDAY?

SAME TIME SUNDAY is based on a conversation I overheard in an airport ten years ago. Everything about the characters is mine, but the premise is the result of being nosy! Michael is a Baltimore prosecutor on the eve of the biggest murder trial of his career. Juliana is a hair stylist with a dysfunctional family. They meet in the Baltimore airport on their way to visit their significant others. After they each endure a disastrous weekend, they meet up again on the flight home, striking up an unlikely friendship that leads to love. I'm so excited to see this book working its way toward publication! Michael and Juliana's story is very near and dear to my heart.