And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

If you are looking for something fresh and new in the world of romance, maybe you should think about giving Kresley Cole a try.

A native of Alabama, Kresley now lives in Florida with her husband in a little town near Orlando. It's not too surprising that both of Kresley's books, THE PRICE OF PLEASURE and THE CAPTAIN OF ALL PLEASURES, involve men on the sea, tropical islands (TPOP), and a ship that races from England to Australia (TCOAP)--considering where she lives--and the fact that she and her hubby both spend much of their time as competitive water-skiers. Find out more about Kresley below from the answers she gave to my questions. I think you'll see that she is bright, excited and ready to write some stories! *G*

You can visit Kresley at her website: kresleycole.com and if you happen to be in NYC July 16th, you can visit her in person at RWA's "Literacy for Life" booksigning. Thanks Kresley!

1. You and your husband both are active in sports. Do think this has had any influence on your writing? Do find yourself trying to make the heroine equal, at least physically, to the hero in your novels?

Competitive water-skiing has definitely had an influence on my writing. If I'm trying to tackle a knotty plot problem, my husband will throw me out on the lake until my head clears. That's an incredible feeling-when something gives and you can finally "see" a new direction. I call them "clicks."

I really don't try to make the heroines physically equal to the heroes, because I like writing alpha-male, powerful heroes. But what my heroines lack in strength, they make up in intelligence. They use their wit as a weapon and they readily pull the trigger to get what they want.

2. Your name is so unique. Is Kresley a family name? Or is it a name you are using just for writing?

Kresley's my real first name, but my real last name is Scandinavian and the spelling is so foreign no one can ever pronounce it. It was a foregone conclusion that I would change it to something shorter and snappier. Kresley isn't a family name- my mom just made it up. She left my dad a note before he went to work that had four choices for girl names. He was supposed to circle one. She was hoping he circled Kresley and he did. She still has that note!

3. You are fairly new to the romance circuit. What are your impressions as a new writer out there?

Romance writers are incredibly friendly and generous! I've met so many people who have bent over backward to help this "newbie" out. There's a prevalent "pay-it-forward" outlook among romance writers that I've found very appealing.

I've also realized that writing is only part of the job description. It takes so much more than just getting black on white. Keeping up with promotion, worrying about reviews, career planning, etc., leach time and energy from the writing. Now it's a reward to spend a lazy day simply writing for an eight-hour stretch! <g>

4. Have you always wanted to be a writer?


Not at all. My dad always wanted me to be a writer, but I hated writing! I was such a perfectionist that writing became a chore. I had no idea about rough drafts. Then my mom suggested that I free-write without going back to edit, and after that exercise I was hooked.

It was my best friend, Ginny, who inadvertently made me realize I should write. She admittedly has the attention span of a gnat, so when I realized that for two decades I'd been telling her stories and holding her attention, I knew I could do ANYTHING.

5. What made you choose romance?


I chose romance because it's what I read most. I really can't even envision writing outside of this genre-to me there's no equal.

6. What is it like to see what established authors are saying about your book? From the looks of things, you are off to quite a start!

It's thrilling and I feel so overwhelmingly grateful to them for taking the time to read and comment on THE CAPTAIN. It's like I want to have a lot of kids just so I can name them after these authors. Each advance comment brings an incredible sense of validation.

7. Do you see yourself always writing historical romance or will it be, more or less, come what may?

I've actually plotted out a couple of chick lit contemporaries, and might have to follow up on them but I will always write historicals.

8. What does your husband and your family have to say about your writing?


My husband is ecstatic and brags to anyone about the book. I was there when he first told his boss the title-I was about to die but he was just beaming. I can unequivocally say that I could not have done this without him. He is always encouraging me. My Mom and Dad are very encouraging as well, though Dad wants me to write a book like his favorite writer John D. McDonald. I keep telling him not to hold his breath-there's no Travis McGee in my future.

9. Are there any particular authors who have influenced your writing?


When I first started writing THE CAPTAIN, I was fresh out of the masters program at Florida so I still had these nineteenth century adventure novels I'd been studying fresh in my head. I think they added flavor to the book.

10. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now as a writer?


I see myself still writing sexy historicals. I've plotted so many out, it'll take me ten years just to get them on paper!

11. Are you a native of Alabama? (I know you moved to Florida from there, but are you origionally from there?)


Born and raised in L.A. (lower alabama). Mobile, Alabama to be precise.

12. Your married name is Scandanavian... is your husband from there originally?


My husband was born and raised in Motala, Sweden, an idyllic little town by a huge lake.

13. Your books have been set in a time period around the 1850's. Is there another time period you would like to tackle in your books?


I really like that time period--it's still historical yet they had so many modern conveniences. I think it's the best of both worlds. But I wouldn't mind writing something with a gothic feel to it, set in the late 1700s.

Visit Kresley and learn more about her new Historical Romance releases by visiting her website: http://www.kresleycole.com