And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

Our Mystery Author this round is Lauren Dane. Very busy married and raising three kids, Lauren has found time to write stories for all of us to enjoy. I think you will all want to learn more about Lauren after reading her interview with us where she shares a little about herself and her writing. When you are done, visit Lauren at her website.

http://www.laurendane.com/

Thank you, Lauren!

1. Tell us about your family.

I've been married 21 years and I have three fabulous and yet totally wild children, LOL. We live in the Northwest and love it. I actually never imagined having three kids—the sheer level of noise and chaos in my house at any given time has scared away many a soul who believed they were fearless. But now that I've got 'em all and everything is broken in my house, I can't imagine life with white carpets and cool, calm days. Not that I don't try to imagine that sometimes, LOL. I was fortunate to be raised by two people who always encouraged me to follow my dreams. They're really supportive of my writing (although I tell them to buy the books but not read them, LOL). My husband has been my chief support and cheerleader. He never complains about what the house looks like when I start or finish a book, LOL and he's always helping me plot and think about ways to promote and get my books out there. I'm very fortunate to have so many wonderful, loving and supportive people in my life.

2. You've just returned from the RT convention. How was it? Any special moments?

I love RT. I'll say that right up front. I love RT because it's a chance for me to meet readers and booksellers and really chat with them in a fun atmosphere. I see all my writer friends too, which is a big plus—like writer sleepaway camp. Each year I go, it's sort of like one of those holiday letters you get from your sister in law—you think about where you've been over the last year since you attended last. It's really wonderful for me to be able to track the growth of my career and the growth of this community I'm part of.

This year, without a doubt, the special moment was getting a RT Reviewer's Choice award for UNDERCOVER. Of course I blubbered like a fool once I got to the podium, but it meant a lot to me. At my first RT I went to the awards luncheon and I thought, wow, maybe one of these days I'll be up there! So to have been nominated in a category with other authors I admire so much like Joey Hill, it was huge for me. For it to be for my first NY single title book made it even more special. Also, looking around the table so many times and seeing my friends, many of us who've come up at around the same time and to see us all growing and becoming more successful—that we're achieving our goals and dreams—that meant a lot!

3. Many of your books were initially published in digital format. Do you think it is easier getting your work out there this way than in print? How does one do this?

I've never viewed epublishing as a 'stepping stone' to New York. I wrote the books I wanted to write and eventually, I ended up with an agent and some goals to expand my career to include NY. When I started out, I had no idea how this business worked. I wrote a book and I submitted it to EC because I'd read their books and I'd known Anya Bast online for a while and she'd helped me with some ideas on where to send it. They gave me a chance to revise (read: fix all my horrible noob mistakes) and resubmit and when I did, they bought it and my career was born.

One thing though, I have been pretty careful about where my work went and I've always worked to be sure ALL my books are the best they can be. Digital publishing has enabled me to write some wonderful books NY wouldn't have touched from a newbie. I've learned a lot because I've had great editors.

I've honed my skills and my voice and have built a base and a career. This has been priceless to me. Every writer needs to be edited. EVERYONE. For me, digital publishing is something I do in addition to NY and it will continue to be because I enjoy it and the benefits (monthly royalties, the ability to take some chances in a way that is not always easy in traditional publishing, my relationships with my readers and my editor, the shorter timelines, etc).

I certainly think it is easier to get published in digital (at some houses) than NY, but that's not always a good thing IMO. I believe authors should really weigh WHO they submit their work to. Because sure, you can get a book bought in three days by a very small or very new press looking for material, but will you be challenged to write the very best book you can that way?

Will you get exposure? It's wonderful to write, and even more wonderful to sell, but I write to be read and some epublishers just don't have the skill or the marketing to put a good product out there on a consistent basis. This is why I write for the house I feel does the best job with this. I'm fortunate to do this and I believe the right house is worth the wait and effort to get yourself into.

Many times, you might get a rejection from the two bigger or more well known houses and instead of taking that into consideration and perhaps revising, authors will go down the list over and over until someone buys the book.

Now, the key is, this is not bad in and of itself. Everyone gets rejected and some things and some voices won't be right for some houses/editors. However, I've seen more than one newbie be told the same thing about a weakness in her work and she ignores it to go to the brand new epub who'll buy her, not edit very well or at all and put the book out a month later.

Writing and editing makes you a better writer. You can't learn that in a book, you can't learn that through a workshop, it's about putting in the time and effort. So if an author thinks epubbing is a stepping stone, usually those authors are putting out books that aren't the best they can do. And it shows. I think it's a shortcut that does more harm than good if you view it that way. But most certainly, it can be part of an overall career, more than that, there are many digital authors who are successful and are just as happy staying where they are.

IMO, it's all about working hard and doing your best work and being strategic about where it goes - be that digital, traditional or a mixture.

4. What is the hardest part of writing for you? The easiest? Hardest?

It usually depends on the book, but I'm not a fan of line edits.

It's not that line editors are awful people, it's that I've got this relationship and trust with my editor, but I don't know the copy editor, they don't know me so it's about getting past that feeling of "who is this person?" Also, it's more technical than creative and it's not as fun as the actual writing. But it's part of the process and an important part so you suck it up and deal. Oh and rejection sucks too.

Easiest? I love to start a new project. At the very beginning of a book when there's nothing to really worry about. I'm not thinking about pacing or how to thread in different storylines, it's all wide open. I love finding the "flavor" of the book in that first week or so of writing. I love getting to know my characters and their backstories.

5. Most authors are avid readers as well. Who are your favorite authors?

Oh my goodness, I've always been a reader and I didn't come into romance until I was in my 30's so I read across a lot of genres. William Gibson is a favorite. He's smart and I love his voice. Richard Morgan also writes in the cyberpunk/cyber-noir genre and my husband introduced me to Altered Carbon. I was a fangirl by the end of the second page. Frank Herbert for his epic storytelling in his Dune series. Kim Harrison, Eileen Wilks, Patricia Briggs, Rachel Caine are big faves. Ann Aguirre, who I think has mad talent, is on my must read list along with my BFF Megan Hart (also with the mad talent). Anya Bast, Cindy Eden, JD Robb, Ann Stuart—romance with something unusual and not overdone. Jennifer Crusie and SEP are huge contemp romance idols of mine. Man, I can go on and on! Oh, and Margaret Atwood, a writer I've loved since I was about fifteen and who I would probably faint if I met in person.

6. Tell us about your new book, RELENTLESS.

RELENTLESS is a story of opposites. In Abbie, we have a woman without political power. In the world I built for my Federation books, the haves are Ranked. As in they are members of the ruling Families who hold the reins of political and economic power across all the Federation Universes. Everyone else is unranked and therefore able to rise only so high. So Abbie is unranked. She's also a barrister, a public defender if you will and she has spent her adult life working to bring a more representative form of governance to her home 'Verse. She's small and fiery and full of passion and conviction.

And then there's Roman. Roman Lyons isn't just Ranked, he's the head of the most powerful Ranked Family in all the 'Verses. He's charming and intelligent, his passion is there, but it's beneath the surface and when Abbie storms into his life, he's knocked off his feet, literally and figuratively. He's everything she isn't and everything she's trying to destroy. Until they meet and he realizes his preconceptions about her are wrong and she begins to realize the same. But they can't be together. Even as they begin a secret and fiery love affair, they both know it has an expiration date. He can't marry someone who isn't Ranked. The Federation is rocked by a series of treason trials in the aftermath of what happens in Undercover. He knows he has responsibilities that are larger than his own wants and needs. It is his job, his calling, to take care of his people. But he wants her and she's his in a way he is certain no other woman can ever be.

For her part, Abbie is in love with Roman and she slowly realizes just how seriously he takes his position. Not all Ranked are the same, but she still has a job to do.

I gotta tell you, writing this book was probably one of the most difficult few months I've ever experienced. I sweated to be sure the pacing was just right. That the scenes between Abbie and Roman were tender as well as urgent and sexy. I had to balance that with the world, with the politics and customs I need to create a sense of home for them and for the reader too. In the end, when I turned it in, I was proud. Proud and hoping like heck my editor would like it. Hoping my readers would.

7. If RELENTLESS were being made into a movie, who would you cast in the main roles and why?

I actually thank Daniel Craig in my acknowledgements because he was in my mind as I wrote the book. He's charming and cleans up nice, but just underneath there's a darkness too. You know he'd totally throw down if he had to. I like that juxtaposition of character, a lot. For Abbie, it's always more complicated. My heroines are much more about feelings and behaviors than looks in most cases (in my head anyway). But I think someone like Salma Hayek would be a good Abbie. Abbie is a lovely woman, but she's driven, ambitious and dedicated to the things she loves. Salma has her basic look and body type and she's a way better actor than most people give her credit for.