And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

Our Mystery Author this round is Lisa Jackson. Author of such romantic suspense novels as Shiver and Left to Die, she never fails to deliver. I particularly enjoy the fact that I can pick up her novels and know I am in for a hell of ride.

Lisa has taken the time to tell us more about herself and her writing. When you are done, be sure to visit her at her website. There is plenty to keep you busy there as well!

http://lisajackson.com/

Thank you, Lisa!

1. Tell us about your family. Married, children? How long, how many?

I'm single now, and I have two grown sons whom I adore.

 

2. How hard is it being a successful novelist and taking care of a family?

It was tougher when the boys were young, but now that they're grown, things are easier. No more carpools, and juggling schedules and all-nighters for a deadline.

3. What kinds of reactions do you/did you get from parents and teachers when they find out you are a novelist?

Well, as I said, my kids are grown, so it's been years ago and they were, for the most part, intrigued and supportive. We were asked to speak or teach—especially when they learned we'd done some writer-for-hire work on books for teens and young adults.

4. I loved reading your suspense novels. Especially the books set in New Orleans. How did you feel writing these in the wake of Katrina?

Thanks, I love writing them. It was difficult for me as two books had been nearly written and approved when the hurricane hit. So, I wrote the books as they stood. They went into print without addressing Katrina, and then, in the next book, which I think was LOST SOULS, I addressed the hurricane and its horrific aftermath. My characters are seen dealing with post-Katrina New Orleans.

5. Your books are complex—in character and situations. What kind of research do you do? How do you prepare to write these novels?

Okay, so I pull my hair out while plotting the novel, all done in advance. The characters evolve during the writing of the book. I do extensive research when I write the synopsis and then, once it's approved, the novel. I research as I go and I have a library of books, plus the Internet has proved invaluable as a research source.

6. I hadn't realized you've written books set in medieval times, as recently as 2007. What do you prefer—historical or contemporary writing? Why?

I like writing both, but prefer contemporary, I guess because I live in "the now". Historicals are fun, though, and I wasn't as worried about forensic science or detection of my villains with the books set in medieval times.

7. Tell us about your relationship with your sister, fellow author, Nancy Bush. I understand you've written a book with her. What was that like, as well?

Nancy and I are best friends. I started writing at her urging. We wrote our first book together; it was rejected all over New York. In the intervening years we wrote individually, though we worked with each other on projects—suggesting, editing, working out plot problems. Getting to write a book with her was tons of fun. We did the research together and laughed and cussed WICKED GAME as we created it. Our next book together is WICKED LIES and it will be out in February 2011.

8. Your suspense novels involve similar things that, unfortunately, we read about daily. Have you ever been contacted by a reader who says, "That happened to me" or "That happened in my town"? Assuming you have, what is your reaction?

I've never had a reader claim that my scenario happened in their town, but if that did happen it would certainly be weird and creepy. I have, however, read about events after I've conceived a story that are similar, and it's odd, even eerie.

9. Do you have a favorite character? One you particularly hate to let go of or was especially challenging to you?

I like the ambiguous characters, Faith Chastain in SHIVER and ABSOLUTE FEAR, for example, or Jennifer Bentz, Rick Bentz's mysterious ex-wife. However, I'm pretty partial to my detectives Bentz and Montoya in the New Orleans series—starting with HOT BLOODED, and Regan Pescoli of LEFT TO DIE and CHOSEN TO DIE.

And, oh, I never let go of a character . . . I usually bring my favorites back, even with cameo appearances in other books. For example, Nate Santana, the hero in CHOSEN TO DIE, was a character I couldn't lose when he was introduced in FATAL BURN.

10. Tell us about your current release, CHOSEN TO DIE.

CHOSEN TO DIE is the sequel to LEFT TO DIE and takes up immediately where the first book leaves off. The heroine is detective Regan Pescoli, and she's hot on the trail of a serial killer; the trouble is, the tables are quickly turned and she finds herself his victim, rather than his adversary. She, a single mother of two tough teenagers, has to rely on her wits as well as her partner, Selena Alvarez, and her lover, Nate Santana, to free her. It's a race against time, with a maniac in control. I loved writing this book!

11. And about your upcoming release, WITHOUT MERCY.

WITHOUT MERCY is a new book with a new cast of characters. It will be published at the end of March in 2010, and I can't wait!

Set in a school for wayward teens in Southern Oregon, the story takes off when one of the girls, involved with a teacher, is found out and goes missing. The school, Blue Rock Academy, has a reputation for turning troubled kids around but the institution, beneath its polished veneer, isn't what it appears. There's evil lurking in the hallways and dorms. WITHOUT MERCY is a whodunit with, I think, a cool twist. I'm finishing it now and loving the characters!

12. Last question: I just found this on your website and I'm intrigued. Tell us about being a 9 yr-old strawberry picker.

Oh, that was ages ago. Back in the early sixties, kids were allowed to work on farms, usually harvesting crops. My folks put us on a bus with all our friends and we spent the morning and early afternoons making money for school clothes by picking strawberries. Our mother always thought our lunches cost more than we made in the fields. It was a joke—but not really too far from the truth, and the friends I had way back when, I still have today.