And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

Our Mystery Author this round is Carrie Lofty. She is a newer writer to us but one who was born to be a romance novelist. Carrie has taken the time to tell us more about herself and her writing in the interview below. When you are done reading that, head over to her website for more.

http://www.carrielofty.com/

Thanks Carrie!

1. You moved from just outside of LA to rural Indiana as a child. That must have been quite a culture shock! What was your first impression?

The first big shock was snow. Our first winter in Indiana was 1983, when temperatures hit record lows and the snow piled up for months. I was also surprised when people didn't know Spanish. I'd been learning it in school in California, but wasn't on the agenda in Indiana.

2. You also mention that your best friends there were Amish girls. I'm sure they were as fascinated by you as you were of them.

Joanna, my best friend in elementary school, was Amish. I got along with her because my mom was very interested in gardening, canning, making our clothes, so our family had more in common with the Amish than many. I loved going to Joanna's farm and riding in their buggy. At that age, the religion and politics of vastly different cultures didn't bother us so much. It was just exciting to see how others lived.

3. I can't believe you were a fan of the Young Riders. I loved that show! Who was your favorite and why? It had to be Jimmy or Kid. (I was partial to Jimmy myself. LOL)

Oh! No way! That's very cool. I'm actually surprised by how many women loved that show back in the day, because my friends and I were rather alone in our fascination back then. I think I was a little too young to appreciate Jimmy--although he'd be my favorite character now. What's not to love about a quiet, dynamic, intensely loyal badboy?? But at the time I was in my early teens and very keen on The Kid. I wanted to be Lou so very much. I wrote my first full romance as fan fiction for The Young Riders, a teleplay. Although I don't have it anymore, I know it was a romance!

4. Were you really a concrete laborer? What exactly did you do and what was it like?

My dad has specialized in industrial concrete flatwork for decades, so when he and my mom started their own business in the mid-90s, I was a part of it. I did surprise some people though. On one job, my mom and I were there with my younger brother and my dad. Other men stood around eyeing my mom and I, as if to ask, "What are they doing here?" But we were dressed for work, and when the truck came, we laid down the mud along with everyone else. Shut them up! A great deal of my hard work has always been just to prove I can do it.

5. Tell us about your family.

I grew up learning that what was good for our family was good for me--an all for one attitude. So from roofing to concrete finishing, I did my part. Now my husband and I have been married for eleven years, and we behave much the same way. When my master's degree took us to Columbus, Ohio, Keven came along and worked as a temp to make ends meet. Then when it was his turn to get his MBA, we moved to Wisconsin and I stayed home with our girls. But our hard work has paid off. Juliette, who just turned six, loves telling stories. Ilsa, almost five, is made of pure sunshine. Both are named after tragic heroines, so we'll see how they turn out in life!

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

I enjoy my writing so much that my free time bleeds into work time pretty frequently. But I enjoy listening to new music, hanging out with my friends, attending meetings of Chicago North RWA, watching movies with my husband, taking the girls to swim lessons (I marvel at their progress!), and of course, reading. I also have a passion for dance, having done bellydance for years. I participated as a Latin ballroom competitor in England, and one of my goals for next year is to get back into dance regularly.

7. You list a fave place as the London Underground. Caught my interest -- tell me more!

When my husband and I were dating, he lived outside of London and I lived in Norwich, about three hours to the northeast. I had no car, so visiting him meant train and bus travel. I'd pack up all my gear for a weekend, strap on my Walkman, and head out. I loved the excitement of being on my own amongst the hustle of crazy commuters and tourists trying to get where they were going, knowing Keven was waiting for me at my destination. So there's an inherent romance attached to the Underground for me.

8. Tell us about your books. Your December release What a Scoundrel Wants. And can you tell us about Scoundrel's Kiss (due out in 2009)? Both sound very interesting...

WHAT A SCOUNDREL WANTS is the hot, exciting tale of Will Scarlet and his dangerous lady love. In Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood's estranged nephew, Will Scarlet, rescues the alchemist who can clear him of murder--but she's blind, obsessed with fire, and sister to the woman he helped kidnap. Now, to defeat the new Sheriff of Nottingham and save Meg's sister, Will needs to become a hero for the ages. It's amazing what a scoundrel will do for love... The sequel, tentatively titled SCOUNDREL'S KISS, will be released in late 2009. In it, a Spanish warrior monk falls for the woman he's sworn to protect, but she tempts him to abandon his vows of obedience, non-violence and chastity.

9. Also, you have a serialized book on your website for free, Serenade. Tell us about it and how do we get it?

SERENADE, my first manuscript, will be released as a free serial on my website beginning January 2009. Set in 1804 Salzburg, SERENADE is the story of a widowed violin prodigy and a composer who stole the symphony he's famous for. First chapters for each book are available now. Details can be found at www.carrielofty.com, where readers can also sign up for my newsgroup.