And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

Our Mystery Author this round is Mary Burton. This native Virginian worked in sales and marketing before becoming a novelist. Once she started writing, it wasn't long before she sold her first novel. Mary began writing historical romance but has since become well known for her suspense novels.

After reading the interview below, please visit Mary at her website to learn more about her and her writing.

http://maryburton.com/

Thanks, Mary!

1. Tell us about your family. Are you married? Children?

I am married and I have two teenaged children, two dachshunds and a cat.

2. You live in Virginia. I've been to your state several times and it is just beautiful. What are your favorite parts? Where would you recommend visitors to go?

Virginia really does have it all. I went to college in the western part of the state where we’ve lovely mountains and rolling hills. I’ve lived in northern Virginia (outside of Washington, D.C.), which offered great museums and lots of shopping. And I love to visit the Virginia Beach boardwalk—there is no better getaway than a few days at the beach. But my favorite place has to be my hometown of Richmond. We’ve got the river, the history, shopping, and we are two hours from DC, the mountains and the beach. If you were to come to Richmond, I’d take you to some of my favorite places to visit: Carytown, the Virginia Museum, Hollywood Cemetery and Brown’s Island.

3. I also see you participate in the 'occasional triathlon'. Wow, that's a pretty big deal. How often? When was the last time you participated? Best time? And what kind of training do you do for a race?

It’s been a couple of years since I did a triathlon. Triathlon racing was a family affair for the Burtons for a few years. My husband placed in several races and both my children each won their age groups at several different races. I however never came close to winning a race. All in all I did 2 full triathlons and 3 as relays (I would swim and bike and a friend would finish the run). Best time? That makes me smile. My last race was in 2006 and there were 400 racers. I came in 399. I beat a 72-year-old man from Maryland. I was never fast but I never quit a race. Though I’m more into yoga now (I’m determined to conquer handstands this year) I still love the triathlon folks I’ve met along the way. They have such a can-do attitude that I really find inspiring.

4. It's been quite a winter already for those of us on the east coast. How's it been where you are? How do get ready for an impending storm? Are you an egg milk and bread stocker?

So far this winter hasn’t been nearly as bad as last year. The big storm in December '09 brought down several of our trees onto the driveway. We were stuck for days. Not fun. We’ve had one snowstorm this year but I’ve got my fingers crossed that that will be it. I admit I love the warm weather. And yes, I do rush to the store to stock up if bad weather is coming. Somehow the bad weather is not so bad if I’ve got fresh bread rising or cookies baking.

5. When did you decide to become an author?

I think it was about 20 years ago. I was in a bookstore and looked at the shelves stocked full of books and thought, ‘I can do this.’ It took another 5 years before I really got serious about writing and another 5 years after that before my first sale. I started really writing when my kids were babies. I’d given up the day job and committed myself to the kids and to writing. Each day, I’d put the kids down for a nap, rush to my computer and type as fast as I could until they woke up a couple of hours later. It was hectic and sometimes frustrating time but I kept at it. Shortly after my youngest entered kindergarten, I sold my first book.

6. What made you choose the romance genre? Also, you began writing historicals and have since changed to suspense. Why the switch? Do you ever miss writing historicals?

I grew up reading romance novels. It was a genre that was near and dear to my heart so it made sense to start there. I loved writing the historical westerns but after nine novels and three novellas I was ready to try something new. For a time I wrote historicals and Silhouette Intimate Moments and I enjoyed that. But I kept thinking in terms of longer stories. I sold my first single title suspense in 2006. I still have romance in the stories but I love the suspense. Maybe it’s because I love a good puzzle.

7. Tell us about your newest releases, SENSELESS and MERCILESS.

Both are set in Alexandria, Virginia (which was my home in the late 1980s). The stories follow homicide detectives Deacon Garrison and Malcolm Kier (who we first met in I’M WATCHING YOU.) SENSELESS pairs Deacon with heroine Eva Rayburn, an ex-con with lots of secrets. MERCILESS joins Malcolm and Eva’s sister, Angie Carlson. Both books feature really scary villains that are sure to keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.

8. What can we expect next?

In SENSELESS and MERCILESS readers meet Charlotte Wellington (she also appeared in ‘Christmas Past’ in 2008’s anthology collection SILVER BELLS. The next book (yet to be titled) is her story. And as we speak, I am plotting a new romantic suspense that I can’t wait to write.

Mary Burton photo courtesty http://maryburton.com/