And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

Our Mystery Author this round is Elizabeth Thornton. Born and raised in Scotland, she moved to Canada with her husband and family where she eventually began writing.

She began with BLUESTOCKING BRIDE in 1987. Since then, Elizabeth has written twenty-four historicals and two novellas. Her lastest novel is THE SCOT AND I. It is the second of her new series, The Seers of Grampian.

Below, Elizabeth tells us more about herself and her writing. When you finish getting acquainted here, visit her at her website.

http://www.elizabeththornton.com/

Thank you, Elizabeth!

1. Tell us about your family. I know you have three sons. What is their reaction to their mom being a romance novelist?

Very supportive. They come out to my signings and book launches. Mind you, they still make fun of some of the language. The one that makes them howl with laughter is the phrase “throbbing vortex of emotions” that they insist I used in one of my early books. I didn’t—but that doesn’t worry them! I’m sure you can imagine what kind of scene the words are supposed to describe.

2. One thing that caught my eye at your website is the fact that you were a lay minister at a Presbyterian Church. Are you still? Does it have an impact on your writing?

I’m no longer a lay minister in my church. I gave that up to become a full time writer. The members of my congregation have always been very supportive. Many of them still come out to book launches. Mind you, when they heard that my first book was being published, I think they expected a book of sermons. Oh well, they soon got over that!! I still try to remain active in the church and am on the Session (board of managers).

Every writer’s philosophy or world view is inevitably reflected in his or her writing. I think mine is exemplified in the fiction of Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings, Lewis’s Narnia series, and even in Rowling’s Harry Potter stories.

3. Tell us about the nursery school you began in Scotland, before coming to Canada. I understand it is still a thriving establishment. Are you still actively a part of it?

I started the St. Swithin Street Nursery School two years before we came to Canada. The person who bought the house when we left kept the nursery going. Over the years it has changed hands but has continued and grown to become the St. Swithin Pre-School and Nursery (http://www.stswithinnursery.co.uk/). I’m no longer part of it but am very proud to have been its founder and to see it growing from strength to strength.

4. You've been writing many years and have published as many books. I have a few questions about that. First, over the years, how has the industry changed, in your opinion? In what ways has it become easier and/or harder to be a romance novelist?

This is a huge question. The simple answer is “Yes, the industry has changed.” It is getting harder for mid-list authors to survive. Distribution of books is spotty. Many wholesalers have gone under. Authors are taking smaller advances and getting smaller print runs

I think it is much more difficult for new writers to become established, to even get a foot in the door. But, as I’m sure you are aware, writers are a determined lot and the constant appearance of new writers and new books on the market bears witness to their determination to get published.

5. How has your own writing changed or evolved?

My writing has evolved, definitely. I find the language the hardest. I love the Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer style of English and feel most comfortable when writing in that style. It’s basically what I grew up with and was taught at school in Scotland. My editors at Bantam and now at Berkley, however, want a more modern style of writing and vocabulary. This doesn’t always sit well with readers, however, for some find it grating to hear historical characters use modern expressions while others are lost when you use historically correct expressions. There are trade-offs in whatever you do.

6. Of the books you have written, do you have a favorite? Or, perhaps, one that is more special to you than the others?

Oh dear, there are several. One of my all time favorites is SCARLET ANGEL, published by Zebra. I am particularly fond of the characters, Gabrielle and Cam. The story idea came to me when I visited Cornwall and saw St. Michael’s Mount which plays such an important role in the story. In my mind, I “saw” a young woman escape the castle by climbing down the rock face and running across the sands, trying desperately to beat the incoming tide. And I saw a man race to rescue her. From that was born the story of SCARLET ANGEL. You can visit St. Michael’s Mount at http://www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk/Home-Page.aspx.

7. This is a question I've always wondered about when I think of an author who has written many books over many years. Have you ever wanted to go back to one of your earliest books and re-write it today ?

Rewrite an early book? Never! I am far too involved in the current work in progress, too involved in the characters’ lives, and too immersed in the plot to return to earlier works.

8. Unless I've missed it, you write only historical novels. What attracts you to them rather than contemporaries?

I adore history. Always have. In some ways, I feel very much part of the lives of women in Regency and Victorian England and like to imagine life for someone like me in those times with my 21st century sensibilities. But—and it’s big “but”—I wouldn’t really like to live back then. I am really tied to my 21st century conveniences and comforts and my role in society!

9. Have you ever thought about writing a contemp?

Yes, I have but that’s as far as I’ve gone—thinking about it! I would have to learn a new language—new slang, etc. I’d far rather do a fantasy!

10. Tell us about your new series, The Seers of Grampian and it's second book, THE SCOT AND I.

The Seers of Grampian series is set in the late Victorian era, a new time period for me. Queen Victoria, now a widow, has been on the throne for 48 years. Women are demanding equal opportunity with men in the universities and the professions. Female explorers undertake their own expeditions to places like Egypt and Greece. People are now able to travel from one end of Britain to the other in trains. Telephones and telegraph lines connect most major cities and towns.

The Seers are three grandsons of a famous witch, Lady Valeria, each of whom, on her death, inherited some aspect of their grandmother's psychic powers.

James, the hero and seer of the first book in the series, THE RUNAWAY MCBRIDE, can sense danger, especially in the life of a young woman, Faith McBride, whom he is somehow fated to protect.

Alex, the hero of the second book in the series, THE SCOT AND I, can “read” people through objects he touches and in particular, a young woman, Mahri Scot, whom he is pursuing in order to bring her to justice (so he thinks!).

Gavin, the hero of the third book in the series (the one I’m still writing), can put thoughts into people’s minds—in particular the mind of a young woman, Kate Cameron, whose life is in mortal danger and whom he has vowed to protect.

As the three grandsons use their psychic powers, however, their abilities develop and they become much more powerful.

The second book in the series, THE SCOT AND I (Berkley, June 2009) takes place in the rugged hills and peaks of the Scottish Highlands, in the Dee Valley. That's where Queen Victoria's favorite residence, Balmoral Castle, is situated, and where the present queen, Elizabeth, spends every summer.

The third book in the series (working title ROMANCING MISS CAMERON—sorry no publishing date yet) takes place in Deeside and in the city of Aberdeen.

11. I wanted to mention the photographs you have at the website. I love the idea of having the visual aids to help along my imagination when reading. Will you be adding more?

Yes, definitely. They have been very popular. I will be adding new photographs of Aberdeen and Deeside to illustrate this third book.