And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

Wendy Burge is a brand new name on the historical romance scene and one that will surely be around for sometime. Before becoming a writer, however, she married, had a son, divorced (and has been happily so for 20 years *G*), worked as a stockbroker and also ran her own interior design business. She never forgot her desire to become a writer, which was surely influenced by a mother who "either had her nose buried in a book of ancient cultures, or was writing of them." After reading her book, LOVE ME AGAIN, I visited Wendy's website. My first impression was: Here is a lady who is down to earth, loves her family dearly, has a sense of humor, and seems to believe in true love, destiny and fate. All of these things are reflected in her writing. Wendy took some time to answer some questions for me over the Thanksgiving holiday, and when you read her responses, I think you'll see what I mean. *G* .

1. While I was shopping the other day, I saw your book on the shelves. I was wondering at the time how that must feel for you, this being your first book, to see it there?

I still don't think it has quite sunk in yet. I work so closely on the computer, that I am more aware of it from that aspect, than it being out in the actual stores. I did walk into one Barnes and Noble with a friend and it was actually displayed on a center table, and, golly, gee-whiz, did that give me a thrill!! I think that by the time my second book comes out in Feb, and I see them side by side on a shelf , it will truly sink in that it is my book, and that yes, I am the author! For now, I still tend to stare at them in stunned disbelief.

2. At your website, I see that you've been a single mom for quite a few years. Did you wait until your son was older to begin writing romance novels? What does he think of his mom writing historical romance?

I have wanted to write historicals since I was a teen. But then life caught up with me and there simply wasn't time. I have to tell you, these women who have young children, a career, and also are a published author simply blow me away. I don't know how they do it. I finally sat down to write in the mid-'90's with the intent of trying to get published. By then my son was almost out of high school and I hardly saw him, so for the first time I had a lot of time on my hands to really get engrossed in my stories. As far as how my son thinks about his mom writing romance? Well, he is already expecting to live the high life when his old mom hits the NY Times best selling list. I told him to dream on. My daughter-in-law, Khara, read her first romance, mine, and loved it. Matt said she even got him to reading parts of it, and now he is trying his hand at writing, it being in the genes and all, you know. I asked him if I got the love scenes right from the perspective of the, uhum, man's point of view, and he said I was right on. Nice to know since it has been awhile for me getting that feedback first hand, if you know what I mean <g>.

3. Your next book, WHILE YOU SLEPT, takes place in 1882. Do you have a particular preference for the 1800's or do you plan on writing novels set in different time periods?


I will always write historical. I have no interest in stepping over and doing contemporary as so many of my favorite historical authors have done. But I do have interests in most time periods, and I have even started a medieval, so maybe one day you will see that.

4. You live in California. Are you a native of this state or were you born and raised somewhere else?


I was born in Chicago, but due to medical complications, at the age of three my parents moved us out to a dry climate, which was Phoenix. I was there till the age of 15 when we moved to northern California, then we made our way into the southern regions. I lived in San Diego for about 15 years, and now I am in the Los Angeles area, and very happy. I think I will be here for a long, long time.

Now I have a couple of questions about LOVE ME AGAIN...

1. I found Sergei to be an interesting charactor in his own right. I thought it was rather sad he didn't have his own love. Any chance of a story for him?


We will be doing his story, I even have it plotted out, but I don't know when. My editor seemed to think it will be a couple of years for his story to surface.

2. Anyone who reads LOVE ME AGAIN will understand this question. Without giving away the ending,*G*, will we ever find out how this came to be?


I have gotten oodles of email asking this same question. Yes, everything will come out in Segei's story. In fact it is so tightly linked with answering this question, that it was important that I didnít give away too much in LOVE ME AGAIN, for this reason alone. I debated a long time with myself about adding a epilogue to LOVE ME AGAIN, but at the last minute opted against it. A bit of a cliffhanger, I have to admit. Mean of me, wasn't it?

(I really hope Wendy's editor puts this story out sooner, because, frankly the curiosity is killing me! *G*)

Visit Wendy at her website: http://wendyburge.com/index.html

You can find her book, LOVE ME AGAIN, on the shelves now and her book, WHILE YOU SLEPT, is due to be released in February 2003.