And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

Author of the Tea Shop Mystery series and Scrapbook Mystery series.

Our Mystery Author this round is LAURA CHIILDS. She is the creator of both the TeaShop and Scrapbook mystery series. Below, Laura gives us a little insight to herself, her books and what she is up to now.

To learn more about her books and such, visit her at http://laurachilds.com/.

1.You were the CEO/Owner of a marketing firm and now you’re writing novels? How did you manage this transition?

I wrote constantly in my 25-year career in advertising. First as a writer/producer, then as creative director and CEO of my own firm, Mission Critical Marketing. But about six years ago I decided to switch careers and segue into mystery writing. A dear friend introduced me to Mary Higgins Clark, who invited me to attend a Mystery Writers of America symposium in New York. There, thanks to Mary’s help, I networked with dozens of agents, editors, and publishers. Within 5 months I was lucky enough to nail down a 3-book contract for the Tea Shop Mystery series!

2. Why Tea Shops and Scrapbooks for your mysteries?

A couple reasons. First, they’re both tremendously “hot” subjects right now. Tea shops are springing up like mushrooms and scrapbooking is the #1 craft in America. So I used my marketing know-how to figure out what subjects might touch a chord with today’s readers. Second, I think a lot of women are tired of thriller-killer-slasher-type books. They simply don’t want them on their nighttime reading table. They’re looking for a respite—a story and subject they can enjoy and identify with. My mysteries offer female characters that are smart, savvy, and caring, highly popular subject matter, and feature sort of “bloodless murders” where the bad guy (or girl) is brought to justice in the end.

3. You often interject comedic elements. How does this add to the story?

I grew up watching The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Remember the lady who clubbed her husband with a leg of lamb and then cooked the murder weapon? For every serious moment in my story lines, I try to add a quirky counterpoint that helps balance things out and remind readers that most things in life are laughable.

4. In writing your novels, how are you characters created? Does the inspiration for them come from real life?

As strange as it may sound, characters just seem to pop into my head. People always ask if I do index cards or plan intricate bios. I can’t imagine doing anything that studied. To me writing is about intuition and gut instinct—you’ve got to sit back and let the characters speak to you (even the ones inspired by real life) My characters always seem to be buzzing around inside my head like people in a crowded elevator. My job is to pry open the doors so they can elbow their way out.

5. You are a bit of a traveler. You’ve been to both China and Japan with your husband. What took you there?

My husband is a professor of Chinese and Japanese art history, so we take quite a few trips to Asia and Indonesia. We enjoy visiting temples and museums, collecting art, eating the local cuisine, and, yes, drinking the various teas!

6. Gotta ask—are you a true tea drinker or is it Starbucks that keeps you going when you are writing?

I’m pretty much a tea purist. I enjoy tea brewed from tea leaves, never teabags. And never Starbucks—just good old Diet Coke when I’ve got a crunch deadline. That stuff gives me heckuva kick.

7. What do you like to do when you’re not writing? With the recipes you include in the book, I’m thinking cooking might be a hobby.

I’m not much of a cook, but I love dining out and we take frequent trips to New York, New Orleans, San Francisco, Carmel, Las Vegas, and Santa Fe to dine at favorite restaurants. (I’m a sucker for any chef’s tasting menu or chef’s table.)

8. Tell us about your books—DRAGONDWELL DEAD is your recent Tea Shop Mystery and FRILL KILL will be released this October.

DRAGONWELL DEAD is the 8th Tea Shop Mystery and I think this series is just getting better and better. Rather than just writing a pure “cozy” with its typical leisurely plot, I’ve stepped up the pace. Raised the stakes, added lots of action. Of course, I still try to retain the charm of the Charleston locale, teashop setting, and all the tea lore that readers seem to enjoy.

FRILL KILL is the 5th book in the Scrapbook series. A little edgier, but the setting is New Orleans, which is a very edgy city. My main characters, Carmela and Ava, are a scream—running their shops, forever on the lookout for discount designer clothes, always getting tangled up in a murder mystery.

9. What’s next? Any work in progress?

Always work in progress. I just finished DEATH SWATCH, the 6th Scrapbook Mystery, am writing OOLONG DEAD, the 10th Tea Shop Mystery (the 9th one SILVER NEEDLE MURDER comes out February 2008) and I’m working on a third series called The Cackleberry Club Mysteries. First book in that series is titled EGGS IN PURGATORY.

10. Got any “writing words of wisdom?”

My writing philosophy is a lot like Nike. Just do it. Sit down, sip a little tea or Diet Coke, develop a story outline/time line, then just keep chipping away at the writing. You don’t need personal assistants, incense, feng shui, or anything remotely tricky. If you log quality time you’ll start to produce quality work!