And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

Our Mystery Author this round is Brenda Janowitz.

A native New Yorker, Brenda Janowitz has had a flair for all things dramatic since she played the title role in her third grade production of Really Rosie.  When asked by her grandmother if the experience made her want to be an actress when she grew up, Brenda responded, “An actress?  No.  A writer, maybe.”

Brenda attended Cornell University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Human Service Studies, with a Concentration in Race and Discrimination.  After graduating from Cornell, she attended Hofstra Law School, where she was a member of the Law Review and won the Law Review Writing Competition. 

Upon graduation from Hofstra, she went to work for the law firm Kaye Scholer, LLP, where she was an associate in the Intellectual Property group, handling cases in the areas of trademark, anti-trust, internet, and false advertising.  Brenda later left Kaye Scholer to pursue a federal clerkship with the Honorable Marilyn Dolan Go, United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York.

Since her clerkship, Brenda has worked as a career counselor at two New York City law schools, where she published a number of articles on career related issues in publications such as the National Law Journal and the New York Law Journal.  She currently lives in Manhattan where she lectures on the publishing process and teaches creative writing at Mediabistro.

After reading her interview, be sure and visit Brenda on her website, www.brendajanowitz.com. And be sure and pick up a copy of her latest book, JACK WITH A TWIST.

1. Tell us about your law career. Why did you choose Law and what types of Law practice are/were you involved in?

I became a lawyer because I always loved to write. I figured law was the perfect way to marry my love of writing with a professional career. My career began at a big firm, where I practiced Intellectual Property law, and I later did a more generalized practice when I clerked for a federal judge.

2. Why did you begin writing? More specifically, why romance?

I’ve always been a writer—I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing. When I got invited to my ex-boyfriend’s wedding, it gave me the impetus to start my first novel, SCOT ON THE ROCKS (How I survived my ex-boyfriend's wedding with my dignity ever so slightly intact). And since I love romantic comedies, that was the natural progression of the story once I started writing!

3. Tell us about your family? Husband or Significant Other? Siblings or Only Child?

It’s so funny you ask, since I just got married on May 25th! I still have trouble remembering to call Doug my husband, rather than fiancé, though. I also have a younger brother who is married and has one child.

4. What do your family and friends think about your novels?

Well, they *tell me* that they love them! I really hope they are telling the truth!

 

5. Tell us about your books and how much of the stories are reflect your life.

It’s funny—the first novel was based on an experience I actually had: going to my ex-boyfriend’s wedding. Most people then assume that the second novel was also based in reality, since I recently planned my wedding, but the truth is, I had the novel written before even getting engaged!

6. If you could choose the actors to play the roles of the main characters in a movie version of your books, who would they be?

I love that question!!! For me, the ideal Brooke would have to be Drew Barrymore. For Jack, I love Paul Rudd, Adam Sandler, or Jack Black. For Vanessa, I’d love to see Gabrielle Union.

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

What free time?! Seriously, though, I love to spend time with friends and family. Reading takes up quite a bit of my time, as does thank you note writing. No, I’m not a socialite—it’s just that I got married in May, and I’m still drowning in a sea of thank you notes. Once I’m done with them, though, I plan to turn all of my attention to novel # 3!

8. What's next?

Most recently, I wrote an article on writing for the eharlequin website (http://www.eharlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1357&chapter=0), and I have a short story (featuring—you guessed it—Brooke Miller!) coming out on July 28th on the eharlequin website….

As for book three, I’m working on a few different things now. I have a women’s fiction novel I’m working on, as well as a Young Adult novel and a children’s fantasy book. Not sure which one will become book three, but I’m having lots of fun just playing around!