And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

Eden Robins never planned on being a writer. Instead she went to college overseas, met her husband and began a business with him after graduating. Although the business was growing, along with her family, she still felt a lack of fulfillment with what she was doing. Her life took a turn when she lost a family member. "One night, I sat down in front of the computer and started writing a tale that sprang out of a family tragedy I had so recently experienced." As a result, the she discovered that writing was what she needed and wanted to do. In addition to her husband and 3 children, Eden's family includes "two distinguished elderly cats, a rambunctious sheepdog, and a spoiled Chinese Pug who rules over everyone." How she managed to find the time to answer my questions, while writing and running such a busy household, I'll never know! But she did and here they are. *G*

1. How long have you been married? What does your hubby think about having a romance novelist for a wife?

I've been married for fifteen years. My husband doesn't quite understand why I like to write or how I do it, but he's very supportive. Though he doesn't usually read my whole book until it's published, he'll read parts of it at my request and give honest feedback. For instance, he read the beginning of my current work in progress. It's a chase scene. After reading it, he asked me why my character had parked so far away because it seemed "stupid" in the context of the scene. Blunt, but true! I took his advice, made some changes, and am much happier with it.

2. Your 3 children - boys? girls? What are their ages? Do they know what Mom does and what do they think?

My children are 6, 8, and 10 years old. They know that I write romances. I share my news when I get an award, contract offers, have an article published, a new book comes out, etc. They get excited right along with me! Of course, they know they're not allowed to read my books. But they're hopeful I'll write a book that they can read one day. My oldest son has already written several short stories (scary Goosebumps type). Initially we wrote them together, with him telling me what to write and drawing the pictures, but now he writes and illustrates them himself! Maybe he has the "writing bug" too!

3. What kind of business did you have with your husband.

My husband I have a wholesale bakery. We supply high end baked, unbaked, and frozen products to various hotels, restaurants, and resorts around the country. My husband is still running that business, and it's growing like crazy! I'm so happy for him, because I know that what he's doing is his "heart's dream", just as writing is my "heart's dream".

4. Your books all have time travel in common. Is there a particular reason you write about time travel? Do you ever think you will write a different type of romance - historical, contemps, etc?


The concept of time travel fascinates me. The different scenarios that can be presented are almost endless. The opportunity to create complex characters and new worlds inspired from my own imagination is irresistible. I first started thinking about time travel when my grandfather passed away. There were words I wished I had spoken to him, and actions I wished I had taken. I thought about how only time could give me those opportunities back, and how I had no control of that. But what if I did? What if I could go to the past and change it to positively affect the present and the future? That became the premise of my first book, Never Until Tomorrow.

My current release, YESTERDAY'S PROMISE, published through Wings ePress, Inc., is really a different type of romance. It's more of a paranormal romantic suspense with historical flashbacks. I explored the topics of ghosts, reincarnation, and soul mates. And I got to delve into the fascinating history of the "Oldest City", St. Augustine, Florida. It was a definite departure for me, and I loved it!

I returned to time travel to write ALL OUR TOMORROWS, which is due for release this fall through New Concepts Publishing, and it was a blast! There was a scene in NEVER UNTIL TOMORROW where Arin and Talia were performing the Rov Hum. It's an intense courting ceremony. I had such an overwhelming response from readers about this scene that I knew my next book had to explain the seductive dance as well as the primitive people who created it. Thus, environmental researcher, Dr. Helen Mathews and Tanvieran warrior prince from the future, Jo Sha Ta Rem were born!

My current work in progress is more of a contemporary paranormal. I'm enjoying the twisting and turning roller coaster ride it's taking me on! I'm not saying too much about it at this point (shhhh), but I do plan on having some fun reader events associated with its release!

I'll revisit time travel when I finish the last in my three book Tomorrow series, tentatively entitled WHATEVER TOMORROW BRINGS. Readers have been asking me to tell Tristan Zax's story, and this book belongs to him! You'll learn a lot more about him in ALL OUR TOMORROWS, but he'll finally meet his match in WHATEVER TOMORROW BRINGS.

5. What part of writing do you find the hardest? The easiest?


The hardest part of writing, for me, is the time factor. I set definite writing goals for myself, but with a family sometimes it gets difficult. I've had to accept that if I can't meet my goal on a particular day, it's okay. I don't beat myself up over it. That was a hard lesson to learn. Managing time to write has been the most difficult challenge thus far.

The easiest part has been creating plots and settings. The stories just keep popping into my head. I have about four spiral notebooks containing story ideas and settings, besides the ones I've mentioned above. And they keep coming! Do I have an overactive imagination? Definitely!

6. Some authors model their characters after famous people. Do you find that you do the same?

In the sense that I model the way a character may look based on physical features of some famous people? Yes, sometimes. Do I model my character's behavior and emotional development on celebrities? Not really.

Developing a character's emotions and motivation, in my opinion, is a very personal process. So, while I might take some admirable traits I find in famous people, I think the actual character development is more involved and particular to the story. I interview my main characters before writing about them. I learned this characterization technique from fellow author, and friend, Laurie Schnebly Campbell. It really helps me dig into who my hero and heroine are. And, as you can imagine, the process also makes me look inward for answers to questions like, who do I want this character to be? What is important to her? Why is that important to him?

7. When you're not writing, what do you do?

As I mentioned earlier, I have a family. Family time is very important to me, so when I take off my writer's hat, my wife and mom hat goes right on! I enjoy playing with my children and keeping the contact between us open and real, as they get older. When my husband and I aren't cooking together (we both enjoy tinkering in the kitchen), we like being couch potatoes and watching videos and DVD's.

I also love to read, garden, travel, and go antique hunting (or "junk collecting" as my husband calls it). And when I have a little bit of extra time, which isn't often, I like to crochet. I'm very slow at it. I've been working on the same blanket for the past seven years. One day I'll finish it (sigh).

8. Who are some of your favorite authors?


Some of my favorite authors are, in no particular order: Dara Joy, Christine Feehan, Sherrilynn Kenyon, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Karen Marie Moning, Connie Flynn, Stephen King, Catherine Spangler, Laurell K. Hamilton, Jayne Ann Krentz, and Sandra Hill. When any of these great authors come out with a new book, it's an automatic buy for me.

Thank you, Eden! Visit Eden at her website: www.edenwrites.com

She also loves to hear from readers, so feel free to email her at: edenmichelle2001@yahoo.com