And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

Our Mystery Author this round is California girl, Linda Wisdom. You may already know her by the many Silhouette series books she has written as Linda Randall Wisdom. Now she has begun a new series of books, The Hex Series, under the name Linda Wisdom.

Linda tells us more about herself and her books below.

Thank you, Linda!

1. California girl, born and bred. Where in Cali did you grow up? Do you come from a big family?

I grew up in Huntington Beach. No, I'm an only child and probably why I have such a large imagination.

2. How did you get started in writing?

I've always wanted to write. I wrote stories as a kid and all through high school where I had a great journalism teacher who was willing to critique my work. My friends were also great beta readers. I began romance writing in late 1977 when I started reading romance novels and figured I could do that too.

3. Your first book was published in 1980. What do you feel is the biggest difference between the books being written then and now?

We're taking a lot more chances now, there's no strict guidelines except with certain books, and there's way more character development and definitely more intricate plots.

4. How about the differences between the books you wrote to begin and those you are writing now?

Way different! My characters have evolved right along with me and so have my storylines. Back then, I had to follow the guidelines although many times I strayed outside them. Sometimes what I tried stayed in, sometimes they were edited out. But it didn't stop me from still trying. I have a lot more layers to my books now.

5. Your new books are part of the Hex Series. Can you tell us about them?

The series is about a coven of 700-year-old witches who were banished from the Witches Academy in 1313 because one of them cast an illegal spell and they all banded together, not giving up the guilty party. They were told as long as they behaved they would return to the academy in 100 years. And now 700 years later they're still in the mortal world. Jazz is the first witch I wrote about and she had two books simply because the second book came to mind and continues with the other witches. They all have different personalities, different gifts and definitely different adventures.

6. I saw that you are a big fan of movies and books. What are some of your favorites?

Many many favorite movies - Star Wars, Indiana Jones (I'm also a big Harrison Ford fan), Emma, Dresden Files - both books and too short TV series --, Special Unit 2 - another TV series that had a great variety of creatures, Pirates of the Caribbean, I Married A Witch, I love Yasmine Galenorn's Sister of the Moon series, Annette Blair's witchy series, Michelle Bardsley's Dead End Dating series,and Kimberly Raye's Vampire mom series, just to name a few.

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

LOL! I don't seem to have too much of that. I love to people watch and we don't live far from the San Diego Wild Animal Park and I enjoy walking through there or down to Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. And naturally, see some movies.

8. Any advice for new/hope to be writers?

Keep on honing your craft, have faith in your work and as my editor once told me "sometimes you have to throw out your favorite line." And I have had to do that!