Everything you wanted to know about Nancy Rue!

How I Got Started: I was inspired by the books I read as a kid, especially by stories for and about girls like me. I read whatever I could get my hands on, but I TOTALLY loved anything with Nancy Drew – I wanted to be her. I looked and I looked, but the closest I could come was with a guy named Rue (haha, just kidding!). People always confuse me with her though, which I love. I mean, c’mon, she was a girl detective in a cute little blue sports car – who wouldn’t love the confusion?

Where I went to school: I attended Stetson University in Florida and graduated with a degree in English, but I didn’t stop there. I earned a master’s degree in education at the College of William and Mary, and even earned a degree in theater eleven years later at the University of Nevada, Reno. I guess I just totally love school.

Why I was an English major: Even though I always wanted to write, I was really discouraged by high school teachers who only wanted to talk about rules (grammar and all that) and not, hello, how to actually write a story. So, I majored in English to become the best English teacher I never had.

What I did before I was a writer: Well, I’ve never really stopped writing, but I did do other things – namely, teach – for almost 15 years before I started writing full time. I was an English and theatre teacher, but not only did I wake up at 4:00 am almost every morning to write on my own, but I did each assignment I gave to my students. If they had to do the work, so did I! It actually gave me confidence in my own skills. Writing steadily in my classroom gave me the courage to pursue my dream.

When I started writing: My first real novel was The Mystery of Eleanor Village, which I wrote when I was ten years old and even showed to my parents. Although it got mixed reviews (as in, “it moved a little fast”), I never stopped writing, even though I had a long (long) way to go before I got to where I am today. (And I’m still working on it.)

When I started writing for real: I first tried writing full-time in 1980, but I soon had to go back to work because a person could starve on what I was making. Being a writer is not a glamour gig. Once I broke into the publishing world, it took several years of writing before and after work before I could really jump head-first into it, but in 1995 I officially began freelance writing full-time. And even that was a little scary!

What I do when I’m not writing: I spend my down-time relaxing on our bright yellow boat (I live on a lake!), riding on the back of my husband’s Harley, playing with Sully and Captain, my two wonderful Lab puppies, hanging out with the people I love, and eating chocolate (lots of chocolate; seriously -- lots).

What I read: The Bible every day, mysteries and biographies, and the same magazines you read!