Ask the Author: Carrie Cross
Answered Questions (14)
Carrie Cross
I'm so sorry for the delayed reply, Ramona! I just saw your question and I hope you are still interested in my answer. While Skylar matures, and adds to her detective kit (and skills) throughout the series, each book is a stand-alone and they don't have to be read in order. That said, as the series progresses, Skylar learns from her prior cases, grows as a person, and becomes more tech-savvy. Also, her love interests change as the series progresses, so it makes sense to read them in order. The fantasy novella, Gwendolyn's Revenge, is a mini-sequel to the Mystery of Shadow Hills, so it should be read after Shadow Hills for it to make the most sense.
Carrie Cross
Hi James,
Thank you for asking, and good question! Puzzles are not really a personal interest of mine, but problem-solving is, and mysteries have always intrigued me. I wanted to put my heroine, Skylar Robbins, in challenging situations where she'd have to use her brain to decipher a series of clues--or puzzles--in order to solve a mystery. Creating the clues and obstacles is a really fun and challenging part of the writing process for me. Sometimes I'll try to imagine the most difficult-to-figure out clue possible, and occasionally stump myself! But Skylar is usually able to figure everything out, sometimes with the help of her friends and secret agents.
Thank you for asking, and good question! Puzzles are not really a personal interest of mine, but problem-solving is, and mysteries have always intrigued me. I wanted to put my heroine, Skylar Robbins, in challenging situations where she'd have to use her brain to decipher a series of clues--or puzzles--in order to solve a mystery. Creating the clues and obstacles is a really fun and challenging part of the writing process for me. Sometimes I'll try to imagine the most difficult-to-figure out clue possible, and occasionally stump myself! But Skylar is usually able to figure everything out, sometimes with the help of her friends and secret agents.
Carrie Cross
The Center of Winter by Marya Hornbacher. I loved Wasted and Madness and am looking forward to exploring this excellent author's fiction.
Carrie Cross
Good question! This one took some pondering, but I think I have an answer. One night when I was in my twenties, some friends took me to a club called the Magic Castle for my birthday. While I was giggling in amazement at a magician, a business card was thrust into my face. "You look like you are having so much fun!" she said. "Call me in the morning." It was a modeling agent.
After spending hundreds of dollars on a composite, how-to-audition-for commercials classes, etc, she sent me out on a few "go-sees" and I auditioned for a couple of commercials. I never landed one, and, "mysteriously," did not hear from her again. I realized later that the whole thing had been a con job. She was probably getting kickbacks from the photographer, printer, commercial classes, etc.
This chain of events actually became the idea for my first novel, The Parent Company, about the crooked underbelly of the entertainment industry. That manuscript was never published. On the bright side, it gave me a lot of experiences and that I used when Skylar (spoiler alert) found the hidden jewels and was filmed by the news media, and others I plan to work into a future Skylar Robbins novel.
Thanks for asking and Happy Reading!
After spending hundreds of dollars on a composite, how-to-audition-for commercials classes, etc, she sent me out on a few "go-sees" and I auditioned for a couple of commercials. I never landed one, and, "mysteriously," did not hear from her again. I realized later that the whole thing had been a con job. She was probably getting kickbacks from the photographer, printer, commercial classes, etc.
This chain of events actually became the idea for my first novel, The Parent Company, about the crooked underbelly of the entertainment industry. That manuscript was never published. On the bright side, it gave me a lot of experiences and that I used when Skylar (spoiler alert) found the hidden jewels and was filmed by the news media, and others I plan to work into a future Skylar Robbins novel.
Thanks for asking and Happy Reading!
Carrie Cross
It's not in too many bookstores; however, it is available through Amazon in paperback as well as on Kindle. Autographed copies are also available through my website: www.carriecross.com. Just send me a message if you're interested or p.m. me your email address at www.facebook.com/skylarrobbinsmysteries. Thanks for your interest!
~ Carrie
~ Carrie
Carrie Cross
I used to play around with a magnifying glass when I was a kid, and wished I had the money for a whole set of nice tools. I think lots of kids like to look for clues, and as Skylar's mysteries continue, she earns money to buy more and more intricate spy gear. In Mystery of the Hidden Jewels she adds a soundtrap, which is a directional microphone and headphones, perfect for eavesdropping. By the Curse of Koma Island she'll have "Invisipowder" to rub on her hands and face; add dark clothes to become invisible. :)
Carrie Cross
Hi Casey!
I wrote this book with an age group of 9 to 13 in mind, although I have had nice reviews from people up to 60 years old who said they enjoyed it. I still like to read middle grade and young adult novels myself, so I think a good book can be enjoyed by people at any age.
I hope you like the book and look forward to your review! See you in Waterford when I come to the library to sign and do a reading.
Best wishes,
Carrie Cross
I wrote this book with an age group of 9 to 13 in mind, although I have had nice reviews from people up to 60 years old who said they enjoyed it. I still like to read middle grade and young adult novels myself, so I think a good book can be enjoyed by people at any age.
I hope you like the book and look forward to your review! See you in Waterford when I come to the library to sign and do a reading.
Best wishes,
Carrie Cross
Carrie Cross
When I was a kid, I loved anything mysterious and was always hunting for clues. All I had was an old magnifying glass, and wished I had the money for a whole bunch of spy tools. So when I wrote my first Skylar Robbins mystery, (Shadow Hills) I gave her a detective kit full of goodies that she saved up the money to pay for, and some that were had-me-downs from her Grandfather. By the second book (Mystery of the Hidden Jewels, November 2014)she's added a Soundtrap to her kit, which is a directional microphone and set of headphones, perfect for eavesdropping. By book 4, The Curse of Koma Island, she'll be armed with Invisipowder, enabling her to become invisible. Perfect for spying on boys or catching criminals on a dangerous island!
Carrie Cross
The biggest thrill I've gotten is when groups of kids formed their own detective agencies after reading Skylar Robbins: The Mystery of Shadow Hills. Skylar is like a modern day Nancy Drew, and when I see pictures of kids on the internet using a magnifying glass to look for clues, that's a real confirmation that my book had an impact on their lives. You can see pictures of some of these kids on my website: www.carrie-cross.com. Thanks for your question!
Carrie Cross
Enjoy the writing process and revise, revise, revise. Get as many people as possible to read your manuscript and give you constructive criticism. Don’t just rely on family and friends for feedback. They love you and will tell you your book is great, even if it isn’t. Find beta readers in your target age group who you don’t know personally. For instance, I asked my account base at work if they had children who would be willing to read my book before publication, and emailed the manuscript to those kids. Finally, don’t let rejections from agents deter you from getting published. Self-publish if you don’t get a contract; you’re going to do most of your own marketing anyway. Calvin Coolidge said it best: Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent!
Carrie Cross
I’m currently in the final editing phase of Skylar Robbins: The Mystery of the Hidden Jewels, which Teen Mystery Press will publish in November. I have a rough draft of a third book, The Mystery of the Missing Heiress, and an outline of a fourth, The Curse of Koma Island.
Carrie Cross
I enjoy writing anywhere that has a beautiful view. When I write at my dining room table and look up from my computer I can see through trees, across a mountainside, and over a canyon. At night I can see distant neighbors’ nights twinkling against the hills. I love to write in bed when it’s raining—the harder the better! Throw in some loud thunder and crashing lightning and I’m ecstatic.
My favorite place to write is at the beach in a lawn chair with a pad and pen, or on the patio of a tiny condo we have in San Jose Del Cabo. Looking at and listening to the ocean is so inspirational to me.
I was listening to waves crash when I wrote the following scene from The Mystery of Shadow Hills. Skylar’s friend Kat challenges her to search three caves at midnight for magic seeds she promises will grow into gems.
“Sky,” Kat cried suddenly, pointing across the black sand. “Look. There they are.” I was more concerned about the rising tide, and looked out over the dark rumbling ocean. White spray flew up in the air as another huge wave crashed nearby. So loud it sounded like a refriger¬ator fell off a tall building and landed right next to us. I hurried after Kat as the water rushed forward. “This is it. Three caves.” Moonlight cast shadows behind the boul¬ders that guarded the entrance. We darted around them and climbed under the rock arch.
The dark cave stunk of washed-up kelp, dank and rot¬ten. I shuffled forward on the damp sand with my hands out in front of me like a sleepwalker, hoping I wouldn’t stumble over a rock or bash into a wall. I pulled out my flashlight and turned it on. As soon as its beam lit up the cave, heavy flies woke up, buzzing around the seaweed and bonking into my face. I ducked, swatting them away. Kat hurried past me and rushed toward the back of the cave, peering at the ground. Suddenly she cried, “Sky—here they are. I found the gem seeds!” Hidden between the boulders, disguised as wet pebbles, shining gem seeds winked up at us.
My favorite place to write is at the beach in a lawn chair with a pad and pen, or on the patio of a tiny condo we have in San Jose Del Cabo. Looking at and listening to the ocean is so inspirational to me.
I was listening to waves crash when I wrote the following scene from The Mystery of Shadow Hills. Skylar’s friend Kat challenges her to search three caves at midnight for magic seeds she promises will grow into gems.
“Sky,” Kat cried suddenly, pointing across the black sand. “Look. There they are.” I was more concerned about the rising tide, and looked out over the dark rumbling ocean. White spray flew up in the air as another huge wave crashed nearby. So loud it sounded like a refriger¬ator fell off a tall building and landed right next to us. I hurried after Kat as the water rushed forward. “This is it. Three caves.” Moonlight cast shadows behind the boul¬ders that guarded the entrance. We darted around them and climbed under the rock arch.
The dark cave stunk of washed-up kelp, dank and rot¬ten. I shuffled forward on the damp sand with my hands out in front of me like a sleepwalker, hoping I wouldn’t stumble over a rock or bash into a wall. I pulled out my flashlight and turned it on. As soon as its beam lit up the cave, heavy flies woke up, buzzing around the seaweed and bonking into my face. I ducked, swatting them away. Kat hurried past me and rushed toward the back of the cave, peering at the ground. Suddenly she cried, “Sky—here they are. I found the gem seeds!” Hidden between the boulders, disguised as wet pebbles, shining gem seeds winked up at us.
Carrie Cross
When I was six years old, my parents decided we needed to buy a bigger house. We looked at a creepy two-story in Santa Monica Canyon, and I played hide-and-seek with the little girl who lived there. There were closets and secret hiding places with doors that opened into other rooms. Later I wondered, “What if there was a clue hidden in one of those closets?” I never forgot that house, and it inspired me to write a mystery series featuring a quirky teen detective. That sleuth is Skylar Robbins, and that book is The Mystery of the Hidden Jewels.
Carrie Cross
I use a game I call, “What if?” for inspiration. What if I explored that creepy old house and found it had a hidden floor? What would I find when I got there? What if I used an ultraviolet light in the attic and found a secret message written on the wall in invisible ink? What would it say? What if I discovered a tunnel hiding under some leaves in my backyard? Where would it lead? What if someone scary was hiding at the other end of the tunnel? I put my main character in that type of situation and let my imagination go wild.
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