Publishers Weekly praised EVIL: "This intense thriller establishes Dane as a diva of the flawed, baggage-laden but likable heroine."  Tells us about the characters in your new Sweet Justice series.

With an international setting, these thrillers will focus on the lives and loves of three strong women--a bounty hunter operating outside the law, an ambitious vice cop, and a former international operative with a mysterious past. These women give Lady Justice a whole new reason to wear blinders. And their brand of justice is anything but sweet.

The next book, THE WRONG SIDE OF DEAD, will be released November 2009. And I am currently writing the third novel.

What catches your eye when you come up with story ideas?

Real crime usually influences me. And unfortunately for the whole of humanity, there's always plenty of 'inspiration'. I read newspapers, watch TV and search the Internet for stories that strike me and keep notes in a file for later--anything from genetic anomalies and man-eating plants to the whimsical world of serial killers.

And lately, I've been fascinated by international and cyberspace crimes that cross over jurisdictions and international borders, making them harder to prosecute. Cyberspace is the new hunting ground for criminals and crimes with a global impact are intriguing to me. In my novels, I don't have the limitation of jurisdictions and I can pursue criminals as I see fit to find justice. It gives me a certain amount of satisfaction to know I'm shedding light on these crimes too.

What writing challenges did you have for EVIL WITHOUT A FACE?

Since I'm still a relatively new author, I'm learning all the time. This story was a challenge to keep the multiple story lines juggled at the same time while maintaining a thriller pace.  I was thrilled when I finally wrote THE END and realized that I was still happy with the result. I write a cross genre story that incorporates elements of mystery, suspense, action, humor and some romance and like to think that I'm pushing the envelope on my genre. It's the type of book I like to read.

Romantic Times raved "Hot talent Dane is back with a new series that plumbs the depths of human depravity."  You write vivid villains.  Do you have a good imagination or have you known a lot of bad guys personally?

I have to confess that I'm not a well person. Bad men speak to me in my head--and I like it. But seriously, I write what scares me. My inspirations for villains come from many resources--news stories, psychological profiles, real criminals.

Violence is like the ripple effect on the surface of still water. The wake radiates out from the victim and touches many people. In my books, I give a voice to the many victims of crime--the victim, the surviving family and the cops who have to deal with the case. My victims aren't throwaway characters to serve the plot. I want the reader to understand the full impact of crime and all its facets.

Your books have exotic settings and the new series involves global conspiracies. Have you traveled much for your research? How do you make your settings so real?

The locales I write about aren't always my kind of travel spots. I could get killed there. The book I'm currently working on, for example, takes place in an impoverished corner of the world and a home to terrorist training camps. No Marriott points in sight.

As a new author, I don't get the unflinching cooperation of experts so I have to rely on my own personal connections. But I've had very generous people help with the research. For my Brazil story--NO ONE LIVES FOREVER--I had a Brazilian friend and former co-worker in the energy industry (Tony Franco) help with the Brazilian Portuguese and with research of the locale. He went to the library and checked out a number of books with great photos so he could discuss it with me. I also had another Brazilian author--the talented Leighton Gage--help me with local color. His books are rich in the Brazilian setting too.

Nothing is as good as writing the book in the actual locale. But in lieu of that, I've traveled quite a bit and know what some of these places would feel like based on my actual experiences. I've traveled to various countries in Europe. And I also lived in Alaska where I had many  adventures, including being a gear checker (race official) along the Iditarod trail for the international Iditaski race. I was flown in a small plane in the cargo hold and took off and landed on frozen lakes and rivers in the middle of nowhere in the dead of winter. All of these experiences help my imagination create a world for my characters.

How did a woman from the oil and gas industry reinvent herself as an author of suspense?
 
 I was a reader and an author in spirit before I went into the energy industry. Having a passion for the written word has been with me since I was a young girl. I never forgot the love I had for reading and writing. But  my life's experiences of moving across the country -Texas, California, Alaska, Wisconsin, & Oklahoma - with the oil and gas industry  helped shape who I became. A writer draws from a rich life experience to write the harrowing "what if" scenarios that
 are only limited by their own imagination.

To learn more about  national bestselling author Jordan Dane, check her website at www.jordandane.com

Contributing editor Julie Kramer's debut, STALKING SUSAN, is a finalist for the Mary Higgins Clark Award.  Learn more about the national bestselling author at juliekramerbooks.com.