By the time Lois Duncan was 13, she had already had a book published and written for a magazine. During high school, she continued to write for many publications.

In 1962, Duncan moved to New Mexico and taught journalism at the University of New Mexico, while writing for magazines. She has written more than 40 books, from picture books to novels, but is most well known for her teen suspense novels. Her many awards include the Margaret A. Edwards Award, honoring a living author for a distinguished body of adolescent literature.

The most difficult book Duncan wrote was Who Killed My Daughter?, a nonfiction account of her daughter's murder.


What inspired you to become a writer?

Nothing specific, I just always knew I would be one. I started submitting stories to magazines when I was ten.


What were your reasons for writing books like Killing Mr. Griffin and I Know What You Did Last Summer?

They're the kind of books I enjoy reading.


Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Writing is a self-taught skill, and the only way to get better is to do it. I don't mean write just when you're hit by inspiration, but do it as part of your everyday life. When I was a kid, I came home from school each day and sat down at the typewriter, the same way other kids might turn on the television. I kept journals, filled notebooks with poetry, wrote for the school paper, entered writing contests and submitted stories and poems to magazines. Asa result, I ended up being able to make a living doing what I love.


What makes writing interesting and fun to you?

Writing gives you the power to create whole worlds and make everything in them happen the way you want it to.


Has there been progress in solving your daughter's murder?

Through private investigation, we have obtained extensive evidence that she was assassinated because she was ready to blow the whistle on organized crime that appears to be protected by certain members of law enforcement. The police won't look at that evidence.


What can people do to help you publicize the search for your daughter's killer?

We have an email petition, and are hoping that an investigative news show like "60 Minutes" will assign a reporter to look into her case. Students can suggest to their teachers that this be a class project, and email helpkait@yahoo. com.


How does it feel to be so well known and your books so popular among the teenage population?

It's exciting and gratifying.


What has been your greatest accomplishment?

Producing five beloved children.


Who was your favorite writer and role model growing up?

I didn't have one favorite writer because I read everything I could get my hands on. But I guess my role model was the Pulitzer Prize-winning author MacKinlay Kantor, who was a close friend of my parents and lived a few miles from us. He was the only professional author I knew, and made me realize it is possible to make a living as a writer.


What is your favorite genre?

Suspense novels have been the most profitable. Now that I have grandchildren, I am having fun writing children's verse and text for picture books.


Do you have any books coming out soon?

On the Edge is a collection of short stories I edited. I chose the topic, found writers to produce the stories, wrote the introductions and the foreword and thoroughly enjoyed playing a different creative role than I usually do. That book came out in June.