From a very young age, Elaine Macko possessed an over-active imagination finding intrigue and mayhem in everyday situations. Take Humpty Dumpty. Everyone thinks he took a great fall, but Elaine is pretty sure he was pushed.

While living abroad Elaine decided to try her hand writing a mystery and after several months, completed a draft of her first book, ARMED, and moved on to three other books in the series. She never forgot her New England roots and centers her books in the fictional town of Indian Cove, Connecticut. Each book includes a European connection bringing together her love of both places.

25 things you didn't know about Elaine:

1. I don't like heights, but I jumped out of a plane, tried zip lining, and parasailing.
2. There's nothing creepier than a clown.
3. I would love to be able to play the piano but I have no musical ability whatsoever.
4. For a snack I eat steamed broccoli and croutons (though not at the same time).
5. I don't like milk so I eat my cereal dry each morning.
6. My favorite color is black.
7. I've had tea with the queen of Belgium.
8. Everything is better with a handful of M&M's.
9. I've never had a cup of coffee. Ever.
10. One of my favorite books is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
11. Cell phones and texting (especially while driving) are evil.
12. House Hunters International makes me happy.
13. Security detained me at an airport because they were pretty sure I had a bomb in my suitcase. Turned out to be my bowling ball.
14. I went to Europe for a one-week vacation and stayed 12 years.
15. Now that season two of Downton Abbey is over, I'm having withdrawals.
16. I never leave the house without making my bed first.
17. I took ice skating lessons as a child.
18. There are snowman sheets on my bed.
19. I have an amazing nephew.
20. The ocean is my favorite destination.
21. I eat the crust on bread and throw away the innards.
22. I love maps.
23. I climbed the steps up the Eiffel Tower.
24. There's a cupboard in my kitchen devoted to tea.
25. I sat at my kitchen table in Brussels at three in the morning, in a skimpy night gown, with two Belgian policemen and a whole lot of beers. You'll have to read my memoir to find out why.