I met up with Mary Higgins Clark by phone last week. The doyenne of mysteries was settled in her Saddle River, NJ, home — the place she has lived for 20 years. We have known each other for more than 30 years, as I was fortunate enough to be at Simon & Schuster, her first and final publisher, when Where Are the Children? was published. We talked about her newest book, Just Take My Heart, and everything else.

wowOwow: Before we get to Just Take My Heart, which I read Sunday night — I was, yet again with all your books, absolutely out of my mind thrilled and scared. And you’ve done a twist here that I want to talk about in a minute. But just before we get to this particular genius book, I want everyone to know the facts behind the Mary Higgins Clark brand. I have these staggering figures in front of me – just correct me if I’m wrong. But I have that, worldwide, you’ve sold over 80 million copies to date?

Mary Higgins Clark: No, no. It’s 100 million in the United States alone.

wOw: Oh my god.

MHC: I’ve sold 100 million just in the United States. And then, of course, I sell in 20 other countries.

wOw: And I know that you’ve always been the No. 1 bestselling author in France. You received the Grand Prix de Literature Policiere in 1980 and the Literary Award at the 1009 Deauville Film Festival in 1998.

MHC: Yes, isn’t that amazing?

wOw: That is amazing. What do you think that’s about?

MHC: Well, you know what I think it is? The French have very strong family values and I always write about nice people whose lives are invaded. You know, they’re not out looking for trouble; they’re not on the edge – something happens.

wOw: That makes sense. Now, what number publication is this? What number is Just Take My Heart?

MHC: Well, with Carol it would be 40.

wOw:  Right, your daughter, Carol, as co-author.

MHC: And without Carol, 35.

wOw: That’s amazing. OK, fine. Of course, you have too many awards and honors to list — you were chosen by the Mystery Guild of America as Grand Master of the 2000 Edgar awards, you received the Gold Medal of Honor from the American Irish Historical Society, the Spirit of Achievement Award from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the first Reader’s Digest Author of the Year Award, and on and on. The list I’m reading from is too long. And you are such a generous philanthropist. Mary, can you tell our readers a little bit of your background in becoming an author? We know you went to work writing radio scripts when you were so tragically widowed and left with five children to feed.

MHC: Well, when I was 18, I went to secretary school and then I worked in an advertising agency. And I was a Pan American Flight Hostess, very grand in those days.

wOw: That’s right.

MHC: Then I got married and said, “I have to learn how to be a professional writer,” and I took a class at NYU. And I learned everything I needed to know about writing in that class, all those years ago.

wOw: Isn’t that great? And when you were widowed, I know that you could only write between five o’clock and seven o’clock in the morning, before you got your kids off to school. But what made you choose to become a mystery writer?