Interview & Contest: Casey Crow

Casey: I’m a Summa Cum Laude graduate from the University of Alabama with degrees in Business Management and Dance. I received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Mobile. I live in South Alabama where I stay busy with running my two young children to way too many activities. I also work as a dance choreographer, pageant coach, professional emcee and model, and certified Miss America preliminary judge. In fact, I’m a former Miss University of Alabama and NASCAR spokesmodel. I write erotic and spicy contemporary romances with the tagline “Sexy, Southern & Sassy.”

Casey: CAN’T FAKE THIS started out on a whim. At the last minute, I decided to enter this 10,000 word contest. I’d written spicy mainstream, but this was my first dive into erotic waters. I didn’t win the contest, but after having what I thought was a good start, I added some more words and low and behold, this erotic became the first manuscript I sold. It also finaled in the Golden Claddaugh book contest.

The story is about a divorcee ready to reenter the dating world. Anna Ryan is determined to be the best “product on the market,” which requires a lot more experience so she propositions sexy police officer Chase Harris to teach her how to make hot, passionate love as opposed to just having sex. He takes it a step further, instructing each lesson based on The Twelve Days of Christmas.

It is available through Loose, Id. http://www.loose-id.com/Cant-Fake-This.aspx, Amazon, and other e-book dealers.

Casey: In high school and college, I only read text books so I didn’t even get started on romance until I was twenty-five. Oddly enough, my mom, an avid reader of all romance genres first encouraged me to write. About the time I started thinking, “I could do this,” she said, “You can.” Thank goodness too, because I love it and turned the hobby turned into a serious career almost two years ago.

Casey: Nope, just me, but they are all very supportive. My daddy knew I wrote spicy but not erotic so I was a bit nervous telling him CAN’T FAKE THIS was going to be published. His response? “You should have asked me for advice because I’m the roguest of the rogues.” I don’t know why I was so worried.

Casey: I’m a plotter for sure, but the outline is very vague so if my characters want to take a detour, I’m okay with that.

Casey: Blistex, Dasani Water, and silence. I can edit with background noise, but when I’m my writing zone, I like it to be me, my characters, and our own little world.

Casey: I’d love to write YA. Over the years, I’ve worked with hundreds of teenagers either as a dance instructor or pageant coach, and it fascinates me how they flip flop between still being kids and being incredibly mature.

I need to stay away from paranormal because I’m the kid who would throw up at slumber parties whenever they put on a horror movie.

Casey: I think most writers would agree that characters live with you. The best ideas come to me at 3 a.m., in the shower, or driving down the road. I’ve learned to keep a notebook handy to jot down ideas because even when you think you’ll remember something because “it’s sooo fabulous” – you don’t.

Casey: Vin Diesel would play Chase. Kate Hudson would make a fantastic Anna because they both have a quirky sense of humor.

Casey: Stephanie Laurens. Her hot Cynster regencies were my first love in the romance world.

Casey: When Loose, Id. first notified me that they wanted CAN’T FAKE THIS, I called my mom and mentor, the fabulous, RITA nominated Cynthia Eden. We squealed, and I did a little happy dance. Beyond that, I haven’t done much, but at my Gulf Coast Chapter of Romance Writers of America Christmas party, we did raise a glass to all those published in 2011.

Casey: I’m pretty fanatical about working out. I also enjoy playing pool and golf, but since I’m fairly pitiful at both, I stick to taking a dance class each week since I no longer own my dance studio. I’m in class with a bunch of other teachers and former dance competitors so it’s not easy by any means. The best part is that we rock the house during recital time. Old ladies, apparently, still have it.

Casey: : I have three other manuscripts on submission right now with various agents and editors. HUSTLER’S DREAM is about a southern socialite pool shark who hustles the wrong guy, or is he? FEELS SO RIGHT is about a country music agent and her ex-boyfriend songwriter, and DANCE WITH A MILLIONAIRE features a ballerina. I’m also half way finished with FAST DREAM, the sequel to HUSTLER’S DREAM, about a female NASCAR tire changer in love with the driver.

I swear these are not autobiographical! But, I’m passionate about the things I enjoy, and they invariably make their way into my writing. My tagline is “Sexy, Sass & Southern” and all my heroines are just that.

Casey: Visit me at www.caseycrow.com. Follow on Twitter – caseyecrow and Facebook – Casey Crow.

Casey: As you just saw, I’m in dire need of celebration ideas. Please help! Also, people are constantly telling me to write a book about pageants, but it’s one of those things that’s so close at heart, I can never think of a good premise. Any ideas?

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