WATCH OUT: Casey Crow

SC: I want to welcome you all to another edition of Watch Out. This week I’m pleased to bring you author Casey Crow. Welcome to Watch Out, it’s so great to have you here.

Thank so much, Savannah, for having me today! As  a long-time fan of yours, I’m honored to be here.

SC: For the readers out there who might not know about you or your work, can you please tell them a little about yourself.

I’m a Summa Cum Laude graduate from the University of Alabama with degrees in Business Management and Dance.  ROLL TIDE NATIONAL CHAMPS!  I received my Master of Business Administration from the University of Mobile.  I stay busy  running my two kids to all their activities. I also works as a dance choreographer, pageant coach of twenty years, professional emcee and model, and certified Miss America preliminary judge. I guess my claim to fame is being  a former Miss University of Alabama and NASCAR spokesmodel.  For fun, I’m addicted to CASTLE & REVENGE and I work out religiously to compensate for my addiction to Barq’s root beer. I like to play pool, tennis & golf, but never have the time so I’m pitiful at all three.  I write erotic and spicy contemporary romances with the tagline “Sexy, Southern & Sassy.”

SC:  I read in your bio that you worked as a NASCAR spokes model? What was the best part of that job? Who is your favourite NASCAR driver?

It was a wonderful experience. The best part was meeting so many of the legendary drivers like Richard Petty and Bobby Allison.  Of course, I totally loved meeting the current ones, too, like Jeff Gordon (sigh!).  The most memorable experience was riding on top of the pace car to open a Talladega Superspeedway Race. The car had a sun roof so someone inside the car was holding my legs as I was sitting on the roof going around the embankments at a 45 degree angle and no less than 70 mph, smiling and waving as if I’m not about to slide off that car.

My favorite driver will forever be Rusty Wallace, who no longer races but is a commentator now. We had an autograph session together once, and he was so nice and down to earth. He just said, “Pull up a chair.” We ended up talking for several hours.

SC: Can you tell us a little about your current release?

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.

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.

I’m so excited about all the accolades and positive feedback this book has gotten. CAN’T FAKE THIS (Loose, Id.) won 2011 Best Contemporary at Love Romances Café and received a Gold Star from Just Erotic Romance Reviews.

SC: Which do you prefer eBooks or paperback?

I’m old school  so I still like to lie in bed every night with a paperback, but I’m grateful that e-readers have taken off, providing an even greater opportunity for spicier writers to have their work read.

SC: What influences the topics, and genre’s that you pick to write a story in?

Although Regency historicals were my first love, I chose to write contemporary because  I’m a country girl at heart with a down-to-earth voice that works for my “Sexy, Sassy & Southern” heroines.

I have two other manuscripts on submission right now. 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. 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.  DANCE WITH A MILLIONAIRE, which features a southern ballerina living in New York, comes out in March with Siren Publishing.

I swear they’re not autobiographical, but  I’m passionate about the things I enjoy, and they invariably make their way into my writing.

SC: One thing readers might be surprised to know about you?

The one thing I truly do for just me is take a dance class since I no longer own my dance studio. It’s a great way for me to keep in shape and up-to-date for when I choreograph for my pageant students.  I’m in a 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. Old ladies, apparently, still have it.

SC: What is the biggest misconception you think people have about  authors?

That’s an easy one for me to answer. I think people actually believe  authors – erotic ones in particular –are just as wild and adventurous as the characters in our books. I’m speaking for myself here, and sadly, the real me isn’t nearly so cool in real life.

SC: Your favourite part about being an author?

Definitely, my favorite part is getting in that writing zone where I get lost in my own little world with no one but me and my characters.

SC: What are you currently reading?

Love at First Flight by Marie Force.

SC: Currently listening to?

Anything by Lady Antebellum.

SC: Oh they are so amazing…Love them

SC:  What is the hardest thing you find to being an author?

I consider myself OCD about being organized and scheduled, but lately, I’ve been having a terrible time with time management because there is always so much to do – promo, edits, writing new material, more promo, reading the hundreds of emails from all the groups I’m on, etc.  The good news is the more I’m in the business, the more I learn about what works and what doesn’t and what needs to take priority.

SC: Describe your books in 3 words.

“Sexy, Sassy & Southern” – I bet you knew I’d say that. LOL

SC: If you could step into the shoes of another author who would you pick? Why?

I admire Debbie Macomber both as a writer and as a person because of her values and how she uses her celebrity status to help others with all her knitting charities.

SC: What do you think sets your stories apart from other authors?

I think it’s the fact that my heroines can wine and dine in a five star restaurant one night and the next go drink beer by a bon fire.  They are comfortable in both worlds, and I portray both sides. It makes for interesting variety and allows readers to get a real glimpse of each side of life in the south.

SC: Is there anything you’re currently working on that you can give us a taste of?

DANCE WITH A MILLIONAIRE will be available in e-book in March and print in July.

Southern belle Bella Layne is the rising star of the American Ballet Theatre, providing she lands an upcoming lead role. The stage heats up, however, when Rod Carrington steps in and teaches her more than she ever expected!

Journey from New York to Bellagio, Italy, and experience a pas de deux like no other.

SC: What is the best advice you ever got with regards to writing?

I’ve been fortunate to have great support from my Gulf Coast RWA chapter, especially from my mentor, the fabulous RITA nominated Cynthia Eden, whom I bug all the time with questions. I’m pretty sure along my journey since joining RWA in 2009, Cynthia said, “Don’t give up. Rejections are to be expected. Keep writing through them, and your writing will only improve.”

SC: Any advice for new writers out there?

Cynthia has point. Keep writing. The more you do it, the better your writing will become. Most important, it will help you find your  voice, which can sometimes  take many manuscript attempts. Classes, conferences, articles are all helpful to improve your work. I’m a big fan of Don McNair’s “21 Steps to Fog-Free Writing.” It’s like a crash course in how to write.

SC: Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

Buy Kindle version on Amazon

Buy Nook version at Barnes & Noble

Buy all versions at Loose, Id.

Visit Casey at http://www.caseycrow.com

CAN’T FAKE THIS Excerpt

See the CAN’T FAKE THIS book trailer

Follow on Twitter @caseyecrow and Facebook Casey Crow