Contemporary

Can’t Fake This with Casey Crow

 

Can’t Fake This.
Christmas in July! Thought we’d heat the summer even more
with Can’t Fake This!
Tell us about Can’t
Fake This.
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 won
the 2012 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, a JERR Gold Star, the 2011 Best
Contemporary at Love Romances Café, and finaled in the 2011 Golden Claddaugh
book contest. This book definitely has my trademark “Sexy, Sassy &
Southern” flair.
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.
You’ve long been a
fan of romance novels. What prompted you to cross over to the writing side of
things?
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.
What are your three
major addictions in life?
Casey: Awe, I have to pick just three? Okay, dancing (I used
to own a dance studio) and working out are major passions and they compensate my
Barq’s root beer addiction. I also love pageants. Seriously. I’m not kidding,
but not the Toddlers & Tiara glitz kind. I’ve been an emcee and pageant
coach for over twenty years, and I still get such an adrenaline rush teaching
modeling and interview to girls of all ages. My latest girl just won her Jr.
Miss competition (aka Distinguished Young Woman). It’s incredibly rewarding to
see one’s self-confidence grow with each lesson. Finally, I’m not a huge TV
watcher, but I’m addicted to Castle,
although Revenge is giving my mystery
writer a run for his money.
You spent some time
in pageant life. What was that like?
Casey: As a dancer and gymnast, I was on stage my whole
life, but I began competing in pageants at fifteen to prepare for Jr. Miss (now
Distinguished Young Woman). I’ve done everything from glitz to natural. I
prefer youth development programs where talent is the primary focus. I’ve
competed in the Miss America and Miss Universe systems. I have to say it was
pretty cool being Miss University of Alabama, but my most memorable reign was
Miss Motorsports, where I got to be a NASCAR spokesmodel and hang out with all
the famous drivers.
Pageants typically have a negative connotation, but the
friendships, public speaking skills, and confidence I gained make me a firm
believer in the many positive aspects they provide, so much so that my
eight-year-old daughter has been competing since she was a baby. She has
performed in Branson, MO,
opened a concert for CMA recording artist Ashton Shepherd, and is currently
preparing for America’s
Got Talent. None of that would have been possible without her pageant
experience.
I’ve worked with probably hundreds of girls throughout
twenty years of pageant coaching. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing one’s
self-confident grow.
What is one thing
you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t done?
Casey: Learn to play the violin, or as we say down South, the
fiddle. I’ve about convinced myself it should be my Christmas gift this year.
If you cook, do
crafty stuff, or have a hobby, please share the details with readers.
Casey: I do cook and love crafts, but considering I’m about
four years behind on scrapbooking, I don’t think it counts if it stays in a box
under the bed. I really enjoy playing pool and golf, but since I’m fairly
pitiful at both, I stick mainly to taking dance classes. 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 time. Old ladies,
apparently, still have it.
What’s next for you?
Casey: I recently signed with a literary agent and we are
busy getting HUSTLER’S DREAM ready. It’s 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.
My other release currently out is DANCE WITH A MILLIONAIRE,
which features a ballerina. In it, the stage heats up when Southern belle and
ballerina Campbell Layne learns more from Rod Carrington than she ever
expected. I especially the Italy
scenes in this book.
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 Crow
Casey Crow is a Summa Cum Laude graduate from the University of Alabama with degrees in Business
Management and Dance. She received her Master of Business Administration from
the University of
Mobile. A resident of the
Deep South, Casey stays busy running her two
children to way too many activities. She also works as a pageant coach of
twenty years, professional emcee and model, dance choreographer, and certified
Miss America
preliminary judge. In fact, she is a former Miss University of Alabama and
NASCAR spokesmodel. She is addicted to Castle & Revenge and works out
constantly to compensate for her addiction to sweets. She enjoys playing pool,
tennis & golf but never has the time and is, therefore, pitiful at all
three. A member of Romance Writers of America, Casey is an award-winning author
of “Sexy, Sassy & Southern” erotic and spicy mainstream contemporary
romances. Her debut, Can’t Fake This, was named 2011 Best Contemporary at Love
Romances Café, winner of the 2012 Gayle Wilson
Award of Excellence, and received a Gold Star from Just Erotic Romance Reviews.
Casey is represented by Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency. Visit her at www.caseycrow.com. Follow her on Twitter –
caseyecrow and Facebook – Casey Crow.
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