Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back the wonderful Cassandra Carr to the blog to talk about her new releases and upcoming releases.
Q1) Can you please share with us a little about yourself
I’m a multi-published author with Loose Id, Siren, Ellora’s Cave, and Sybarite Seductions. I have only been writing since 2008 *dodges rotten tomatoes* and it appears I’m prolific, since Collision, my latest release, was the seventh in a little over a year of being published. I live in the Western New York area with my hubby, Inspiration, and daughter, Too Cute for Words. I’m a Sabres fanatic and hang out on Twitter far too much.
Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
No. I had no thought to being writing as a profession until my mother, Cynthia Racette, (who is an author – her debut came out in late March!), told me I should fictionalize a fan fiction story I was writing. Unfortunately, that book did NOT turn into 50 Shades of Grey.
I was in Corporate America for about 15 years. Most of that time was spent doing various things in marketing and public relations. But then I got laid off and couldn’t find another full-time position. Then we decided to have a baby. And, well, the rest is history!
Q3) What is your most interesting writing quirk?
Oh geez. I’m going to sound like the most boring writer ever. I really don’t have a lot of quirks. I don’t have much choice about when I work or where – it all depends on when I can get childcare. When my daughter is gone I need to hunker down and get the words on the page.
Q4) Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
My last two releases are both book 2’s in my different series. On March 7thSiren released Cold As Ice, Buffalo Intimidators book 2. The Buffalo Intimidators series revolves around a hockey team that coincidentally (well, actually, not all coincidentally or I wouldn’t have a series!) has permanent ménage relationships. Book 1 of that series is Head Games, published last November.
On April 4th Ellora’s Cave released Collision, Buckin’ Bull Riders book 2. The Buckin’ Bull Riders series tells the stories of various bull riders on the professional tour. The first book of that series, Impact, published in February of 2012.
Q5) How did you come with the idea for this story?
For Cold As Ice, I wanted to use an entire forward line. Doing one of the first book featuring the captain made sense, so I started to work around those two things to develop the story.
For Collision, it’s kind of a funny story. I actually wrote Collision before Impact, but sold Impact first, so the order of the books got reversed and I had to make some changes to reflect that. I decided to write about bull riders after stumbling upon a professional bull riders (PBR) event one day. It was on the same channel as many hockey games. 😉 I had also read some great stories from people like Lorelei James and Cat Johnson.
Q6) Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I’m currently writing two books – book 3 in the Buckin’ Bull Rider series, Momentum, is with my critique partners currently. One just got back to me and said it was her favorite so far so I’m pretty pumped about that! I’m also working in an 85k story to give to my agent to try to sell to a NY publisher. That’s a five-book series featuring IT geek heroes. I married an IT geek and I highly recommend them!
Q7) Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
LOL – I already had my fangirl moment last year at the Romance Writers of America national conference. I adore Maya Banks and I met her there. The first time I met her that week she was really sweet, and then I saw her at another signing a few days later and made a joke about how I really wasn’t stalking her. I think that freaked her out. *blushing*
So see? Authors do really dumb fangirl stuff too!
Q8) What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Write. If you’re going to do it, don’t take ten years to write your first book. Write the silly thing. Then polish it to within an inch of its life. Then, and only then, should you submit.
A note: if you sell that book it took you five or ten years to write, your publisher is not going to be amused if it takes another five or ten years to get another one written.
Q9) Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
I’d love to spend about a month trolling around Europe with my husband. I’ve been to Italy and he’s been to France, but there’s so much to see! And people are always flabbergasted when I say I don’t want to bring my daughter. She’s three. Even if she was older I’d like to take the time with my hubby and reconnect.
Q10) What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
*snort* My TBR list is, no joke, well over 200 books. Despite that, I can’t WAIT for the next book in Maya Banks’ Sweet series, Sweet Addiction. The hero is a guy I’ve loved as a minor character in some of the other books and I’m so excited to read his story.
Q11) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just that I’ve got a big 2012 unfolding and if readers want to keep in touch with what’s happening, they can check out my website at http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com. I also have a FB fan page at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr. And if you want to witness my Twitter addiction, you can do it at http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr. If you follow me be sure to tell how you found my name. At this point I don’t auto-follow but am always happy to connect with readers!
Thanks for having me here ladies!
Thanks for the great interview. I love reading things about the authors I read. After attending Romanticon last year I think I am hooked on trying to meet my favorite authors. It is wonderful to meet so many interesting and talented people willing to share thier gifts with those of us who aren't writers but do love to read the stories you weave so well.
musicalfrog at comcast.net
Patti P
Thanks so much, Patti! I appreciate the support!
Good interview! I have book 1 in both the Buffalo Intimidators and Buckin Bull Riders and need to read them. Sounds like 2012 is a very busy year for Ms. Carr….I've yet to meet Maya Banks in person and I know I would probably have a huge fangirl moment with her:)
Thanks for coming by! Yeah, it was pretty embarrassing. 😉