Friday Feature: Casey Crow and Contest for Dance with a Millionaire

Joining us today is award winning author Casey Crow. Ms. Crow is stopping by to chat with us about her current Siren release Dance with a Millionaire.

Kathy: Ms. Crow, thank you for taking the time to visit with us today. I am infinitely curious about what motivates an author to begin their writing career. What prompted you to try your hand at writing? How long did it take for you to become a published author?

Ms. Crow: In high school and college, I only read text books. I was a bit of a nerd. Okay, that’s a lie. I was a big nerd 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’ve always been good at writing school papers. You should try this.” Thank goodness too, because I love it and turned the hobby turned into a serious career when I joined RWA in 2009.

Kathy: Your first novel, Can’t Fake This, was published with Loose Id and Dance with a Millionaire is published with Siren. Could you give us a little insight into why you are working with different publishers?

Ms. Crow: I love my editor, Shannon Graves, at Loose, Id., but I went with Siren for DWAM because their production schedule was a bit quicker. I’m attending the Romantic Times Convention in April, and I wanted to have DWAM available in time for that.

Kathy: There is a strong southern influence in y novels. Do you see yourself changing the location of your novels?

Ms. Crow: Unlike my other projects that are all set in the South, DWAM is set in New York City and Bellagio, Italy, but the Southern flavor is still there. The theme for all my heroines is they can wine and dine at a five-star restaurant one night and the next be just as comfortable drinking beer at a bon fire. It’s the best of both worlds. I don’t see that aspect changing.

Kathy: Your heroines are strong southern women. Are your characters strictly from your imagination? Do you see yourself in any of your heroines?

Ms. Crow: The combination I mentioned above is me. I didn’t even realize I kept putting that part of myself into manuscripts until I’d written five, and another interviewer asked me what was my reoccurring theme! Another characteristic I share with my heroines is inner strength. When the going gets tough, we put our teeth to the grind.

Kathy: What inspires your storylines? Imagination? Real life? Or a combination of both?

Ms. Crow: DWAM started out as a dream. When I woke up, I immediately sat down at the computer and pounded out everything I could remember. That became the first manuscript I ever wrote. Then I let it sit while I got busy with other projects. With my other works, I’ll typically take a real life idea and jazz it up. When you read my bio, it sounds like all my projects are autobiographical. I promise they are not, but I’m passionate about the things I enjoy, and they invariably make their way into my writing.

Kathy: As a reader, what types of books do you read? Do your choices as a reader influence the books you write?

Ms. Crow: My first love was Stephanie Lauren’s Regencies. I also love sweet to spicy contemporaries, particularly funny ones. As I write funny, spicy contemporaries, I’d say what I read influences me. When I start a book, I always examine it to see how well it’s written, but I love that point when I get so lost in the story that I simply enjoy it. That’s the sign of a good writer.

Kathy: What is the typical day for author Casey Crow? Do you write every day?

Ms. Crow: I’m a work-out fanatic so I go to the gym after dropping my kids off at school. Then I come home to write, edit, return messages, or promote until it’s time to pick them up. I’m in “mom mode” until their bedtime. After that, I’m back at work, usually staying up really late. I write or do some form of “book work” every day. This is my job, and I treat it as such. I don’t get much done on the weekends because I’m normally busy with my other job as a pageant coach.

Kathy: Can you tell us a little about Dance with a Millionaire?

Ms. Crow: Sure! Thanks for asking.

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

Campbell is determined to stay focused on the audition that will push her into stardom, but the dazzling attorney she meets at a gala proves to be a major distraction especially when he ends up being her professor in a college class she’s taking in her spare time. Campbell humiliates herself on their first date, but that doesn’t stop Rod from whisking her off to Italy and turning her into quite the vixen. Too bad he also had to use his powerful influence to secure the lead for her. Now she’ll never know if her talent was real or “bought” by the man she thought was the love of her life.

Kathy: What projects are you currently working on? What can readers look forward to from you in the upcoming year?

Ms. Crow: I have two 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. I’m also nearly finished with FAST DREAM, the sequel to HUSTLER’S DREAM, about a female NASCAR tire changer in love with the driver. And, I’m happy to announce that I will soon be starting a YA about pageants! Plus, I have a children’s picture book, BACK ALLEY PUPSTERS, coming out this year.

Kathy: I have thoroughly enjoyed our visit today. Is there anything else you would like to share with us before you go?

Ms. Crow: People often ask what I do in my spare time. Not that have any, but I really enjoy playing pool, golf, and tennis. I’m pitiful at all of them, unfortunately. The one thing I do make time to do is take a dance class each week. I used own a dance studio so this is great way for me to keep up-to-date and in-shape. I’m in a class with a bunch of other teachers, former dance competitors, and even a couple of professionals 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.

Kathy: Ms. Crow, congratulations on the release of Dance with a Millionaire and thank you again for stopping by to chat with us. Feel free to drop by anytime you happen to be in the neighborhood.

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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 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. Casey is an award-winning author of “Sexy, Sassy & Southern” erotic and spicy contemporary romances. Her debut CAN’T FAKE THIS was named 2011 Best Contemporary at Love Romances Café, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence Finalist, and received a Gold Star from Just Erotic Romance Reviews. Visit her at website. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Can’t Fake This Buy Links: Amazon, Loose Id

Read Can’t Fake This excerpt HERE and view the book trailer HERE

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To celebrate the release of Dance with a Millionaire and Ms. Crow’s visit here today, Ms. Crow is giving away a digital copy of Dance with a Millionaire to one lucky commenter.

Title: Dance with a Millionaire by Casey Crow
Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand, Inc
Southern Dancer
Genre: Erotic, Contemporary, Romance
Word Count: 71,500

Summary:

[Siren Classic: Erotic Contemporary Romance, HEA]

Southern belle Campbell Layne is the rising star of the Manhattan Ballet Theatre, provided she lands the upcoming principal role. The stage heats up, however, when Rod Carrington steps in and teaches her more than she ever expected.

Campbell is determined to stay focused on the audition that will push her into stardom, but the dazzling attorney she meets at a gala proves to be a major distraction, especially when he ends up being her professor in a college class she’s taking in her spare time. Campbell humiliates herself on their first date, but that doesn’t stop Rod from whisking her off to Italy and turning her into quite the vixen. Too bad he also has to use his powerful influence to secure the lead for her. Now she’ll never know if her talent was real or “bought” by the man she thought was the love of her life.

A Siren Erotic Romance

Read Excerpts HERE

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It’s that easy! The winner will be announced Monday March 26th.