SARAH CASS IN THE HOT SEAT!

     TOUGH INTERVIEW WITH SARAH CASS.

Welcome, Sarah. Have a cup of coffee and a cheese Danish. Let's get started...

  1.     Why do you write the genre you write?

It started as a fascination for all things Laura Ingalls.  It grew into an obsession over the clothes of the period…and then expanded into a love of all things old west – from the ugly, nitty gritty- to the proper and prim.

Of course, I have a tendency to not stick with one genre. I have WIP’s in about 5 different genres (some with at least 3 genres that would fit their description).

2.     What does your family say about your writing?

My husband is very proud of me.  He is an insanely huge reader, however he doesn’t read romance, but he’s reading my book (as he can stomach it.  He really doesn’t like romance. Lol).

My teen is proud, I think?  He’s 15, so who knows…

The rest of my family is over the moon.  They’ve all bought it, and I already have a few demands for advanced looks at book 2 (Derailed).

3.     What is the hardest part of being a writer for you?

Tough call – because there are two areas that are difficult for me.

1^st is discipline. Actually making myself sit down and work. Write, edit, whatever needs done. I get distracted by the pretty shinies and the internet, etc. I’m a hopeless distraction addict.

2^nd is the editing itself. I’ll write until my fingers fall off, but editing hurts. It’s when this goes from the best job in the world to the hardest job in the world.

4.     What’s one piece of advice you give to an aspiring writer?

In the immortal words of Jason Nesmith/Commander Taggart (Galaxy Quest) “Never give up. Never surrender.”

Hehe….sorry, I couldn’t resist.  In all seriousness, I keep saying it, but I’ll say it again.  Don’t think you can do it alone & don’t think you will ever stop learning.  I’m still learning and improving every single day.  And without my support system?  I wouldn’t be here answering this interview with published books on my readers.

5.     Do you open a bottle of wine if you get a bad review?

I haven’t gotten one yet.  Of course, this is my first novel and it’s only a month old, so I’m sure it will happen.  I imagine there will be wine, whine, and a few tears when it happens.  I have enough people to kick my butt that I won’t be allowed to wallow long, but wallowing will happen.

6.     How do you handle rejection?

I laugh in the face of danger. Hahahaha…(Sorry, apparently I’m in a quote-the-movies mode today)

I handle rejection better now than I did a few years back.  I no longer cry at every single one.  Most of them I shrug off and tuck away. I’ve had one or two that got me hopping mad in the last year, actually.  Those I flat out deleted and put on a list to never query again.

 7.     What advice would you give to an aspiring writer who gets rejections?

Don’t take them personally. Everyone gets rejected. Most rejections are form rejections – and those that aren’t should be used as a learning tool. If a rejection really makes you mad?  Find a site that mocks rejections and read for a while.  You’ll laugh, you’ll feel better…Then get back to writing!

8.     What one thing would you change about your writing career?

I would usually say that I would have let go of my first manuscript much sooner…but in the end, my writing career is like my life. I wouldn’t change anything.

9.     Is editing a learning experience for you or a nightmare? Explain.

I plead the fifth. ~ahem~

10.  Paperback or ebook?

Both!  Changing Tracks is in ebook right now, but will go to print in August.  I also have a short story in an anthology called Her Story and that is in ebook & print.  My April release, Masked Hearts will be ebook only. For myself, I love a good paperback…but for space and ease of travel reasons, I also am quite content with ebooks.

11.  Publisher or Self-Publishing?

Well, I love my Publisher.  I think going Self is really tough and you have to do it right (but so many do it wrong); but I’d never rule it out for myself.  I might do it with my first manuscript if I ever find time to dig it out of the moth balls and revise (revision would be required since I sort of stole one of the characters and put him into Changing Tracks. ~ahem~)

12.  How important are your book covers?

So very much important.  I designed the cover for Changing Tracks.  I’m hoping to continue the trend for books 2 & 3 in the series (Derailed & Dark Territory).  Right now I’m anxiously (and excitedly) awaiting the cover for Masked Hearts.  I want the covers to be just right.  I’m not used to having the art out of my control, but I trust Dawne to come up with something amazing for Masked Hearts, which I ran out of time to do myself since I was editing.

For me the cover says everything…and I think the covers of my Dominion Falls series say they aren’t your average romance…and to expect the tragedy that comes…

 1.     What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Vanilla (with lots of toppings – caramel & hot fudge & strawberries)

2.     Favorite meal is…

Same as it’s been all my life – chicken & dumplings.

3.     Name one place you’ve never been that you’re dying to visit.

Colorado.

4.     Your favorite vacation spot is…

What’s a vacation?

5.     First name of the one man or woman who got away.

Don’t have one. Not anymore. I used to think I did, but those rose colored glasses got shattered by clarity.

6.     Favorite color is…

Purple.  And Orange.

7.     Favorite car is…

1969 Camaro

8.     Gourmet meal out or shopping trip?

I like to shop. Most gourmet food doesn’t sit well for me.

9.     What do you do to cheer yourself up if you’re having a bad day?

Watch Galaxy Quest. Read a book. Abuse the crap out of my characters.

10.  Name an embarrassing moment you’ve had in four sentences or less.

In a beauty pageant I admitted that my most embarrassing moment had been peeing my pants in first grade because the teacher wouldn’t let me go to the bathroom when I asked. That became my new most embarrassing moment.

 Blurb:

There’s nothing simple about forgetting your past.

Cole Mitchell runs the busiest saloon and brothel in Dominion Falls. He keeps his women at a distance, unwilling to relive a past he worked hard to forget.

Until the night Jane Doe falls into his saloon bleeding and near death.  She wakes with no memory, only the firm belief someone tried to kill her. In the strange world of amnesia she manages to find solace in Cole’s arms and he finds home in hers.

 While they work together to solve the mystery of her appearance, their pasts – her lack of, and his buried – build a barrier between them.

 To make matters worse, Jane’s past isn’t willing to let her go. A stranger proves he’ll kill to keep his secrets safe. With those she loves in danger, Jane’s errant memory is all that stands between them and death.  Cole can only do so much to protect her, will it be enough?

Buy Links:

Secret Cravings Website -  http://bit.ly/14XQPTl
Amazon -  http://amzn.to/11DDgcG
Barnes & Noble -  http://bit.ly/XcTs0R All Romance Ebooks -  http://bit.ly/WJxSiA Bookstrand -  http://bit.ly/12dl2PB

 Where to find me:

Redefining Perfect – http://redefiningperfect.com
Sarah’s StoryLines – http://authorsarahcass.com
Twitter – http://twitter.com/sadiecass
Facebook – http://facebook.com/SarahCass.Author

 EXCERPT:

The muffled din woke her. Shelves of liquor and glasses towered above her toward the ceiling. She took a deep breath and the loose stays of her corset shifted. With another deep breath, she turned her head, spotting Cole sitting a foot away. “Well…”

“You panicked. Daisy says you’re fine. Just needed air. Here.”

Sitting up to take the glass he handed her, she sighed. “Thank you. I’m sorry. I heard you tell me to move. I just couldn’t seem to.”

“I’ll remember that next time.”

“Next time?”

“Once the damn Indians start attacking the town, they ain’t gonna stop.”

“Wonderful.” Lifting her hand to wipe at the moisture lingering on her brow, she saw his eyes fall to her chest. Warmth flooded her cheeks and she took a sip of water to try to quell it before it raced through her whole body.

“Martha’s preaching it’s ‘cause the army took prisoners that weren’t renegades.” The mundane talk meant nothing. He moved closer, ever closer.

“Of course she is.” Jane managed to breathe. She felt like she was losing oxygen again. The closer he came, the more the heat spread, tingling along her chest until her breasts ached from his stare. She set down the glass and reached for the corset. “I should probably—”

“No.” His hand closed over hers. “Don’t.”

“Cole…” Her breath hitched when his finger extended to brush along the edge of the chemise. Skin pebbled, a shiver running down her spine. “Why not?”

“Do you really want me to stop?”

God, no. Not for anything. In an instant she knew nothing she’d read could begin to describe the pleasure possible. She wanted this. She most definitely wanted him.

Her hand relaxed and fell aside, giving him free rein. The delicate fabric of her chemise crumbled under his touch, the calluses on his fingertips catching in the threads. His fingers ran along the curving swell of her breast, teasing.

Unbidden, her back arched to move her closer. Too far. He was too far away. She wanted him closer, though she still wasn’t sure why.

Like he’d read her mind, he slipped off the crate, kneeling in front of her. His lips hovered close to hers. Closer now, he moved his entire hand between fabric and flesh.