Author interview: Cassandra Carr

I'm always happy to have fellow filthketeers on this blog, and as Cassandra Carr's first release with Loose Id, Talk to Me, was published this week, what better reason to tie her down and probe her about the way her dirty mind works? Especially as she's one of my co-Dirty Birdies!

***

Radio producer Jamie MacMahon is in over her head with ex-hockey player-turned host Drew Milan. She’s attracted to the man who earned the nickname “the Beast” during his playing days from the moment they meet, but he’s her boss and she loves her new job. She’s made plenty of mistakes with men and loathes the thought of being yet another plaything for Drew, a man who sleeps with women but doesn’t date them.

Drew doesn’t want to lose a great producer and knows Jamie deserves a real relationship, but can’t stay away from the sizzling chemistry they create every time they’re together. Jamie’s insecurities and the very real prospect of having to leave a great job if this thing doesn’t work out clash hard with Drew’s fears about opening his heart and the possibility of losing his first competent producer. Nothing's going to get resolved if one of them won't say it: "Come on, baby, talk to me."

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: D/s elements, fetish, spanking, strong language ("dirty" talk).

***

What inspired Talk to Me? How did you go about writing it?
The idea that someone could be seduced by someone else's voice is what started it all. Then I started thinking about who might have a nice voice and a radio host seemed natural. I wrote much of it over a three-day writing retreat. I went to a beautiful bed and breakfast and sat outside in the sun writing furiously on my laptop. It was heaven.

Which piece of advice has had the greatest effect on your writing?
Publishing is a subjective business. If your writing is good but it still gets rejected, you just haven’t found the right person for your story.

Which is greater - the joy of acceptance or the pain of rejection?
For me it’s the joy of acceptance. I don’t think I take rejection as hard as some other writers, quite possibly because of the advice above. I get rejected and I may be blue for a day or two but then I pick myself up and keep writing.

What's your loftiest writing goal?
As far as my career overall? To be able to contribute to my daughter’s college fund.

Which writer do you most admire? Which would you most like to emulate?
Maya Banks. I’d love to emulate her career. She writes for a couple of different publishers and in a couple of different genres. She’s prolific and consistently good.

Recommend a book not your own. - Any genre, from any year, for any age group.
A Newberry Award winner in 1979 and one of my favorite books EVER – Ellen Raskin’s The Westing Game. Even an adult would like this book, though it’s aimed about the 10-14yo demographic.

What one thing would you like to go back and tell your eighteen-year-old self?
He isn’t worth it. (They rarely are.) Also, don’t work so hard. Have some fun now because you won’t have time, energy, or money for it later. ;-)

What do you most love and hate about the erotic romance genre?
I love how it has taken off and is becoming more and more popular. I hate that people think it’s pornography and don’t take you seriously if they find out what you write. I always want to say, “I wrote a freaking book. Doesn’t matter what genre it is. I wrote a freaking book and got it published. What have YOU done lately?”

***

Talk to Me is available for purchase at Loose Id, LLC hyuh. Cassandra's website be here and you can stalk/follow her on Twitter hyuh. Come back tomorrow for an eye-bleedingly filthy excerpt from Talk to Me. If you don't, well, there's no hope for you.