Guest Author: Sarah Cass

INTERVIEW

What inspired you to write in your genre? Laura Ingalls. She was my first great love and inspiration in reading and writing. I read the Little House series 18 times before I turned 15. At first it was the story, it was Laura, and then it was the fashion. The fashion of the late 1800’s appeals to me so much that I’m creating an entire outfit out of it. Out of all of that natural inclination and draw came true research and love for the old west and pioneering days. So the first novel I wrote became a Historical Western Romance – and then the second series I wrote was the same (that being this one).

That all being said, I don’t stick with HWR. I have also been published in horror, historical fiction and my WIP’s are as varied as you can imagine. 2/3 of them don’t even stick with one genre. I follow the story ideas to the research and go from there. Some stories go nowhere, others take me places I never imagined going (like a steampunk world!).

What is the hardest part about writing ? Self-discipline and self-control. I severely lack in these areas and making sure I make myself write every day or to try to set specific times to write just don’t happen. There are weeks when I don’t write any words at all and I always hate myself when they pass by and I realize I’ve done nothing. When I get started and into a story I can write thousands of words in a day, week, month…but making myself write daily is a hurdle I have yet to overcome.

Who is your favorite secondary character in your latest book and why? Oh, Hammy. I can’t say why except that he’s just a sweet man. (You can see an interview with him here: http://bit.ly/151QcXZ) Hammy started out as a one-liner throwaway character in the third book. Something about that one line endeared me to him and when I decided to try to write these books for publication (1st draft was for friends) – Hammy ended up in Chapter 1 of Book 1, and I’ve never looked back. He’s sweet, a little shy and a little bit of a drunk…but you can’t help but love him.

What stories do you have planned for us in the future? So many. What’s definite at the moment is I’ll have a novella out with Secret Cravings in April called Masked Hearts. It’s another Historical Western Romance, involving a survivor of the Bear River Massacre (Minnie) and a man with a surprising tie to her past (Roy.)

Also, I’m thrilled to say that the next two books in the Dominion Falls series (Derailed and Dark Territory), which continue the story of Changing Tracks have also been picked up by Secret Cravings – and I’m working on books 4 & 5 now in hopes of being able to continue Jane & Cole’s sage further. Beyond that, I have several WIP’s going on right now. I have a steampunky fractured fairy tale, a post-apocalyptic mutant story I’m co-writing with my BFF, a shape-shifter paranormal, a dragon story (being written in weekly installments on my blog), and plans for a mash-up of historical western paranormal with a rather enjoyable heroine.

What do you hope readers come away with when they read one of your books? I hope they feel emotionally invested in my characters. I try to make them real and flawed so that everyone can identify with them, even when they want to throttle them for being stubborn or naïve. I hope that the (eventual) happy-ever-after’s feel more worth it because of what the characters have gone through to reach them.

If you could time travel, when and where would you go? Easy peasy – the old west. I know it wasn’t a sweeping, romantic time like we all make it out to be. Life was hard, life was dirty, life was rough and often short lived. I still want to go. I always have, and probably always will.

If you could be a mythological or fantasy being, who or what would you be? Shape-shifter! Of course, a shape-shifter in the world I created in one of my WIP’s. Those Shifters are pretty awesome.

What movie would you watch over and over? Believe it or not my go-to movie is Galaxy Quest. I’m, at heart, a die-hard trekkie (TNG all the way, baby)…and this movie makes me smile every single day. I also watch Kate & Leopold (Hugh Jackman, YUM) and 27 Dresses pretty often. For my historical fix it’s TV series. Not Little House – the TV series offended me because it was so different from the books (Call me a book snob)….but Dr. Quinn for light & fluffy and Deadwood or Hell on Wheels for down & dirty (Ah, Deadwood…as my BFF & I call it – “cocksucker TV”).

Rose, sunflower, violet, or lily? Gardenia! Oops…not an option? Okay…then…Lily. So many varieties and colors, lily’s aren’t bound by their name…they branch out.

If you knew the apocalypse was coming, what authors/books would you take with you to your bug out location? Well the Little House books, of course. The Harry Potter series (I don’t flip out over them like so many do, but they are a quick, enjoyable read). Um…oh this isn’t a fair question. So many. Let me see if I can list a few: The Other Boleyn Girl, The King’s Daughter (Sandra Worth, lovely author), Last of the Mohican’s, Leaves of Grass, Complete Works of Poe, Complete Emerson, Complete Longfellow, Pride and Prejudice, Wicked, A Discovery of Witches, the Mercy Thompson Series, A Reliable Wife, my friend Jennifer James’ books (HOT reads, yum), Wicked as they Come, The Phoenix series by Rachel Firasek, House of Night series (even though I stopped reading, I’d catch up).

Aw, heck…let’s just say I’d use every last dime to buy out every book I could for my Nook and probably forget to get food for me and my kids…lol. From classics to present day…I’d just buy everything my husband and I could read (with our varied taste, it would an interesting collection).

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?

Excerpt:
Did the man want to drive her mad? Or just get her to stop crying? Either way, he failed. He just managed to infuriate her again.
“Well, excuse me.” She flew to her feet. “I told you to go and I meant it. I’ll take my chances with the Indians.” Her body went numb the second the words left her mouth.
He tossed her over his shoulder and started back toward the horse. He ignored her beating hands and feet. “Stop acting like a fool. Get on the damn horse.”
“Put me down you stupid son of a—” A shriek escaped. She hit the ground hard enough to jar her teeth together.
“You wanna draw them renegades back with your shrieking, fine. I’ll leave ya to them.”
“Good. Be a heartless oaf. I don’t care. Excuse me for wanting to know more than anything who I am.”
“Just get on the horse or I’ll put you on myself.”
“Don’t you dare.” She stepped back. “You can’t just shut me up and drag me back to town because my emotions bother you. Just because you’re afraid to feel doesn’t mean everyone is.”
He took a step toward her. “You’re getting on my last nerve.”
“Who cares? This? This is not about you. This is about me. I have nothing. Nothing at all but my emotions and I’m damn well going to feel them when I need to.”
“I ain’t dealing with a hysterical woman.” He grabbed her shoulders.
She slapped him hard. “Then leave.”
He froze, his eyes growing dark as his scowl deepened. Grabbing her wrist, he started to drag her, kicking and screaming, the final few feet to the horse.
The moment he stopped dragging, she fought harder. Pounding her fists into his chest, his arms…she even got a few kicks to his shins.
Strong arms wrapped tight around her. Shock silenced her fury.
The moment she calmed, his hold changed. While he still had her pinned tight against him, his hand slipped up to press her head close against his chest. His other arm lowered to wrap around her waist, holding her in an unyielding, but gentle grasp.
A deep, wrenching sob ripped through her at the change and she collapsed against him. The hold she’d fought enveloped her, creating a sanctuary she hadn’t expected. It didn’t loosen. He didn’t tell her to stop. She gripped his shirt in her hands as her tears started to soak the material, clinging to his safety and warmth.
The tears slowed, but they both held on. She relaxed in the strong support his arms supplied. Her composure returned the longer he held her. After a deep breath, she pulled back, the loss of his arms creating a palpable discomfort. “I’m ready to go back.”
He stayed silent until she managed to look up at him. “Good.”

BIO:
Sarah Cass’s world is regularly turned upside down by her three special-needs kids and loving mate, so she breaks genre barriers, dabbling in horror, straight fiction, and urban fantasy. An ADD tendency leaves her with a variety of interests that include singing, dancing, crafting, cooking, and being a photographer. She fights through the struggles of the day, knowing the battles are her crucible and though she may emerge scarred, she’s also stronger. Changing Tracks is her debut novel, but she’s already ahead of the game with another novel set for release in April. While busy creating worlds and characters as real to her as her own family, she leads an active online life with her blog, Redefining Perfect, which gives a real and sometimes raw glimpses into her life and art.

Where to find me:
Twitter – http://twitter.com/sadiecass
Facebook – http://facebook.com/SarahCass.Author