Author Casey Hagen stopped by to share intimate details of her life and talk about her latest book. Falling in Angels Falls is a Romantic Comedy and was released on January 12,
2017. Please tell my readers a little bit about your
book.
Casey- First, this is the second in a series, but can be
read as a stand-alone. Ben Marx spent fifteen years in the Army and carries
some serious baggage from that time. Now he’s moving on and building his
adventure company, Steel Force Adventures. They specialize in giving extreme
adventurists, the barest of necessities while keeping them safe during their
adventures. In this case, hiking to the tallest waterfall in the world, Angels
Falls…a real place! Angels Falls is visited by thousands every year…at the
bottom that is. Where is Ben taking them? To the top.
Alexa Dayne is burnt out. She’s been a slave to the
building of her very own hair salon in San Francisco. Her best friend is
recently married with a baby on the way and Alexa is grieving the changing of
that relationship. She’s trying to find her place now. With her business
finally in the black, she has time to breathe so she’s seeking an adventure.
When her guide goes MIA, she convinces Ben to take the job. She’s a brazen smart-ass and as much as he wants to
be irritated by it, he’s drawn to it. Sparks fly and calamity ensues!
Nancy- Describe the genre of this particular title, and
is it the only genre you write in?
Casey- This is a contemporary romance/romantic comedy.
Everything I write is infused with humor. After raising three daughters…I’ve
learned I had better laugh because if I don’t, I’ll be crying. My writing routine is in a state of flux. It used
to be, I get up, get a drink, maybe a bit to eat, and boom…write! The words
flowed. Now, not so much. I start to think about those emails just sitting
there mocking me. I notice the rug under my office chair needs vacuuming. All
of the demands flood me before I can even think about being creative. So now, I
do most of my writing in the afternoon and evening. I spend the morning getting
organized and addressing those emails and other demands. I can’t tell you the
words flow as well at night as they did in the morning. I’m sure they
eventually will, but right now, it’s a bit like an old man with a prostate
problem trying to pee. I’ll get there!
Nancy- Ha! I am one of three daughters, but the joke was on me-I had two sons! On a more serious note, what sort of promo do you do? Do you have help?
Casey- Promo, marketing, advertising…are dirty, dirty,
migraine-inducing words for us authors! It’s a lot like throwing pasta at the
wall and seeing what sticks. I’ve used several services like BookDaily and
Shout My Book. I would love to tell you they’re great, but they aren’t. I do
have a PA now and she pushes my books to several reader groups on Facebook.
She’s been awesome. She can make teasers if I want and keep updates fresh on my
author page, but right now, I still make my teasers and run my page. I like my
readers to get me. You know what’s working for me right now? Kindle Unlimited.
I did a free promo period. My sales have rocketed since I did that. I’m talking
sales, not free downloads. Paid sales. You know what else is working…Facebook.
Be you on Facebook. And when I say “you”, I don’t advise you be the political
“you”, or the ranting “you”. We’ve all
had enough of that crap. Be the snarky “you”, or the recipe toting “you”. What
are you passionate about? Show us! I just happen to be passionate about snark
and smart-assery.
Nancy- Most readers don't realize marketing is a necessity in order to succeed. Having achieved your goal to be a published
author, what is the most rewarding thing?
Casey- I could tell you it’s the attention, the sales, the
extra money…but what it really is…when that woman who finishes your book in the
middle of the night, because she can’t put it down, writes you an email or
sends you a message via social media begging you to keep writing and telling
you how special your story is. That’s who I write for, even if there’s only a
handful of you.
Nancy- Are you a member of any writing organizations
and, if so, have they helped?
Casey- Oh, you asked me about my writing
organizations…you’re going to wish you hadn’t! I’m a member of RWA and New
Jersey Romance Writers. Outside of RWA the smaller chapters of RWA, I’m a
member of the Penn Jersey Women Writers Guild. So…let’s start with PJWWG. I’m
the VP, which in this group, doesn’t mean a whole heck of a lot. I basically
run the meeting if Vikki, our chapter president, can’t. This group used to be
the Pocono Lehigh Romance Writers under RWA. We’re a group of about twenty
women who meet once a month and doing a lot of laughing, brainstorming, and
eating!
Now, the New Jersey Romance Writers…I can’t tell
you enough about this group. Seriously, incredible women, smart women, and
driven women. I’m new to RWA and am very new to NJRW. I’ve been a member for
under two years. Nine months after I joined, I agreed to be their conference
chair. Total insanity. However, I pulled it out and after ten months of
planning, we had a successful conference. I’m continuing my position for 2017
where we have a star-studded lineup. Featured Keynote Kristan Higgins, Luncheon
Keynote Nancy Herkness, Special Presentation Keynote Elizabeth Hoyt, and
Pre-Con speaker Eileen Dreyer. Our PUB Retreat and PRO Retreat speaker this
year is Damon Suede.
For those of you who haven’t heard of our
conference, it’s been running for three decades. It’s been looked at as being a
mini RWA National. It’s an economical way to get a mini version of Nationals.
We have editor/agent appointments too! I wouldn’t be where I am today if not for the women
in these two groups and can’t thank them enough for their encouragement and
support!
Nancy- Will you share some encouraging words for authors
still struggling for that first contract?
Casey- Remember who you’re pitching to. I pitched 7 times
at RWA Nationals in 2015. Had six requests for fulls and six rejections. All
said the same thing, “We love it, but our publishing house will be afraid of
it.”
Traditional publishing is not keeping up with what
readers want. They are catering to dying demographic right now. I hope this
changes, but I won’t hold my breath. So when you get rejected, remember, that
doesn’t mean you’re no good. It means, you’re no good for them, at the moment.
Even when you have something great, that they seek, you have to hit them at the
right time. It’s a bit like nailing Jello to the wall. When they reject you, it
could mean your writing needs work. It also may very well mean that you’re onto
something awesome! This is what beta readers and critique partners are for. If
there is a problem, they’ll tell you.
Do not let yourself be measured by a publisher’s
yardstick.
Please Share
three fun facts about you that most people don’t know.
1) I’m
new to coffee…I’m 39 and started my addiction a month ago. I like two kinds and
I like them black, no sugar. Go figure.
2) I
wanted to be a lawyer for most of my childhood, when I didn’t want to be an Air
Force pilot.
3) I had
a pet cow named Jigsy (yes, I know…I can’t explain the name either)
Nancy- What’s next
for you?
Casey- I just released a Melody Anne Kindle World novella,
The Billionaire Dame and I’m wrapping up a project for Roxanne St. Claire’s Kindle
World, Unconventional Love, with a release date of February 21st.
Then, I work on book 3 in the Falling in Paradise series to wrap that sucker
up so I can go back to my Livingston Valley series that could end up being
twelve books in total.
BOOK BLURB
The black sheep . . .
Alexa Dayne shocked everyone by refusing to join the family bakery business.
She’s worked hard to prove that owning her own salon in upscale San Francisco
is more than just a dream; it’s her passion, and she’s made it a huge success,
solo. After years of round-the-clock work, her finances are in the black, and
Alexa craves both an escape and a new challenge. She’s determined to find
both—in the wilds of Venezuela and the promise of exhilarating adventure at
Angels Falls, the largest waterfall in the world.
A weary soldier . . .
Ben Marx is running from brutal memories. A career soldier turned entrepreneur,
Ben has slaved to make Steel Force Adventures a reality. The business of
offering thrill-seekers extreme adventures is how Ben intends to fulfill both a
dream and a promise to the one person he was powerless to save. On the cusp of
success, he’s approached by a long-legged vixen seeking a guide through the
Venezuelan jungle to Angels Falls. Her fearless determination is proof enough
she’ll make the dangerous trek alone if he refuses. Her animal print body-suit
and makeup scream high maintenance, but her eyes, ice-blue and intense, promise
something more.
Testing their resolve . . .
The Angels Falls journey is one of renewal for Alexa and Ben. But when passions
flare and hidden motives are revealed, the flames of heart-wrenching pain forge
bonds between them—bonds destined to be tested by life’s harsh realities . . .
after Angels Falls.
Buy
Links….
More About Casey Hagen
The ingredients are easy to find and easy to create. They are impressive, and delicious. 
