Cassandra Carr
You, too, can become a romance author
by Cassandra Carr
I still enjoy the stricken expressions many people had when I told them I was leaving Corporate America for a career writing romance novels. I know, I know, it seemed pretty far-fetched and risky at the time, but now, two years after that decision and with eight sold works under my belt and more coming, it was the best decision I ever made.
Getting published isn’t easy, and the romance market is the most competitive of them all. It’s estimated that thousands of manuscripts are rejected for every ONE that gets published in the romance genre. I was incredibly lucky, and, I like to think, talented, to sell as quickly as I did. Many people write twenty books before they’re published. I sold my second manuscript.
But why did I decide to leave Corporate America and become a writer? It boils down to this: there are a lot of folks doing marketing in the Buffalo area. And there aren’t that many jobs. Despite my educational background (I have an MBA) and experience, I was finding it very difficult to find and retain a full-time position in marketing.
So I took a risk. And it paid off. You can take a risk too.
I know some of you are the primary bread winners in your families and have too much responsibility to just chuck it all. Consider the case of my husband’s uncle. He was working at M&T Bank doing marketing and website stuff. He wanted to open his own business doing websites for small businesses. What did he do? Started the business at night and on the weekends, and worked both jobs for nearly a year before he felt comfortable enough to quit his day job at M&T Bank. And THEN he worked about eighty hours a week for at least another year to really get his company off the ground.
BLURB:
Never think there’s no way you can do something, because then you’ll be right. After all, who would’ve thought I’d be a multi-published, award-winning erotic romance author?
BLURB:
Luc, Carter, and Jake make up the Buffalo Intimidators’ top scoring line. Each of them is also a client of massage therapist Eva. When they decide they want to be more than clients, they approach her. Eva’s been secretly lusting after the guys for months but was afraid to say anything, trying to keep everything on a professional level.
She agrees to a menage relationship, but when people on the team start getting sick, will it turn into more than a fun roll in the hay with her hockey boys?
BIO:
Cassandra Carr is a multi-published, award-winning erotic romance writer with 
Ellora’s Cave, Siren, and Loose Id who lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out on Twitter. Cassandra’s book Caught was recently named Best BDSM Book 2011 by LoveRomancesCafe.
Ellora’s Cave, Siren, and Loose Id who lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out on Twitter. Cassandra’s book Caught was recently named Best BDSM Book 2011 by LoveRomancesCafe.
@AngelaKayAustin
March 11th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Thanks for having me here at Romancing the Pen!!!
March 11th, 2012 at 9:57 pm
Thanks for dropping by!
March 12th, 2012 at 9:30 am
You’re absolutely right, Cassandra – sometimes you have to take a risk. And believe in yourself enough to stick with it.
March 12th, 2012 at 9:31 am
You’re right, Cassandra – you have to take risks sometimes. And believe in yourself enough to keep going forward.
March 13th, 2012 at 11:14 am
Takes courage and belief in one’s self to accomplish what you’ve done, Cassandra. Bravo and continued success. You’re an inspiration. And thank you, Angela, for this inspiring interview.