Yes, I write under many names: Megan Crane, Caitlin Crews, M.M. Crane, and Hazel Beck. But no matter the name, the story is always all mine. Why do I write under a variety of names? I have Reasons.
I discovered my first romance novel at the age of twelve in a bargain bin at the local five and dime. It involved swashbuckling pirates having grand adventures on the open sea, a heroine with a mind of her own, and a seriously masterful hero who swept her away no matter how clever she was.
I was immediately smitten with romance and all the romantic themes I could get my hands on. (I still am.)
I had grand plans to star on Broadway — preferably in Evita, just like the great Patti LuPone. Sadly, my inability to wow audiences with my singing voice required a back up plan, so I launched myself into academics instead. This was not a good fit for someone who liked lounging about and reading books a lot more than dissecting them in classrooms, but it did allow me to live in England for half a decade, so I can’t complain.
Writing (and finishing!) my first book was a relief. And actually publishing that book was one of the greatest thrills of my life.
Now I’m more than 100 books in, I’m still a romance fanatic, it still thrills me to see my books on shelves, and yes, I’m still plotting my Broadway debut.
If you’re new to my books, try starting here.
If you are looking for information for journalistic/editorial purposes, view my media kit.
I don’t read historicals. I’m not sure about your Edge series…
The Edge books aren’t historicals. They’re set far in the future, after huge storms over the course of decades raised the sea level all over the world and sent what few people remained high into the hills for safety. My raiders are like Vikings in that they’re alpha warriors always ready for battle. They take over settlements when they like and always do as they please, sailing the treacherous seas from their island stronghold to rampage at will.
If anything, they’re like an outlaw biker club… but with swords (because guns are iffy after being underwater for decades), swift and deadly raider boats, their very own sense of honor, and a fierce, unswerving loyalty to their clan.
Why not try this excerpt of the first book in the series, Edge of Obsession, and see what you think?
Why do you write run-on sentences?
I don’t.
I do write complicated sentences sometimes, because I like them. And because that’s part of my voice. It’s how I talk, so it’s how I write. How I build worlds and how I play with words, which is the most fun part of my job!
But I promise you, though there could always be a rare mistake because everyone makes mistakes sometimes, my sentences are grammatically correct.
Nikolai was the villain in No More Sweet Surrender! Why did you write him his own book (Not Just the Boss’s Plaything)?
Nikolai was a serious problem for me while I was writing Ivan’s story in No More Sweet Surrender. He kept taking over the book!
I was at a writing retreat in Tuscany (I know, rough life) and for some reason Nikolai Korovin was all I could think about. That would make more sense if he was Italian, but no, I was sitting in Italy with the coldest Russian hero imaginable on my mind. When I was supposed to be writing his brother’s story! Nikolai was supposed to be the bad guy and I had no plans to write about him at the time, but I found him fascinating.
Then, once No More Sweet Surrender came out, I started getting email about him. So many readers wrote to beg me to write his story! So I was thrilled that I got to tell it in Not Just the Boss’s Plaything – and get a chance to revisit Ivan and Miranda, too.
Besides, I think Alicia more than earned her happy ever after. She needed him!
I love pictures. I take a lot of them.
Interviews
And here are some other items of note:
- Video: A fun Valentines Day interview on 5 Things Friday.
- Video: The Gregory Mantell Show, it's not super new, but I'd still say all the same stuff on the subject of Frenemies.
- Caitlin discusses The Return of the Di Sione Wife with BookTrib.
- Video: My Process (as Megan and Caitlin, on Conversations with Cupid)
- Podcast: Action and Emotion (as Megan, with my husband Jeff, on the Nerd Out podcast)
- On Shame and the Romance Heroine (as Caitlin, on Dear Author)
- Falling in love with the Rodeo (as Megan, a guest on Jane Porter's blog)
