Today I’m chatting with contemporary romance author Kacey Shea about life, love, strip clubs and her new book, Detour, which is coming out on June 1st…
Olivia: Tell us something ridiculous about yourself?
Kacey: I am terrified of birds. I get the full on heebie jeebies if a bird lands too close to me or starts walking beneath a table to find crumbs. I have to close my eyes because I can’t even deal with seeing a bird come at me.
The worse is when they are in flight! Flapping feathers! Yikes, there’s a shiver down my spine right now. This all goes back to my childhood pet bird, JayJay. Once I let him out of his cage when no one was around but when I tried to get him back in myself he scared me and flew all over my room. I was too embarrassed to admit to ANYONE I was scare of my own pet and he lived the rest of his life inside the cage! Poor JayJay.
Olivia: Bacon… crispy or limp?
Kacey: Crispy. My husband likes it limp and I try not to hold that against him.
Olivia: Red or white?
Kacey: White
Olivia: Favorite cuss word?
Kacey: Fuck
Olivia: Most inappropriate guilty pleasure?
Kacey: Boy bands. I fricking love them. N’sync still rocks my world.
Olivia: Your slightly neurotic pet peeve?
Kacey: Gum smacking. Shut your mouth!
Olivia: Worst fashion choice you ever made?
Kacey: I was ten and tried to “sew” my own white jean skirt, only I didn’t know how to make a hem. I blame the 80s but I love that my mother let me go out looking ridiculous anyway.
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Olivia: Finish this sentence: “Never have I ever ______.”
Kacey: …Been to a strip club. Every time I admit this someone tries to make me go!
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Olivia: What’s one thing that has made you grow (as a person) more than anything else?
Kacey: Doing things that make me uncomfortable. It’s easy as an adult to stay within the confines of our routine, but I’ve found the opportunities that make me stretch and grow are by doing the “scary” stuff. For me this is anything from trying a new fitness class where I know I look like an idiot, but do it anyway (Pound: they give drum sticks to the rhythmically challenged, but go anyway because it’s so fun!) or striking up a conversation with an established author despite the fact I feel insignificant and tiny next to their accomplishments (People are people, and kind people are awesome, bestsellers or not). I challenge myself with each book I write to push my comfort level, and every time I’m thankful I did. My best writing comes from that.
Olivia: What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done?
Kacey: A little over two years ago I was depressed, struggling to find happiness and complete day to day tasks. I was sad, so much of the time, but I didn’t want to be. I had a good job, a husband, three healthy children, and yet the grief and loss in my life were crippling. Weeks passed in a blur but New Year’s came and I was faced with the possibility of a new year, a fresh start…
What did I want?
What had I always wanted but was too afraid to try
Who did I want to become?
Write a book.
It was the first thing that came to mind, and I was determined to make it a reality. So I did just that. I started writing the first scene that came to mind… chapter one of Uncovering Love, my debut novel. What I didn’t expect was to find so much joy in the process of writing. I didn’t expect it to be healing, and yet, that’s exactly what it was for me. I trusted my voice, the one that came from writing and it was liberating. I found a passion I never had before entertained.
Because writing was not practical. It wasn’t easy or safe. It was a risk.
There’s a quote I love (and will probably have inked on my skin someday) that’s only four words: No risk, no story.
Simple and yet so profound. If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, don’t wait for time to pass. It will never be the perfect moment, there will always be reasons you shouldn’t try. Risk it anyway, though. Because without that leap of faith, that investment in yourself, you’ll always have that lingering question of “what if”.
I’m so glad I took a chance on writing because there are so many things I’ve learned about myself, so many wonderful people I’ve met and continue to meet, and getting lost in a new world with each book I write is probably about the most magical experience I’ve known.
The Books…
Olivia: Tell us a little about your latest book.
Kacey: After I wrote Uncovering Desire, a book blogger messaged me asking for more of the band, specifically front man Trent Donavan. I said maybe but once the thought worked its way into my head an entire series was born! Trent’s a smooth dirty talker with enough presence to fill an entire arena, so it’s not surprising his character demanded to be written first! Writing this book was just plain fun. I don’t know how else to describe it! Three Ugly Guys are a rock band that have hit fame within the past year, but they’re still learning to deal with the responsibility and pressure that comes with the package. The guys in the band are hilarious, naughty, and always entertaining. Trent is used to getting pretty much whatever he wants, but when he meets Lexi… and she wants nothing to do with him, his interest is piqued by the challenge. For Lexi Marx music runs in her blood, only she’s determined not to repeat the past sins of her family. She wants to “make it” in the rock world on talent alone and when she scores the opening gig for the next Three Ugly Guys tour, it seems all her hard work has paid off. She just needs to steer clear of Trent. But what fun would that be? Detour kicks off the first in four full length contemporary romance books in the Off Track Records series.
Olivia: What’s the spice level? (My super-secret code word for hot sex scenes)
Kacey: Muy caliente! With each of my books (with maybe the exception of my debut) you are guaranteed smoking hot sex scenes.
Olivia: When is it available/ Where is it available?
Kacey: Detour will be available on Kindle (and FREE on KindleUnlimited) beginning June 1, 2017. To receive an email alert for when it goes live, you can sign up here: https://goo.gl/forms/BS4WXbF7uKvGvirI3
I’m giving away an advance copy of Detour on my author page to one lucky reader: https://www.facebook.com/kaceysheabooks
ABOUT KACEY:
Kacey Shea is a mom of three, wife, and indie author who resides in sunny Arizona. She enjoys reading and writing romance novels as much as her son loves unicorns, which is a lot.
When she’s not writing you will find her playing taxi cab to her children while belting out her favorite tunes, meeting friends or family for food and to share some laughs, or sweating it out in the gym. Kacey finds that picking up heavy weights repeatedly is good for her mental health as much as it is for the physical.
She has an unhealthy obsession with firefighters. It could be the pants. It could be the fire. It’s just hot. On occasion she has been known to include them, without their knowledge, in her selfies outside the grocery store.
Kacey one day aspires to be a woman hand model in a sexy photo shoot. You know, the woman’s hand raking across the muscular back or six pack stomach of the male fitness model. Yep, that hand.
Until that day comes she will continue writing sexy, flirty romance novels in hopes to bring others joy!
Kacey enjoys interacting with her fans so please feel free to stalk her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Website https://www.kaceysheabooks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaceysheabooks
Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/kaceyshea
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13919697.Kacey_Shea
Kacey’s Closet Vixens (Reader Group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/booksbykaceyshea/