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 want to know Aunt Jen’s story from I Love the 80s! What happened to her?
I’ve had Aunt Jen’s story in my head for a long time.
Think: the 90s. Grunge-era Seattle, which is a personal passion of mine as I was at a Very Impressionable Age when grunge swept the nation…
One of these days I hope to get a chance to write it!
What’s the story behind Come Home for Christmas, Cowboy?
Back when Jane Porter decided to start the publishing company that would become Tule, the Founding Authors ( CJ Carmichael, Lilian Darcy, Jane and me) planned a trip to Montana to talk about this crazy idea. In the meantime, we all started working on our own projects. I started with this story. I’d written the whole first chapter and a little more by the time we met up in Montana, but once there we decided (it was CJ’s idea!) to focus our initial efforts on a series of novellas set at the Marietta rodeo. I didn’t write the rest of Come Home for Christmas, Cowboy until the fall of 2014. So while the story isn’t my first for Tule, that first chapter was!
I hate Jessa from Majesty, Mistress…Missing Heir. I hate the ending. Why did you do that?
I wrote about this at I Heart Presents if you’d like to read about the writing of that story.
But here’s a short and (warning!) spoilery answer:
I think that adopted families are just as real as blood families. I don’t think blood parents should be able to show up and change their minds years later, no matter if their circumstances have changed, because I don’t think that’s fair to the child. I loved that while Jessa and Tariq had to live with the consequences of the choices they made the first time around, they would always know that their child was loved and treasured and taken care of… and they could see this with their own eyes!
In my mind, there are no secrets in the family after a few years, and that means little Jeremy has two sets of adults who love him. I can’t think of a happier ending.
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)
