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Interview with Lauren Sharman....

The Devil's Cancy

Lauren Sharman: The Devil’s Candy is the second book in The McCassey Brother’s Trilogy, and was the #2 BESTSELLER at Whiskey Creek Press in both May and June 2007. 

It’s the story of Blackie McCassey, the oldest of three wild, intimidating brothers in a large, close-knit family full of wild, intimidating men from Hagerstown, Maryland. 

Known as, The Devil, Blackie is proud of the fact that his violent past has caused most people to be afraid of him. . .including women.  He believes that they’re all more trouble than they’re worth. But when he decides to repay an old debt by marrying his friend’s sister, Angel, Blackie suddenly discovers what it’s been like for everyone who’s tried to keep him out of trouble over the years. Blackie’s convinced that Angel’s razor sharp tongue and fearless attitude are going to get her killed one day; forcing him to stay two steps behind her as she serves drinks in her brother’s uncivilized roadside bar.Never before afraid that his past would come back to haunt him, Blackie is suddenly forced to face it when a murder turns their lives upside down.

Lauren Sharman: The McCassey Brother’s Trilogy follows Blackie, Judd, and Rebel McCassey, three brothers from Hagerstown, Maryland.   Along with their tight-knit extended family, the boys are very unpopular in their small town.  In fact, feared is more like it, as members of their family have been wreaking havoc in Washington County since before the Civil War.

The close family aspect is actually modeled after my own family.  A lot of my cousins are my friends, too.  I thought a story about such a tight-knit group would be appealing to readers.  I threw in a little sibling rivalry, a handful of gun battles, and some romance just to keep things interesting, and figured that there was a little something in all the books for everyone! 

No Worries, the first book in the series, was the #1 BESTSELLER at Whiskey Creek Press in December 2006, and is the story of Blackie’s youngest brother, Rebel. 

Witnessing her mother’s murder put a label on Gypsy Lance that few people overlooked.  Raised in foster homes, she spent her childhood yearning for love and acceptance.  Nearly penniless, Gypsy arrives in Hagerstown looking to put down roots and outrun a past she fears is about to catch up to her. Blue collar bad boy Rebel McCassey knows what its like to try and escape your past.  No longer the hellion he once was, he’s never been able to shake his family’s bad reputation.   When he finds Gypsy Lance lost in the woods, her unconditional trust and refusal to judge him by his infamous last name touch him in a place he didn’t know existed. . .his heart. When the demons chasing Gypsy are caught lurking in the shadows, Rebel vows to keep her safe, even if it means slipping back into his old ways.

 The third book in the trilogy is Dusty Rose, which is Judd’s story, and will be available from Whiskey Creek Press January 1, 2008.

Dusty Zamora and her close-knit sisters were young—but far from innocent—when they abruptly left Hagerstown ten years ago. Now Dusty has returned.  Alone. Judd has spent most of his thirty-six years side-by-side with his brothers and cousins. . .on the wrong side of the law.  His one regret. . .being powerless to help the only woman he ever loved when she needed it most. Judd knows they’re headed for trouble when Dusty rides back into his life on a stolen outlaw biker’s motorcycle, and is shocked when she refuses his help. Finally realizing that hiding her deadly secrets are harming—not helping—the man she loves, Dusty opens up to Judd, dropping a bombshell that sends him reeling, and her fleeing. Not until Dusty vanishes does Judd discover her deception was well-intended.  Now, he must find her before its too late for all of them. 

Believe it or not, I never started out to write a trilogy!  But as soon as Debi Womack, the owner of Whiskey Creek Press, read No Worries, she said she hoped I was writing the other two brother’s stories.  I was completely humbled by her compliment, and got right to work on The Devil’s Candy! 

Lauren Smith: What has surprised you the most about this process? 

Lauren Sharman: Part of the reason I never considered writing a trilogy was because I thought for sure that I’d never be able to come up with such different stories about the same family and town.  To my surprise, I had plenty to write about!  Each brother has his own personality, views, and of course, issues.  They’re all different in their own way, but when it comes down to it, they’d lay down their lives for one another. 

Lauren Smith: How did you end up writing in the romantic-fiction genre, was it something you always enjoyed reading? 

Lauren Sharman: Historical romance is actually my favorite genre to read.  I love stories set during and after the Civil War, and in the old west.  My first novel, Growing Up Little, was a mainstream fiction with romantic elements.  When I began writing No Worries, I never set out for it to be a romance novel, but that’s just sort of the way the story developed.  I ran with it, and wound up with a page-turning romantic suspense!

  Lauren Smith: What's next for you? 

Lauren Sharman: Well, let’s just say that when the muse hits, it hits!

When Dusty Rose was complete, I set out to write a story completely different from The McCassey Brother’s Trilogy.  But one night, I woke from a dream that seemed so life-like to me that it was actually eerie.  The dream was about Blackie, Judd, and Rebel discovering that they have a younger, half-sister named Georgia.  I sat down one day and plotted out most of the book with my critique partners, then pitched it to Debi Womack from Whiskey Creek Press.  She was interested, so I set to work on the fourth book in the series.  Tentatively titled, If Walls Could Talk, Georgia McCassey’s book is due to be released September 1, 2008.