Guest Post: Casey Layne

Thank you so much to Jus Accardo for inviting me to blog today! I’m stepping away from my children’s picture book series, BACK ALLEY PUPSTERS, to focus on my upcoming YA, DIARY OF A PAGEANT QUEEN. I have to admit, this is my favorite work yet. Probably has something to do with me having another career as a pageant coach of twenty plus years! That, and Magnolia embodies my trademark “Sassy and Southern.”

There is no release date on this book yet, but I wanted to go ahead and introduce it and myself to Young Adult audiences since I’m better known in the adult contemporary romance world under another pen name. 

 

Magnolia Vaughn is convinced the den of Satan looks identical to a pageant dress shop, but when her twin sister breaks a leg, Magnolia sheds her softball cleats for high heels. Stepping up to this plate is a whole lot harder than pitching a no hitter but at least super hot Dylan is her escort while sister Veranda appoints herself as Magnolia’s self-proclaimed pageant coach. Let the spray tan and lip waxing begin!     

Another thing I enjoy about DAIRY OF A PAGEANT QUEEN is how Magnolia is such a Daddy’s girl. He’s always giving her advice—like not dating Dylan because he’s a bit older. Okay, Magnolia doesn’t exactly like that tidbit, but other Daddy Euphemisms are pretty invaluable. 

My own dad makes it a point to impart some words of wisdom every time we chat. Here are a couple of his sayings: 

"Sometimes you gotta have more nerve than a toothache."

"Heed your gut. Let me repeat. Heed your gut."

"Keep on truckin'."

And my personal favorite...

"Make the most of what you've got. If you've only got one leg then do what you have to do to win a wooden peg ass kickin' contest."

Any parental words of wisdom you'd like to share? I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks again for having me!

Casey Layne grew up on a dirt road outside a small, Southwest Alabama town where fishing and four-wheeler riding were a way of life, but only while wearing lip gloss! She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Alabama with a BS in Business Management and Minor in Dance.  The highlight of her career at Alabama (ROLL TIDE!) was winning Miss University of Alabama. She also has had the honor of being a NASCAR spokesmodel. Casey received her Master of Business Administration from the University of Mobile, also as a Summa Cum Laude graduate, and now has a day job in sales. 

A former competitor in the Miss USA and Miss America pageant systems, Casey is now a certified Miss America judge and nationally sought after pageant coach with over twenty years experience. She has worked with hundreds of clients, but her predominant clientele competes in Miss Teen USA/Miss USA, Miss America, Mrs. America and Distinguished Young Woman (Jr. Miss). On occasion, she also works as a professional model, actress and pageant emcee.  She has appeared in print, film and television, including the major motion picture Oculus.

In her spare time (*cough*), Casey enjoys taking a "seriously hard" advanced jazz class and spending time with her two children. She is addicted to The Hallmark Channel.

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Check out her book, Back Alley Pupsters on Amazon and Barnes and Noble!