Sasha Cross Interview Published on: 06, Mar 2026
You jokingly blame “broody billionaires” for your writing career—what was the first romance trope that completely ruined you in the best way?
The first trope that completely ruined me—in the best way—was grumpy/sunshine. There is something addictive about watching a hardened, emotionally unavailable man slowly unravel for the one woman who refuses to be intimidated.
Your stories are full of fake relationships and forbidden tension. What is it about almost but not quite love that hooks you as a writer?I love the tension of “almost.” The longing, the restraint, the rules they shouldn’t break. That fragile space between what’s agreed upon and what’s real is where the emotional electricity lives.
Your heroines are smart, messy, and boldly imperfect. How intentional is that choice, and do you see pieces of yourself in them?Very intentional. I don’t write perfect heroines because I don’t believe in them. My women are ambitious, flawed, emotional, and strong in messy ways. There are pieces of me in all of them—especially the stubborn parts.
Grumpy, emotionally unavailable heroes are clearly your weakness. What makes a broody hero irresistible rather than frustrating?A broody hero becomes irresistible when there’s vulnerability under the armor. If readers can see the wound beneath the silence, they’ll lean in instead of pull away.
How do you balance high heat with deep emotional damage—the kind that “hurts so good”?For me, heat only works when it’s tied to emotion. Physical intimacy should reveal something raw—fear, trust, surrender. That’s where the “hurts so good” feeling comes from.
What scene type is hardest for you to write: the banter, the angst, or the emotionally devastating love confession?The emotionally devastating love confession is always the hardest. It has to feel earned. If the groundwork isn’t solid, it falls flat.
You’ve said your books can cause Kindles to overheat and sleep schedules to collapse—what do you hope readers feel when they finally turn the last page?When readers turn the last page, I hope they feel wrung out in the best way—satisfied, breathless, and maybe a little emotional. I want the story to linger.
Do you start a story knowing how broken your hero will be by the end, or do you let the heroine completely derail your plans?I usually know the hero’s wound before I start. But the heroine often surprises me and shifts the path to healing in ways I didn’t initially plan.
Fake relationships are a fan-favorite trope. What’s your favorite moment to write—the agreement, the first crack in the façade, or the accidental real feelings?My favorite moment is the first crack in the façade. The instant when one of them realizes the feelings aren’t pretend anymore—that’s the turning point.
How do you know when you’ve pushed the emotional tension just enough—right before readers start yelling at the book?I push tension until I feel uncomfortable. If I’m slightly nervous about whether readers will forgive a character, I know I’m close to the right edge.
What’s a plot twist you’ve written that made you stop, stare at the screen, and whisper, “I did not see that coming”?A recent twist involving betrayal from someone the hero trusted deeply genuinely surprised me. It changed the emotional stakes of the entire story.
You joke about crying over your own stories—have you ever surprised yourself with how deeply a scene hit?Yes. There have been scenes where I had to step away from my laptop because the emotion felt too real. Those are usually the scenes readers respond to most strongly.
What’s your writing ritual: cold coffee, chaos, or pure emotional destruction?My writing ritual is controlled chaos. Coffee, quiet music, and fully immersing myself in emotional intensity until the scene feels alive.
If a reader is picking up their first Sasha romance, what promise are you making to them on page one?On page one, I promise readers tension, chemistry, emotional depth, and a love story that feels earned—not easy.
What has your AllAuthor experience been like so far? What are some highlights?My AllAuthor experience has been wonderful so far. The exposure, networking opportunities, and the way the platform connects authors with readers have been highlights for me.
