Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stacy Jane. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Stacy, appreciate you joining us today. One deeply underappreciated facet of being an entrepreneur or creative is the kind of crazy stuff that happens from time to time. It could be anything from a disgruntled client attacking an employee or waking up to find out a celebrity gave you a shoutout on TikTok – the sudden, unexpected hits (both positive and negative) make the profession both exhilarating and exhausting. Can you share one of your craziest stories?

The way I went from Author to Author/Artist is kind of wild. It all started when I wanted to draw character art for my stories—but I was brand new to digital art, so I cracked open Procreate and began practicing. To keep myself motivated, I made cute, feel-good mashups that gave me dopamine hits—think My Little Pony and Tamagotchi crossed with my favorite fandoms. What began as a ‘just for fun’ dopamine experiment quickly evolved: they were so cute, I decided to try selling them.

That’s when I launched Crass Cottontail (CrassCottontail.com), a brand you’d expect to find in an Artist Alley at a comic con—playful, geeky, sometimes spicy. I even vend at fandom-driven artist alley events now, because those are my people.

Eventually, I started sharing my character art online and landed a commission from another author—which happened to be NSFW, by the way—which really helped me stretch my creative wings. What started as a personal art side quest turned into a whole brand, and I’m loving the ride.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi, I’m Stacy Jane—author of the romantic thriller Saving Gypsy! I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. It started with poetry and short stories, scribbled in notebooks as a kid, and eventually blossomed into full-length novels during college. I write across genres, but romance is always at the heart of my stories—no matter how raw, gritty, or chaotic the world around it might be.

Right now, I’m deep in the editing trenches for my upcoming dystopian romance, Rain in the Wastelands. Think Mad Max with a twist of slow-burn desire—it follows a hardened mercenary who finds herself a prisoner in a brutal camp ruled by a savage group known as Skeeves. It’s dangerous, dark, and full of tension, just the way I like it.

You can follow along with my writing journey over on Instagram @StacyJaneWriter, where I share glimpses of life with my miniature pinscher, Minnie, character art I’ve illustrated, scenes from metro Atlanta, and the deliciously chaotic inspiration behind my stories.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of being a creative is bringing something into the world that didn’t exist before—whether it’s a story, a piece of art, or a hand-sewn project. I’ve been in love with creating for as long as I can remember. I won a school-wide art contest in the first grade, and that early spark led to a lifelong passion that’s taken on so many forms. Over the years, I’ve won various art, poetry, and short story contests, but it’s never just been about recognition. Only the satisfaction of making something meaningful with my own hands.

I’ve sewn everything from a yukata to doggy dresses, book sleeves, pouches, Halloween costumes, and Disneybounding outfits. I love turning raw materials into something beautiful and sometimes even fuctional. That same energy flows into my art. I create digital illustrations for my Crass Cottontail brand, drawing cute, geeky pieces you’d find at an Artist Alley. I also illustrate character art for my books, and I’ve even been commissioned to create NSFW art—something that pushed me creatively in a new and exciting way.

Being an artist lets me explore, experiment, and express myself across mediums. It’s not just a passion, but also how I experience the world and connect with others.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My creative journey has always been fueled by one big, glittering dream: to get my books on bookstore shelves the old-fashioned way—via traditional publishing. I’ve been chasing that dream like it owes me money. I’ve typed until my fingers felt like overcooked noodles, rewritten scenes a dozen different ways, and muttered plot ideas to myself in public with zero shame.

I’ve spent years leveling up my storytelling game—reading everything I could get my hands on, dissecting my favorite books like a literary mad scientist, and stubbornly learning from every plot twist and typo. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and how much I’ve grown. There’s something magical about seeing a character come to life, or a plot thread finally click into place—and knowing you made it happen.

I just want to share the worlds and weird little people who live in my head with as many readers as possible. I love these stories, and I want others to love them too—whether they laugh, cry, scream, or ship characters like their lives depend on it. That’s the dream. And I’m running at it full speed, fueled by tea, chaos, and heaps of love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://CrassCottontail.com
• Instagram: stacyjanewriter
• Other: Instagrams: @StacyJaneWriter and @CrassCottontail

  Linktree: http://linktr.ee/StacyJaneWriter and http://linktr.ee/CrassCottontail

Image Credits

@StacyJaneWriter @CrassCottontail