Please Welcome Christine Amsden to Creatively Green Today!
Christine, Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming
release.
Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of
powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all
she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private
investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is
pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome
sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.
At least, that's the book blurb. From the heart –
this is about a young woman who is clever, brave, and compassionate. She's not
the traditional fantasy heroine because she's not the “chosen one” or the most
powerful one. Just the opposite in fact. She's everyman, but through her we see
that there isn't just one way to be a hero. Cassie herself will also have to
learn this over the course of the series (4 books). Her journey of self-acceptance
only just begins in this first book, but it is one of the most important
aspects of the overall story to me.
Are you a mom ?
Yes! I have two beautiful children, 5 and 7.
If yes do you find it hard to juggle writing and
parenting?
Yes! In fact, this is the first year that both of my
kids will be in school all day and I'm torn between missing them and being so
excited at how much more time I'll be able to spend writing! This summer I
spent months chipping away at a rough draft in between interruptions. School
started and within two days I had it done. Lesson for future me: Just take the
summer off. :)
Have you ever based your book or characters on
actual events or people from your own life?
Not really, no. Of course everything I write is
influenced by things I've seen, heard, and read. But I have never intentionally
modeled an entire character after anyone, even if I might have borrowed a trait
here, a name there.
Is there a theme or message in your work that you
would like readers to connect to?
Readers are welcome to simply enjoy if they like,
but yes, I've got a few themes/messages sprinkled throughout the esries.
Self-acceptance is probably the biggest. Cassie struggles with her lack of
magic in a magical world, but she has other talents if she can just learn to
embrace who she is instead of who she thinks she should be.
What would your readers be surprised to learn about
you?
I'm legally blind. I'm drafting this interview
response in 36-point font. (Don't worry, I'll reduce it before I mail it in!)
When you’re not writing what do you do? Do you have
any hobbies or guilty pleasures?
I love to play games – board, card, role-playing,
whatever! I'm also a chocolate snob. I'm trying to teach my children the
difference between real chocolate and, say, Hershey's, but they still seem
about as excited to get a chocolate kiss as a Lindt truffle.
Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you
don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?
The Time Traveler's Wife.
Honestly, what a wonderful idea! But I really didn't care for the book. There
aren't many books I feel this way about, but in that one case I wish I could
write my own version. Maybe in twenty years or so, when the book isn't fresh in
people's minds anymore? We'll see.
Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is
your favorite and why?
Cassie. She was vivid from the start and was one of
those characters who demanded her story be written. I couldn't say no to her
even if I had wanted to. She's strong, vulnerable, sassy, compassionate, and
just so very real.
If this book is part of a series…what is the next
book? Any details you can share?
Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot #2) will be available
November 15, 2013 – not too far away! It starts off right where the first book
ends, with Cassie in serious debt to Evan Blackwood and having problems with
her family. I'm excited for the upcoming release of book two. I think the
direction I took it may surprise some readers. Hopefully in a good way!
What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled
upcoming releases or works in progress?
Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot #2) will be out in
November. Check out my website for more information on that one. Mind Games
(Cassie Scot #3) and Dreamer (Cassie Scot #4) are under contract and scheduled
for release in 2014. After that... a couple of characters demanded spin-offs so
I'm working on those right now!
Thanks for having me here today.
Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective
Cassie Scot Book One
Christine Amsden
Genre: Urban Fantasy (paranormal, mystery, romance, new adult)
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Date of Publication: May 15, 2013
ISBN: 9781606197
ASIN:B00C7VR69I
Number of pages: 260
Word Count: 85,000
Cover Artist: Ural Akyutz
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/UPWGTW5OHG4
Book Description:
Short Version:
Award-winning author Christine Amsden has written stories since she was eight, always with a touch of the strange or unusual. She became a “serious” writer in 2003, after attending a boot camp with Orson Scott Card. She finished Touch of Fate shortly afterward, then penned The Immortality Virus, which won two awards.
Long Version:
Christine Amsden has been writing science fiction and fantasy for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.
At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams. (You can learn more here.)
In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work.
Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children, Drake and Celeste.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristineAmsden
a Rafflecopter giveaway
2 comments:
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing the great interview and the giveaway. Sounds like a great book. evamillien at gmail dot com
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