Looking Forward
Guest Post by Christine Amsden
When I talk about Cassie Scot I'm usually not talking about the book, Cassie Scot:
In fact, Cassie's story is complete. There are four volumes in the series, all written, all under contract, and all pending release within the next year or so. Each of the volumes is framed by a self-contained mystery, which should give the reader some sense of closure at the end. Personal, romantic, and familial problems remain, however, and these issues are what I think of as Cassie's story. The first book is about Cassie solving a murder/missing person mystery. The series is about Cassie discovering who she is and what she wants. I suppose that part doesn't play as well in a teaser, but I think it's relevant. To some extent, we all strive to figure out who we are and how to accept ourselves. This is never more true than when faced with the disapproval or disappointment of parents – something Cassie knows all-too well.
Cassie isn't the only one going through a period of self-discovery. To a lesser extent Evan Blackwood is trying to figure out who he is and what he wants. Well, he's sure about one thing – and if you've read the epilogue to book one you know what that is. He's confused about much of the rest. In stark contrast to Cassie, Evan has a lot of magical power and he doesn't want to be like his father –using that power for his own wealth/comfort and little else. At the same time, Evan is used to getting his way and he has the power to take most of what he wants. On the surface this may seem like a good thing, but in Secrets and Lies, book two in the Cassie Scot series, he will learn differently. It was a challenge to show him going through this sort of transformation from Cassie's point of view, but I hope the reader sees it.
When I look at the series as a whole, one of the choices I have often found myself questioning is the use of vampires in the first book. This may seem like an odd thing to say. I mean, it's urban fantasy. Of course it has vampires! Well...
I didn't plan to write the first book right away. In those early weeks, I thought I would write a long short story or novella as a sort of proof of concept. There were a lot of important details popping around in my mind – Cassie character, her family, the town, the rules of magic, the love interest – somewhere in the middle of all that I decided to test the waters with vampires because it's simple. Everyone knows them. They don't require a lot of thought. I don't know when they became permanent, but somewhere along the line I knew I was writing a whole novel instead of a short story, and by then the plot had stuck.
Vampires are not at all important to the overall story. It's not the last you'll see of them, but they don't have a huge part to play. If you're a vampire fan, sorry, but hopefully you love Cassie enough to stick with her. Those who are sick of vampires in fantasy, bear with me. And know that these vampires are Stoker-esque (and not even a little bit sparkly :) ).
“There isnothing so evilin the worldas what humans cando to oneanother.” –Edward Scot (Cassie's father). This may have almost seemed like a throwaway comment in book one, but it wasn't. It definitely becomes important later on, and it's something I firmly believe. I've never thought fantasy novels needed literal demons to fight. Give a human being power, and let's see what he decides to do with it. History has shown us that it isn't always pretty.
The last time I revised the first book in this series, I had completed the final volume. This means that I had my plan fully formed and implemented. There are a couple of little things in the first book that you probably won't even think about unless you go back and reread it sometime after you finish the series. Then you'll think, “Oh, she did have a plan!”
I love it when authors do that. I hope I've pulled it off to your satisfaction as well.
Book Two Teasers:
1. Cassie is going to learn something very important about her mother that she never knew.
2. Kaitlin and Madison will take on bigger roles, and
each will develop a problem of her own.
3. Edward Scot (Cassie's dad) and
Victor Blackwood (Evan's dad) will come face to face. Their mutual
enmity will not be in doubt.
4. The reader will learn one more of the
reasons why Edward hates Victor.
5. The mystery will be the search for
two teenage girls who went missing from a summer camp.
6. The life debt
Cassie owes Evan will be a big deal.
Secrets and Lies by Christine Amsden
Cassie
Scot,still stinging from her parents’ betrayal, wants out of the
magical world. But it isn’t letting her go. Her family is falling apart
and despite everything, it looks like she may be the only one who can
save them.
To
complicate matters, Cassie owes Evan her life, making it difficult for
her to deny him anything he really wants. And he wants her. Sparks fly
when they team up to find two girls missing from summer camp, but
long-buried secrets may ruin their hopes for happiness. Book 2 in the
Cassie Scot Mystery series.
Purchase Your Copy from AMAZON.
About the author:
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.
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Thanks so much for sharing my series with your readers!
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