Secrets and Lies
by Christine Amsden
#5
Cassie Scot:
Looking Forward
When I talk about Cassie
Scot I'm usually not talking about the book, Cassie
Scot: ParaNormal
Detective. I'm usually talking about the
entire series. This is my third book, but my first series, so it has
been an interesting adjustment for me. In my mind, Cassie's story is
complete, even though for the reader it has barely begun.
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
is nothing
so evil
in the
world as what
humans can
do to
one another.”
– 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.
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, Drake and Celeste.
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Release Date: November 15, 2013Book Description:
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.
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Release Date: May 15, 2013
Book Description:
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.
Praise
for the Cassie Scot Series:
From Publisher’s Weekly:
“In this entertaining series opener, Amsden (The Immortality Virus) introduces readers to the eponymous Cassie, a decidedly mundane member of a magical family. …Readers will enjoy Cassie’s fish-out-of-water struggles as she fights magical threats with little more than experience and bravado.”
Kim Falconer, bestselling author of The Spell of Rosette, Quantum Enchantment Series, had this to say:
“When sorcerers call the shots, what’s a girl without powers to do? Get ready for a ripper of a murder mystery full of romance and intrigue, where magic potions bubble, passions spark and vampires are definitely not your friend. Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective grabs you by the heart and won’t let go until the very last page. Well written, immersive and unputdownable. This is urban fantasy at its best. More please!”
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