Today I'm excited to bring you an interview with Kay Cassidy, celebrating the release of her debut YA novel, THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY. I got to read the ARC of TCS and I loved it. Not only was it fun to read, but it gave me plenty to think about. This is a must read for all girls!
Kay is the kind of person who lives what she believes. You can see by her official bio below that she's not all talk when it comes to making a difference. I'm inspired by her, both as an author and as a person. Kay's part of my GCC blog tour sisterhood and a member of Teen Fiction Cafe where I feel lucky to rub sh
oulders (so to speak) with her. If you haven't 'met' Kay yet, I am happy to introduce her to you!The Author:
Kay cassidy is the author of teen fiction she wishes was based on her real life. She is the founder of the national Great Scavenger Hunt Contest TM reading program for kids and teens and the host of the inspirational Living Your FiveTM web project. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, movies, music and reading. Lots and lots of reading. She hopes her debut YA novel, THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY will help girls embrace their inner Cindy.
You can find more about Kay on her website, on her blog, and by following her on facebook and twitter.
The Book:
What a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn't want to wear it anymore?
Sixteen year old Jess Parker has always been an outsider. So when she receives an invitation to join The Cinderella Society, a secret society of the most popular girls in school, it's like something out of a fairy tale. Swept up by the Cindys' magical world of makeovers, and catching the eye of her Prince Charming, Jess feels like she's finally found her chance to fit in.
Then the Wickeds--led by Jess's arch-enemy--begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers there's more to being a Cindy than reinventing yourself on the outside. She has unknowingly become part of a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil, and now the Cindys in charge need Jess for a mission that could change everything.
Overwhelmed, Jess wonders if The Cinderella Society made a mistake in choosing her. Is it a coincidence her new boyfriend doesn't want to be seen with her in public? And is this glamorous, secret life even what she wants, or will she risk her own happy ending to live up to the expectations of her new sisters?
The interview:
If you could hang out with any literary character, who would you choose and why?
Well, other than wanting to hang out with Jess and the Cindys in The Cinderella Society (in hopes that they would invite me to be a part of the secret society too – I'm sadly still waiting for my invitation)… I would probably want to hang out with Cammie and her friends in Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series. How cool to learn the ways of a spy, you know?
Are you superstitious in any way?
A little bit. I have a routine I go through before going to bed every night. It's not so much a superstition that something bad will happen if I don't do it, but I always feel unsettled if I've skipped the nightly routine. :-)
Do you have any special writing rituals or totems to connect with your muse?
I have a playlist for each book that really helps me get into the zone of the book. It's particularly helpful on those days when life is crazy and it's hard to make the shift from phones ringing, laundry washing, and dogs barking to really feel in the moment of the story.
What songs would make the playlist for The Cinderella Society?
Some of the songs would give away story points, but the theme song of the book is Soar by Christina Aguilera. Jess's theme song is Who I Am by Jessica Andrews, and Ryan's theme song is Savin' Me by Nickelback. I love the soundtrack.
What's one thing most people don't know about you?
I am a ridiculously bad cook. You know how some people joke that they could burn water? I'm pretty sure I could burn air. Even though I'm very organized and detailed-oriented in other areas of my life, I dissolve into a puddle of incompetence in the kitchen. I'm terrible at timing dishes to come out at the same time, so me putting together a special dinner is cause for celebration. Me putting together a special dinner that a) is not burned, b) does not have any food that is cold or congealed by serving time, and c) does not irreversibly damage anyone's tastebuds is a miracle of biblical proportions. And cause for me to reward myself with something nice like more awesome YA books. Or a pony.
What's your favorite quote?
I have Live – Laugh – Love plaques and items all over my house. It's not so much a quote as it is a mantra for me. I have a tendency to forget to slow down and breathe sometimes, and it helps me remember to savor the moment.
My favorite quote would have to be "Be the change you wish to see in the world." by Mahatma Gandhi. It's what inspired me to found Living Your FiveTM in 2009.
What are you working on now?
Right now I'm working on the sequel to The Cinderella Society. Cindy on a Mission follows the further adventures of Jess and the Sisters as the Wickeds launch an offensive that threatens everything the Cindys hold dear. Cindy on a Mission will be on shelves in S
pring 2011.The Freebie:
For this week's freebie, Kay is offering this way cool special edition TCS mini glass slipper. (Want!) To be entered to win, please leave a comment below telling us at least one thing that is special and unique about YOU!
This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, April 28.
