Monday, July 1, 2013

Tour Kick Off - Meet and Greet - Cassie Scot: Paranormal Detective



New Adult / Paranormal Romance/ Mystery
Date Published: 5/15/2013

Synopsis: 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.


#1 – Do You See Writing as a Career?

Yes, I do. It's not the most lucrative career, and those expecting quick results need not apply, but writing is the only thing I've ever consistently wanted to do since I was a little girl. When I got married, my husband suggested I follow my dreams. I took the risk and though there have been ups and downs, I wouldn't change a thing. Currently, I also do freelance editing work to hep supplement my income, but my first career is writing.

#2 – What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process?

The psychology of writing is tough. You have to simultaneously believe you're the best writer ever, and the worst – thinking you're okay isn't going to work. That doesn't motivate you the same way. When you're the best, you have the motivation to finish. When you're the worst, you have the openness to critique required for a strong story. But as you can imagine, this creates highs and lows throughout the process...times when you want to quit and times when you couldn't if you wanted to!

#3 – Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with Your Writing Outside of Your Family?

Orson Scott Card has an annual by-audition “boot camp” that I attended in 2003. It was invaluable, and he has proven to be a good ally even after his class ended. He's always willing to help a former student, whether it's going over a publishing contract or mentioning their successes on his own website.

#4 – What is next for your writing?

The Cassie Scot series is four books long – all four books have been finished but the process of publishing them will take a lot of my time for the next year. I may write two spin-off novels because two of the secondary characters stood up and demanded their own stories. That was unintentional, but the fact that they came to life like that has to be a good thing! I have a very rough draft of one of those spin-offs, but I set it aside in order to work on something completely different, a new book about dreamwalkers that might also become a series. The one problem with Cassie Scot is that it has one entry point – the series needs to be ready in order starting from book one. Even the spin-offs won't stand alone. So I'd like to have a completely separate story set in its own unique world. My problem: I'm having trouble getting Cassie out of my head! Just when I think I have a handle on Amy and Nick, I read a new review of Cassie Scot, or write a new guest blog, or get the revision notes from my editor and there she is – alive and loud in my head!

#5 – Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing? If so, what are you currently reading?

Yes, I have an addiction to reading! At the moment I'm reading Dream Eyes by Jayne Ann Krentz, a paranormal mystery/romance. I love that combo and read it whenever I can. I read plenty of romance and urban fantasy. I also read some science fiction, and whatever else catches my interest/mood.

DESCRIBE Your Book in 1 Tweet:

The ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds, is pulled into a paranormal case and tempted by a handsome sorcerer.

This or That?

#1 - iPd or Mp3? Mp3

#2 – Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocoalte

#3 – Mashed Potatoes or French Fries? Mashed Potatoes

#4 – Comedy or Drama? Drama

#5 – Danielle Steel or Nicholas Sparks? Don't care for Steel; haven't read Sparks

#6 – Fantasy or Reality? Fantasy

#7 – Call or Text? Call

#8 – Public School or Home School? Public School

#9 – Coffee or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate


#10 – eBook or Paperback? Audiobook (I'm legally blind. I literally cannot read paperback, and while I can manage most ebooks on the largest font setting, I find the process tedious. I read ebooks when I'm desperate for a title that I can't get in audio format.)





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.
When she's not writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing, usually at Savvy Authors. She also offers professional editing services. She maintains a book review blog on her website with occasional writing tips thrown in for the fun of it.
Christine lives in the Kansas City area with her husband and two children. 

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.” 


July 2 - Logikal Blog - Guest Post/PROMO
July 3 - Booke Blogs - Guest Post/PROMO
July 4 - My Reading Addiction - Review
July 5 - Kil0u & Mimi - Interview/PROMO
July 8 - Word to Dreams - PROMO
July 9 - A Life Through Books - Review
July 10 - Books, Books, the Magical Fruit- Guest Post/PROMO
July 12 - Mythical Books - PROMO
July 13 - Magnolia Blossom Review - Review/Interview
July 14 - Zili in the Sky - Review
July 15 - Mom With a Kindle - Interview/PROMO
July 16 - Andi's YA Books - Interview/PROMO
July 17 -Gimme the Scoop Reviews - Guest Post/PROMO
July 18 - The Readers Hollow - PROMO
July 19 - The Canon - Review
July 20 -Must Read Faster - Review/Guest Post
July 22 - Just Trying to Let it Be - PROMO
July 23 -Deal Sharing Aunt - Review/Interview
July 24 - Read Books and Live Green - Review
July 26 - Ali's Books - Review
July 28 - Teen Blurb - Review/Guest Post
July 29 - Texas Book Nook - Review
July 31 - RABT Reviews - Review 


3 comments:

  1. Ooh, sounds good and you are an inspiration Christine!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for saying so, Catherine. I've been absolutely overwhelmed by reactions to the book so far. Cassie is the best character I've ever written -- I'm actually have a little trouble with my follow-up act. I love her, and it is so humbling that readers are loving her as well.

      Now, back to revisions for book 3, Mind Games. Because I know everyone wants these sequels ASAP. :)

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