Today I am very excited to welcome Kay Cassidy. I recently had the pleasure of reading her debut, The Cinderella Society and loved it. The message in the book is so important, it's too bad every high school didn't have a chapter, LOL. I had the chance to ask her a few questions, I hope you enjoy the interview :)
Can you tell us about TCS.
The Cinderella Society is about an outsider who gets tapped to join a secret society of good populars dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world. It's about girl empowerment: getting comfortable in your own skin and being true to who you are. It also deals with the effects of girl bullies and what unconditional friendship really means. And, of course, there are cute guys and lots of kissing. Romance rocks. :-)
How many books are planned in the series?
Right now, the series is open-ended. I'm under contract for the first two books, so we'll have to see what happens after that! :-)
Having confidence in yourself and respecting yourself & others are so important & powerful messages found in TCS. You are also the host of Living Your Five™. I hate to sound cliché, but what was your inspiration?
I'm a big believer in feeling good about who you are and using your unique talents to make a difference in the world. I think there are so many negative influences out there – convincing us we have to look better, act better, *be* better – that it can be difficult to break through that emotional sludge and enjoy life. That's what the Cindys (and Living Your FiveTM) are all about!
The person I related most to in TCS was Jess - I floated among the "in" crowd & the "Reggies". Which character are you closest to?
Jess and I have a lot in common. We have similar teen insecurities, were both cheerleaders who sort of skirted the edges of popularity by association but never felt a part of that crowd, and had friends who were Cindys and Reggies (and even one or two Wickeds). Jess is much more driven by making a difference than I was at that age though. I admire that about her.
My favorite scene to read was the last date Jess went on where she dresses up to impress & it backfires. What was your favorite scene to write?
That one! It's my favorite scene of the book. It was 2am, I'd already written 50 pages that day, but this was the scene I'd been working toward the entire book and it flowed like no scene I've ever written before or since. It was so true to the vision in my head that the scene in the final book is almost verbatim what it was in my first draft. That almost never happens because I edit a LOT. My second favorite was the phone call scene between Jess and Ryan when she's sitting in her closet. His parting line is probably my favorite Ryan line in the book.
Can you tell us a bit about book #2 - Cindy on a Mission
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 Spring 2011.
Thanks so much Kay!
About 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?
Teaser:
I opened the card, my hands trembling in dread and the faint remnants of what I used to call hope, as a tiny silver high-heel pin bounced into my hand.
I juggled the pin for a second, barely managing to keep it from falling, and flipped open the note with my other hand. The words inside were not a message but an invitation that sent shivers down my spine:
Your presence is requested at The Grind.
Tonight, 7 p.m.
Wear the pin.
Discretion MANDATORY
About 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 ContestTM 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 (April 13, 2010 - Egmont), will help girls embrace their inner Cindy.
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