Interview With Author Kay Cassidy

*Please note that THIS is the post the dastardly blog thief stole while I was away at work on Wednesday. I hunted it down through the blogosphere and nabbed it for myself again with the clever use of stilettos, duct tape, and some really delicious tacos. Enjoy*



I met Kay Cassidy in the spring of 2008 when we were both Golden Heart finalists. She was warm, generous, and intelligent, and I was so excited when she sold her debut book THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY to Egmont for release in spring 2010. A few months later, my book was getting attention from several agents, and Kay stepped in with an introduction to her agent: Holly Root. The rest, as they say, is history, and I'm forever grateful to Kay for her generous introduction to my agent of awesomesauce. :) When I started inviting authors to be interviewed on the blog, I couldn't wait to include Kay!

Here's a peek at THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY:

What's 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?


Kay chose to be interviewed by that bastion of awesomeness, the Were-llama.

Were-llama



Kay Cassidy



Now that you know who's who, let's dive into the interview and reveal the gorgeous cupcake my hubby made for Kay. Actually, in a radical departure from the norm, my hubby made a miniature CAKE instead of a cupcake. In honor of Kay's beautiful cover (and maybe in honor of my own obsession with shoes), he made an cake worthy of Cinderella herself. Without further ado, I give you the cake and Kay's interview with the Were-llama.



1. So, you’re a writer. I’m a super-scary shape-shifter who can command obedience with the awesome power of my glowing red eyes. What do we have in common?

I like the color red. Red is pretty. And also scary.

2. You dare call my glowing eyes of death pretty? *gazes in a mirror* Hmm ... I see your point. I like to spit at my enemies from whichever end is closest to them. Do any of your characters have cool abilities like that?

Jess can coordinate a volunteer project with one hand tied behind her back and no access to phones or the Internet. That is a seriously major feat.

3. As long as the project she's coordinating involves helping me achieve world domination, I'll be impressed. If I had a nickname, it would be The Awesome. You?

Princess Fabulosity (P-Fab for short)

4. I'd address you by your nickname, but Were-llamas can't say "fabulosity" without losing street cred. I hang around this blog because I love stories. What’s your story about? Bonus points if it includes a llama.

THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY is about a secret girl power society dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world. It also involves kissing. (But no spitting.)

5. The power of a face-full of spit in any campaign to defeat a nemesis cannot be overstated. You’re making me a cake worthy of my awesome Were-llama status and decorating it to represent your story. What does it look like?

It would have to be pink to match the cover, but we would make it more of a reddish-pink so it complements your eyes. It would also have a glass slipper on top. Do Were-llamas wear shoes? If so, it would be a were-llama-sized glass slipper that you may keep to taunt any wicked Were-llama stepsisters that may come your way.

6. Were-llamas do not require shoes. Were-llamas do, however, require cake. Any Were-llamas in your book?

I suspect some of the Wickeds are Were-llamas in disguise.

7. Anyone who might be a Were-llama and you just haven’t figured it out yet?

Lexy is my best guess, though I think Tina has some Were-llama blood in her heritage too.

8. I approve of any story in which the awesomeness of Were-llamas is accurately represented. I trust you'll make sure both Lexy and Tina spit at their enemies at least once. Llamas or camels and why? Think carefully.

Camels. (Wipes spit from face.) GEEZ, can't you take a joke? Of COURSE it would be Were-llamas. As if.

9. That's more like it. I give you a baby Were-llama as a companion. What do you name her?

Precioussssss.

10. My favorite word is “awesome” because, yanno, look at me. What’s yours?

Hmm… probably a tie between Dude and Awesome. Or possibly Woohoo! (Always with an exclamation point.)

11. Were-llamas don't use exclamation points. The power of our glowing red eyes is all the exclamation point we need. As a young Were-llama, I dreamt of taking over the eastern seaboard one face full of spit at a time. What did you dream of doing when you were young?

At various times, I wanted to be a college professor, the CFO of a Fortune 500 company, a bacterial epidemiologist, and an actress. All of which seem strange and bizarre now.

12. Were-llama approves of strange and bizarre. Cake or cookies?

If it's chocolate cake vs. chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven, I'd choose the cookies. If it's oatmeal raisin cookies vs. cherry chip cake with cherry frosting, I'd choose the cake. However, red velvet cupcakes with chocolate chunks and cream cheese frosting trump all.

13. You have excellent taste in baked goods. Were-llama may come to your house for dessert when you least expect it. Do you share chocolate?

(Snort.) Yeah, all the time. (Insert much laughter here.)

14. Were-llama senses mockery and is now determined to take your chocolate by force if necessary. The Zombie Goat invasion is upon us. How will you fight them off?

What do you mean me? You're the Were-llama, are you not? I will fight them off by telling you how wonderful and strong and mercenary you are so that you will protect me and I can go eat red velvet cupcakes and watch the invasion on CNN.

Were-llama accepts your flattery and also absconds with your cupcakes.


Thanks for the fun interview, Kay! And for writing such an enjoyable book. To learn more about Kay and her books, please visit her site. Of course, the fun isn't over yet. Kay is giving away a gorgeous glass slipper bookmark to one lucky commenter!



Kay's Giveaway:

One lucky reader will win that beautiful bookmark!(No international entries) Here's how to enter.

1. Earn entries:

*Comment on this post with a question or comment for Kay = 1 entry (Kay would love to hear your favorite example of girl power!)

*Be a follower of this blog = 2 entries

*Tweet the link to this interview = 3 entries (Use @cjredwine or leave url to tweet in your comment so I can see it.)

*Post a link on your Facebook page = 3 entries (Leave the link in your comment.)

*Post the contest on your blog = 3 entries (Include link in your comment.)


2. Tally it up: Please tally up your entries and leave the total in your comment.


3. Check back: The contest is open until 8 p.m. Monday, August 9th. Please check back to see if you've won and to claim your prize.