Interview with Kay Cassidy

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.

More about Kay's book, The Cinderella Society:

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?

Q&A:

What's a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write? Are there daily writing goals you set?

I think that, like most writers, there's not really a typical working day for me. So much depends on my external commitments that it varies widely from day to day. But I'm actually working hard to change that because I work best when I know exactly what needs to get done on a particular day and just do it.

My ideal day would be writing in the morning with a break for a healthy lunch. Story brainstorming and administration work in the afternoon and then checking email after a healthy mid-afternoon snack.

More likely, my day involves all manner of: answering questions from Great Scavenger Hunt Contest librarians and getting new ones enrolled, trying to tame the chaos that Wordpress occasionally wreaks on my blogging life, brainstorming a little, marketing a lot, writing a little, rarely remembering to eat lunch and then wondering why I desperately want a nap in the afternoon.

But I AM going to change that as soon as I get through the hectic time known as book launch. No really, I am. :-)

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

I love when people ask me about books I've read that I love. I could talk books for HOURS and not get tired in the least. So I would probably want to someone to ask me what book most changed my outlook on life.

For me, it's actually a non-fiction book titles Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck. I was in limbo, having just left my corporate career and finished my MBA only to graduate shortly before September 11th. My new job evaporated and I was left wondering what I really wanted out of my life. I found that book and it really resonated with me—and then discovered my good friend Jenn had just read it too! So it was something that really spurred me on to figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up.

If you weren't a writer, what would you be?

I would probably want to be a librarian. I actually looked at getting my MLS degree several years ago, but couldn't swing the schedule with my family commitments. Good thing or I might not be a YA author now! :-)

What genre do you enjoy reading? Do you limit yourself to reading only the genre that you write?

I read a little bit of everything. YA is so diverse that I can always find something new and different to read. I've been on a dystopian YA kick for a bit, but I've mixed in some middle grades mysteries, some women's fiction, and a bit of non-fiction to shake things up a bit. (I love non-fiction.)

What's next for you?

Next up is the sequel to The Cinderella Society, titled Cindy on a Mission! Cindy on a Mission will hit shelves in Spring 2011. It follows the further adventures of Jess and the Sisters when the Wickeds score a major win that threatens everything the Cindys hold dear.

Thank you Kay for stopping by and answering all of my questions! I can't wait until the next book comes out! Read my review of Kay's book if you want to know my thoughts on it!