Interview with Cathy Cassidy



Cathy in Paris researching for new younger book, Daizy Star Ooh La La...

I was over the moon when Cathy Cassidy agreed to do an interview for A Reading Daydreamer!  She has written many best-selling books that are popular among girls around the world and I am sure that you have read at least one of her fabulous books.  She founded the My Best Friend Rocks Award (of which I was a finalist in 2008!), giving us a chance to nominate our wonderful best friends and highlighting just how important friendship is.  Let me hand over to Cathy (Queen of Teen 2010), who answers questions about writing, daydreaming and more…

                                                                                                              

Welcome to A Reading Daydreamer.  Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hello, all you daydreamers! I'm Cathy Cassidy and I write books for young teens and pre-teens... and I'm a daydreaming addict!

When did you decide that you wanted to become an author?

I've wanted to be writer since I was very small... it seemed the most logical thing to do with a head full of stories!

What did you work as before you became an author?

Lots of things! I studied to be an illustrator, then worked as a magazine journalist on the legendary Jackie magazine. I've worked as an art teacher, a magazine agony aunt, an illustrator and a freelance journalist, as well as stints as a waitress and petrol pump attendant!

What was your reaction when you found out that Dizzy was going to be published and what challenges did you overcome to see your writing in print?

It felt like the best thing ever, a dream coming true after many, many years. The biggest challenge to getting published was learning to write a book length story - it takes some discipline! I'd trained myself to write short stories but getting a whole novel written was a big challenge to me.

Which of your books was the most fun to write and why?

Probably Dizzy, the first - no deadlines, no worries about whether my publisher or readers would like it, just the excitement of knowing I had finally pushed past chapter two or three and was actually writing a book!

Which character out of all of your books do you think you are most alike?

I've been told that Miss Quinn, the art teacher in Driftwood, is a thinkly disguised version of me...

What gives you inspiration for your books?

Everything - things I see, hear, dream, remember, imagine. Inspiration is all around. Once an idea takes hold, I daydream about it - and if I am lucky a story unfolds.

Summer’s Dream, the third book in The Chocolate Box Girls series, is out in June.  Can you tell us a bit about it?

It picks up the story from the point of view of Summer Tanberry, whose dream is to be a dancer. The story opens with a fantastic new opportunity for Summer, one that soon has her pushing herself to the limits. Can she handle the pressure, or will the dream turn into a nightmare? 

Are you planning to write a book that’s aimed for older teenagers?

Well, Honey will be 15 or 16 in the final Chocolate Box Girls book, Sweet Honey, which should please my older readers! There are no plans to write older teen books however, apart from that - I wouldn't want to write anything that was 'unsuitable' for my current readers to enjoy!

How does it feel to be such a popular author?

It's awesome... my dream was to be a published author, so to be popular as well is the icing on the cake. I get countless emails and letters from readers who have connected with the stories and loved them, and that means the world to me.

And finally, do you like to read and daydream?

I love reading, and if I am especially busy I sometimes set my alarm an hour earlier so I can squeeze in some reading time! Daydreaming is something I just can't help doing. It's how all my stories start, a delicious creative state halfway between imagination and reality.

Quick-fire Questions:

Dogs or cats: Both, but tending towards dogs at the moment...

Coffee or hot chocolate: Again, both, but a skinny latte is my perfect treat.

Mac or PC: Mac. Always. No contest.

Reading or writing: Both... I couldn't have one without the other!

Early bird or night owl: Early bird.

Sam or Shay: Hmmm. So hard to choose! I'd probably pick Sam, but I have a soft spot for all of my boy heroes...

Book or e-book: Book. I don't have an i-pad or kindle yet, although I wouldn't rule it out... but cannot imagine anything taking the place of a fabulous book.

Thank you very much Cathy for taking time to answer all my questions; it has been a pleasure interviewing you!

Please visit Cathy's website: http://www.cathycassidy.com/ or click HERE to like Cathy's Facebook fanpage.

Love, peace and chocolate,

Beverley x