Cassie
Scot:
Evan
Blackwood Character Interview
My name is Christine
Amsden, author of the new urban fantasy novel Cassie
Scot: ParaNormal
Detective. This first volume in a (completed)
four-part series introduces us to Cassie, the ungifted daughter of
powerful sorcerers. Amidst
mystery, romance, and family feuds, this "new adult" series
shows us that there are many types of strength, and many ways to be a
hero.
With
me today is a more traditional hero from the novel. It
is my great pleasure to welcome Evan Blackwood, a young sorcerer with
a great deal of talent and potential. Plus, he's really good looking,
even if I did create him myself! :)
The 21-year-old Evan hails
from Eagle Rock, MO, where the existence of magic is accepted, if not
exactly understood. Evan, like most sorcerers in the area, is
tight-lipped when it comes to what he can do and how powerful he is,
but he graciously agreed to talk to me as long as I don't try to pry
into his family secrets.
Christine: Evan, thank you
for being here. I understand you've known our heroine, Cassie, for a
long time. How did you two meet?
Evan: Cassie and I met in
the first grade. I had never been to school or spent much time around
other kids, and I made a fool of myself. She helped me out. Took me
on as a project, you could say. That's sort of her style.
Christine: Did you know at
the time that your fathers were enemies?
Evan: No. I was six, and I
don't think I was that aware of what my father did unless it had
something to do with me. He told me later in the year, but by then it
was way too late.
Christine: So you and
Cassie have remained friends this whole time?
Evan: Sort of. Things got
a little awkward after I accidentally sent Paul Ellerson to the
hospital. She never said so, but I think she was a little afraid of
me after that. She was hardly alone. She got over it, but between
that and some rumors that started flying around about me, we weren't
quite as close in high school as we were before.
Christine: Are you talking
about the rumors that you cast love spells?
Evan: (Glares) Yes. Those
rumors.
Christine: Sorry. Sore
spot. I assume they weren't true?
Evan: Do you have any
other question?
Christine: Where have you
been for the past three years? After high school, you kind of fell
off the map.
Evan: Magical
apprenticeship. Henry Wolf took me on.
Christine: Henry Wolf?
Isn't he a little crazy? Lives in a cabin in the woods with no
running water or electricity?
Evan: He's brilliant. He
just thinks modern gizmos interfere with magic.
Christine: Is that true?
Evan: The first thing I'm
going to do when I finish my apprenticeship is buy a cell phone. Then
watch movies, starting with the Star Wars trilogy. The original
trilogy, not the prequels.
Christine: Why do you like
Star Wars so much?
Evan: It's a great
fantasy. Good on one side. Evil on the other. I wish the real world
was so easy to figure out.
Christine: Is there
anything in particular you're trying to figure out?
Evan: Lost of things. But
mostly, I worry because of the way my father and Cassie's father hate
one another. They both think they're right and the other is wrong. I
suppose I should side with my family and I do, but I wish I didn't
have to pick a side at all.
Christine: Because you're
in love with Cassie?
Evan: I didn't say that.
Christine: No, of course
not. So, what are your future plans? After you watch Star Wars, that
is?
Evan: I want to do some
good in the world. I've got a few ideas, but nothing concrete yet.
There are a few things I need to work out first.
Christine: And those few
things are...?
Evan: Private.
Christine: I see. And I
will leave you to that privacy, but first I have one last question.
Is there any advice you would be willing to give us about how to deal
with sorcerers?
Evan: Don't.
Christine: What if we
can't avoid it?
Evan: (Pauses) Ivy. Plant
some ivy to protect your home. And don't leave any blood lying
around.
Christine: Those sound
like good tips. Thank you for sharing your secrets.
Evan: They aren't secrets.
You can learn some basic magical self-protection on the Internet.
Although there's a lot of crazy stuff, too.
Christine: Any way to know
the difference?
Evan: For the average
person? Not really. But the average person probably isn't going to be
in danger. It's far worse if you have a tiny bit of talent you don't
know what to do with.
Christine: That sounds
like something we should talk about when the next book comes out. I
hope we'll see you back then.
Evan: Wait. What happens
in the next book?
Christine: Don't worry
about it. You've got to survive the first book first.
Evan: My grandmother is a
seer, you know.
Christine: I know. I
created her, too. But there are so many possible futures, I don't
know how much she'll be able to help you. I did rewrite the series
several times, after all.
Evan: (Glares again) I got
to go. Master Wolf is calling me.
Christine: Well then,
you'd better go. Thank you so much for being here with me today.
Evan: You aren't going to
hurt Cassie, are you?
Christine: Henry Wolf is
calling you.
Evan: All right, but for
the record, we're not done.
Christine: Absolutely not.
About The Author:
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. (You can learn more here.)
In
addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy
Authors.
She also does some freelance editing work.
Christine
currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who
has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two
beautiful children, Drake and Celeste.
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Release Date: May 15, 2013
Book Description:
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.
Praise
for the Cassie Scot Series:
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.”
Kim Falconer, bestselling author of The Spell of Rosette, Quantum Enchantment Series, had this to say:
“When sorcerers call the shots, what’s a girl without powers to do? Get ready for a ripper of a murder mystery full of romance and intrigue, where magic potions bubble, passions spark and vampires are definitely not your friend. Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective grabs you by the heart and won’t let go until the very last page. Well written, immersive and unputdownable. This is urban fantasy at its best. More please!”
Oooh now I definitely have to read to meet Evan and discover what's really going on between Evan and Cassie! :O) Pit Crew Great interview and I wish you well on your tour! Pit Crew
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