Author Q & A

WHAT AM I ACTUALLY LIKE?

I love life! I’m an oddball, as an author, because I’m not introverted, as many writers are, but instead a people-person. I’m adventurous and deep. I love sports, travel, and theme parks. I spend hours sitting at coffee shops and talking to friends. I’ve never met a pup I didn’t love.

My husband & I live in Oregon. We’re massive hockey fans, have been passholders for Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and Busch Gardens, and love to hike and kayak, and have two dogs.

I cannot emphasize enough that I’m not a stuffy, moody writer. I’m a real, fun-loving person who overuses the phrase, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

WHAT ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE ADVENTURES?

I’ve traveled all over the world, and lived in six different states across North America. Some of my favorite memories include dogsledding in Quebec, dipping my feet in the Loch Ness, drinking glacier water from a lake in Iceland, almost getting swept away by waves under the midnight moon in Laguna Beach, zip lining through the cloud forests of Costa Rica, strolling under torii gates as I climbed a mountain in Japan, swimming with dolphins off the Na Pali coast in Hawaii, whitewater rafting in Tennessee, getting terribly (not romantically) lost in Venice, exploring Jack’s Woods battle site in Belgium, and inadvertently joining a protest in Luxembourg.

Everywhere I’ve gone, I’ve fallen in love with the people and cultures of new lands. From talking to a coal miner in the woods in Ireland to getting a tour of the Vatican from a friendly homeless Italian, people have been a constant source of joy and some of my best memories.

Domestically, I’ve surfed in the Atlantic and Pacific, been a passholder for both Disneyland and Disney World, and have roadtripped all across the country from west to east and north to south.

Also, I survived eating fermented shark in Reykjavik and everyone at the bar literally moved twenty feet away at the smell of my breath afterwards.

WHO ARE THE AMAZING PEOPLE BEHIND ME?

I wouldn’t be who I am now without the endless support of my husband, Tyler. He cleaned the house & set dinner down in front of me during many writing marathons, and talked about my characters so much he knows them like real people.

My dear friends, too, have encouraged me more than they know with their excitement for all my books. Thanks for all those random phone calls & texts, guys.

Over the years, I’ve taught thousands of teenage students who loved to brag about their author teacher. Some of them especially enjoyed doing stupid things in front of me, hoping they’d inspire a character (which worked, but don’t tell them that).

My students, young and old, would be the first to tell you just how often they receive texts or questions from me that start with the phrase, “So I’m working on an article,” or “I’m doing research for my book, and…”

WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY?

Coffee, candles, hiking through the woods, kayaking, reading a good book in my hammock, riding in my Jeep with the windows down and my music blaring, traveling overseas, forests, puppies, deep conversation with great friends, and music by John Williams.

WHAT WAS LITTLE CASSIE LIKE?

Sassy, curious, outgoing, and active. Still am. I was a tomboy, and could kick the ball farther than my male classmates—usually over the fence during kickball. I loved to read and paint, and have always had a mischievous side. I remain the epicenter of many original pranks. I thought I’d grow up to be a professional artist. Or a race car driver.

WHAT’S NEXT?

I’m on a roll, baby. Book eleven of the Gallivanter Saga is already underway.

Additionally, I have some potential prequel books in mind for the Gallivanter Saga. It’s been a recurring request from readers, too.

Someday, I may dabble in writing a biography or two. I love the research aspect of writing historical fiction, and I love the study of people. What’s most interesting to me is finding creative ways to tell the stories of brave, adventurous people whose names have been lost to history. I already have a subject in mind for a potential biography, and his story is incredible—one that deserves to be told.

Future vacation plans include Africa, if I can scrape up enough money selling books.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT USING AI, AS A CREATIVE?

I’m all for utilizing new technology in life, and AI has proved useful in ways we’re still discovering. While I make use of it for finding recipes and helping plan my own travel itineraries, I have strong feelings against using it in my creative writing process. I do not use AI in the formation or creation of my fiction novels, as I want my art to come from a place of authentic creativity and original storytelling. The line of originality is muddled, at best, when it comes to AI and art.

Is this the harder way? Oh, absolutely. True originality takes an immense amount of work.

But I care more about being real than being popular. I always have.

Be assured that the action and adventure in my stories comes from my brain, and mine alone.

WHY DID I BEGIN WRITING FICTION AFTER PUBLISHING NONFICTION?

After more than a decade teaching students, I realized all people ask themselves the same two questions: who am I, and what is my purpose?

I’d discovered kindred spirits on the pages of classic literature, but I’d never had a book that spoke directly to those questions I wrestled with.

Because I couldn’t find a book like that, I wrote it.

And I had so much fun writing one book that I just kept going.

Life goal? To travel the world, raise alpacas and Australian shepherds, and write stories until I’m old and gray.

WHAT INSPIRES ME?

I have a deep love of exploration, whether it’s exploring a new city or walking through the woods and noticing the tendrils of a fern. I’ll try just about anything—strange foods, whitewater rafting, or a virtual reality experience at a museum.

Art and music inspire me, and I’m equally at home listening to rap or orchestral scores and admiring graffiti and oil paintings.

I’m a compulsive reader, and enjoy fiction and nonfiction. Friends think I’m strange because I collect biographies. I don’t care. I like them. I knew all about Hamilton before he was cool.

HOW DID MY PUPPY HELP ME WRITE?

In October 2019, my husband and I brought home the world’s most active puppy. He woke up at 5:00 am every morning, and I started taking that time before work to outline the novel I had floating around in my head.

Within a few weeks, brainstorming became furious writing, scribbling notes as I paced around the yard with a puppy who dug holes while I wasn’t watching. I got up and worked on my book every single morning for the next six months, completing an entire trilogy in that time.

Disclaimer: I do not recommend using a puppy to jumpstart your writing career.

MY ADVICE TO OTHER WRITERS?

Writing is challenging. A good writer is vulnerable and self-critical, and cycles through regular periods of euphoria and doubt. Trust the simple truth that no one can tell your story quite like you can.

Practically speaking, you must make time to write regularly. So often, people say, “Oh, I’d love to write a book some day, when I have the time!” There’s no bigger insult to writers than that phrase. Writers make the time. They pour hours and hours in.

I use a fifteen-minute hourglass when I sit down each day to write. I won’t let myself do anything but type during those minutes. Distraction is my greatest temptation. I turn my phone on silent and hide it in another room, to avoid being pulled away by frequent texts and social media dings. If you’re getting started, I suggest finding a regular time that works for you. Set a timer and work until it beeps.

I often draft my story out first on large pieces of paper, which I pin up to my walls (seen in the above photo of my writing buddy). I also use journals to keep track of interesting plots, character studies, facts, and places.

A note to my fellow female writers? You often have to work harder to find moments to carve out for uninterrupted writing. Too often, we put ourselves last and instead tell ourselves we’ll sit down to write when all the chores are done. But the chores are never done, which means you’ll never get started. Leave the pile of laundry, stuff your guilt down, put on some headphones, and make your passion a priority.

Be relentless. Your biggest encouragement will be the pages you see accumulate as you continue to push forward.

Write your story, the way you want. Study other authors, to see what they do. And most of all, believe in yourself. Good writing is gutsy. It takes courage and incredible self-discipline. But if it’s your joy, do it.

Looking for more advice on writing? I offer one-on-one writing coaching, and would love to talk to you about getting your unique story out into the world! Learn more here.

WHAT’S MY WRITING PROCESS LIKE?

I write quickly and decisively, in line with my frank personality. Fourth grade got me hooked on journalism, with the class newspaper. I crafted my writing over years of beat reporting for school newspapers. Many afternoons involved me sprinting to the computer lab, between class and track practice, to furiously type a quick article.

I’ve written nonfiction articles, curriculum, and books for many years, and had a fair amount of trepidation before trying my hand at fiction.

However, it’s now a passion. Try new things—you never know when you might fall in love.

And if you’re writing for the first time, just write. Don’t read about how to write, or worry about what someone will think of it—just write. Tell your story, the way that only you can.

If you’re in need of an encouraging and honest writing coach, I’d love to help you achieve your dreams! Learn more here.

WHO DO I WRITE FOR?

My books are beloved by 10-year-olds and 90-year-olds alike. In the same week, I signed books for birthday presents for a 16-year-old boy AND a 93-year-old great-grandmother!

When I first started dreaming up the idea for SAVING ANDIAMO, I wrote in my journal that I wanted to write the book I wanted to read, as a teenager: one in which people struggled through challenges, but remained hopeful and excited about life’s future adventures.

It’s remarkably sad how many strong female characters in literature and film are jaded and cynical, isn’t it? My characters aren’t.

I love the world and the people around me. And my characters do, too. No matter what setbacks they face, they resolutely keep persevering and choose to embrace the unknown with joy.

And I do, too.

One of my great joys is discovering how many young women love THE GALLIVANTER SAGA. I’m blessed to live out a long-held dream of being an author, and helping inspire other people to dream a little bigger.