I am absolutely thrilled to be sharing Cassie Faber’s A Cup of Conversation interview as she is one day away from releasing her debut novel Frozen Memories on Amazon on 7th September 2018. Cassie is bold and bright and exciting (juts look at that gorgeous pink hair!) but she admits to being an introvert and she struggles with the 9 to 5 routine of work and hopes to be able to write full time one day. Her seed of inspiration for her new novel has evolved from an idea two years ago to the first in what she plans will be a series of books in the Angelbay Harbor series. So come and find out more about this fabulously warm and friendly author as she chats with me in this week’s A Cup of Conversation.
1. When did you start writing creatively?
Oh golly, I don’t think there’s ever been a time when I have not been putting words or images on paper to give outing to the stories in my head. When I was a kid, I used to draw ‘stories’ and when I could write, I’d add dialogue, much like the old comic books back in the day. Writing has always been an escape for the stories my wild imagination conjures up at any given moment. I have never experienced writers block! I have the opposite, I can’t keep up with all the ideas pouring from my mind then flooding the pages into stories I hope I live long enough to write and publish!
2. How has music influenced your writing and writing style?
It’s been a big influence in my life! Growing up my grandma would listen to the oldies on vinyl, Mouskouri, Sinatra, Prima and Patsy Cline while cooking. On Saturday evenings we would huddle by the radio to listen to the radio drama’s and I would close my eyes and imagine the story play off in my head like a movie. Music brings back fond memories of my childhood, but it also sets the tone and evoke the right mood for writing the perfect scene. I have a variety of playlists for writing, editing, and for specific books. My husband thinks I’m crazy when I play a song on repeat as I work through a specific scene, but that’s how I work.
3. What was the last book you read and what lasting message did it leave?
You are a badass by Jen Sincero. It’s one of those books that makes you sit up and snap out of the rut you are in and get on with business!
4. Are any of the characters in your current series and WIP based on yourself?
The main protagonist Claire Forester’s love for baking, flowers and everything small town is very much me. Her sister Amanda’s instinct to keep her family safe and happy and get on with business or ‘mom mode’ as Claire refers to it is something that comes naturally to most parents I think, and certainly one of my stronger traits.
5. Which of your characters is your favourite and why would your readers like them?
Wow that’s a difficult question!
If I must pick then it will have to go to Claire and Boh, the main protagonists in books one and two. Claire’s a gentle spirit tormented by the tragic accident in which she lost both her mother and her memories. Her dramatic development from a fragile survivor to a tenacious business owner who fights for what she what she wants is remarkable and inspiring. Boh is strong-willed, broody and devilishly charming and comes with baggage he just can’t shake. His biggest fear is to be vulnerable and that’s exactly what happens when he falls for Claire. The more he feels the more he pushes her away and this makes for an explosive combination.
6. Congratulations on your latest release Frozen Memories. Tell us a little about it.
A couple of years ago I got this idea of a girl lying on a snowy bank. She was in a car crash; her face was all bloody as she lay there barely holding on to life. I knew she lost her memories, and that opened a floodgate of ideas. Characters started showing up and soon I had a full cast. I knew fairly early on that it would be series. I just had too much to tell for it to be one book.
7. Why would readers enjoy your book?
All the characters in this book grow and change, for better or worse in some way and at times this was hard to write, but it was necessary for their development. I don’t shy away from writing the darker things and my characters get their fair share of it. This book, and the rest in the series are emotional rollercoaster reads!
8. Is there any aspect of the writer’s life you least enjoy and why?
Having a full-time job. I have known from a young age that a 9-5 office job is not for me, but the reality was that I had to work, raise a family, pay a mortgage and bills, all the boring grown up stuff.
9. What is your process for ensuring your books are ready for release?
I must stick to a tight writing schedule as I’m not a full-time writer. Sometimes life just throws you a curveball and things don’t work out the way you have planned. I try and manage it the best I can and give myself adequate time to write but even more time for editing which can take from a few weeks to a few months! I have three beta readers who get the first draft off for an early readthrough to get a feel for their feedback on the story, characters etc.
10. As an introvert, how do you deal with face-to-face book events?
I have not been to any face to face events yet but are very excited for my first whenever that will be!
11. What two aspects of the writer’s life frustrate you the most and why?
I think just not having enough time for everything but I’m hoping that will change once I can write full time. I have so many stories to tell and there’s just not enough hours in the day to do everything I have on my list!
12. What three pieces of advice would you give a new writer?
Don’t wait to start writing, if it’s your dream to be an author, start now, today, where you are with what you have. You are never going to feel ready so just take the leap and jump. You will grow your wings on the way down! Also, get your work edited and don’t try and have a good cover.
13. Are you a planner or a pantser?
Hands down a planner through and through! My mom tells me when I was a kid I used to make ‘to do’ lists, and as a grown-up I can’t function without it! I plan everything from my menu to which podcasts I listen to on my commute to work every morning and off course my writing and publishing schedule for the month to keep my 5 year plan on track!
14. What’s on your current to-do list?
Oh, my goodness, book one has been uploaded onto all platforms so at this stage I am working with bloggers for promotion, social media takes up heaps of time, but I enjoy hanging out with my fellow authors and friends! I am more than halfway through writing book #2 and have plotted the outline for a surprise novella! I also design my own covers so that takes up a lot of my time. I guess staying one book ahead of the release schedule is my goal, and that means sticking to my daily word count of 1250 words and playing catch up if I don’t make it!
A little note from Cassie…Thanks so much for the interview Soulla! You are one of the loveliest people I have met on Instagram and in life and I am so honoured and blessed to know you! I hope that we will continue to work together for a very long time to come! Huggles xoxo
If you’d like to connect with Cassie you can do so here: https://linktr.ee/authorcassiefaber
It’s fabulous to be able to support such a lovely author as she launches her debut novel! Wishing her lots of success and I too am looking forward to a life long friendship and sharing a joyous writing journey together Cassie!
Thank you so much to all of you for joining me this week.
Until next time, Happy Reading, Happy Writing, Happy You.
Soulla xxx
