New Adult Book Club discussion

Hello Cassie Mae! I'm a huge fan of Reasons I Fell For The Funny Fat Friend and now I just finished reading Switched. I love it by the way.

I just want to ask how do you create these characters and how do you develop them? Another is, Where do you get the idea of your plots and love stories?

thanks! I wish you all the best!

What draws you to writing New Adult books? Do you have any plans in the future to cross genres?

Katria wrote: "Hello Cassie Mae! I'm a huge fan of Reasons I Fell For The Funny Fat Friend and now I just finished reading Switched. I love it by the way.

I just want to ask how do you create these characters a..."

Thank you bunches, Katria :) Love you for loving them (mwah!)

Most of my characters are a whole mix of people I know. (Wesley is almost a clone of my husband (smartmouth and all) lol.) And I write them as if they are sitting right next to me on the couch. Sometimes I have to talk out loud to them, no matter how weird that looks to my kids ;)

The plots come from freaking who knows where. They smack me usually in the middle of the night, or in the shower when of course, I'm nowhere near a computer. I blame pregnancy hormones for SWITCHED. And the morphine in the hospital for thinking I could pull off the "stealing the best friend's boyfriend" plotline, lol. Others, like REASONS, I always wanted to write because I feel like a lot of people can relate to that kind of story.

As far as the love stories, they're always dorky and nerdy, probably because I'm that way and it can't be helped, lol!

Literary wrote: "What draws you to writing New Adult books? Do you have any plans in the future to cross genres?"

Probably because I am a New Adult. (26 counts, right? It's the older end of NA, but I act like I'm 12, so it balances out, lol) As far as crossing genres, of course! I've got fantasy ideas, a paranormal I'm excited about... but I probably will stick with YA/NA categories for a while :)

Hi Cassie Mae!

What is your favorite part in SWITCHED? Who is your favorite character?

AND...what do we get to see from you next???

Hi Cassie!! Im like a huge fan of yours.Gosh you are so awesome.

I have two questions.

1.When can I expect to see a movie made from your books.

2.I heard there might be a furry rodent that might start with an S in one of your upcoming books..is that true? :P

PEACE LOVE AND NERDS :)

Kelley wrote: "Hi Cassie Mae!

What is your favorite part in SWITCHED? Who is your favorite character?

AND...what do we get to see from you next???"

Hey Kelley love!

Favorite part of SWITCHED is kind of spoilery...but it involves a couple characters playing in the snow, having dinner together, and some loosening of belt buckles ;)

My favorite character is definitely Kayla. I'd originally planned on writing this book in all four POVs, but Kayla stuck with me, and I couldn't stop writing her.

Next up for a NA Cassie Mae is a book called THE REAL THING (um...right now it's titled that, lol), which just sold to Random House Flirt.

Shelves I'd put it on: best friends to lovers, hot Samoan men, book nerds, addicted to the internet, stories of staying in love-not falling in love.

Also, prepare for more smexiness in this one than my others ;)

P.A. wrote: "Hi Cassie!! Im like a huge fan of yours.Gosh you are so awesome.

I have two questions.

1.When can I expect to see a movie made from your books.

2.I heard there might be a furry rodent that might..."

(((squishy hugs))) I'm a huge fan of yours, too, as long as that isn't creepy that we stalk each other, lol.

1. I'll call ABC Family, since I'm pretty sure they'd be the one to pick up my book, if that day ever happens, lol.

2. That rumor is true ;) But that book won't be coming out till 2015. *sighs* So far away.

I loved Switched! Was it hard watching Kayla pine for the wrong guy? I know I wanted to smack her sometimes!

Rachel wrote: "I loved Switched! Was it hard watching Kayla pine for the wrong guy? I know I wanted to smack her sometimes!"

LOL, actually no. Because when I started writing it, I had NO IDEA who she would end up with.

(I'm going to use names because it's pretty obvious who she does end up with from my blurb... but for those of you who still want to be "surprised"

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS!!!! *BLINKING LIGHTS!*) I kept thinking Wesley was the predictable choice, so why not throw people for a loop and make it Talon? But Wesley and Kayla obviously made more sense. Plus, I love Wesley, haha!

So yep, by the time I realized who the guy would be, most of the pining scenes were already written. So win-win.

Hi Cassie! Can you tell me which scene in this book was the hardest for you to write? Who was your inspiration for Wesley?

Thanks!

Jenny wrote: "Hi Cassie! Can you tell me which scene in this book was the hardest for you to write? Who was your inspiration for Wesley?

Thanks!"

Oh boy... uh... probably the Christmas gift exchange. I was probably cringing and shaking my head as that whole scene came out.

Wesley is a mix of everything I love about...well, goofy, adorable guys. A lot of one liners came right from hubby's mouth. But a lot of things he did or said have just been in my nerdy fantasies, lol. But if you're talking about his looks only? Uh, what's his face from Nashville. Chris Carmack or something :)

Hi Cassie
I've read a couple of your books and you have obviously found your own voice in the new adult field. I was just wondering, do you follow a schedule when you write or it just comes spontaneously? Do you outline the stories and characters and try following that or you just run with the flow?

Julie wrote: "Hi Cassie
I've read a couple of your books and you have obviously found your own voice in the new adult field. I was just wondering, do you follow a schedule when you write or it just comes spont..."

Hi Julie!! Thank you :)

It depends on the book, really. SWITCHED was not written in order, so I did have to sort of plot to make all the scenes weave together somehow. Though, when I do outline, most of the time the story ends up completely different by the time I'm finished.

And as for the schedule, as long as I hit my deadline, I'm good, lol. It's hard to have a schedule when my personal schedule runs around my kids. They are my bosses. :) So I write when I can for however long I can, with or without an outline :)

Do you think writers should be able to experience emotions of love or have been or currently in a relationship and jealousy in order to write characters and stories about romance.

Katria wrote: "Do you think writers should be able to experience emotions of love or have been or currently in a relationship and jealousy in order to write characters and stories about romance."

Hmm... I don't think so, but I also think everyone has experienced love in one form or another. I loved my first boy when I was five, lol. I was jealous of my friend's Barbie playhouse when I was four. And the relationships I had with my family and friends I've had my entire life. It's all part of being human, I think.

When writing a love story I personally haven't experienced, I think of it the same as if I was writing a fantasy or paranormal. I've never come across vampires or dragons or whatnot, but I've pictured them. I've read about them.

I think anyone who wants to write a love story can... and I think someone who feels like they've never experienced love would probably write it really well.

Hi Cassie! I've got to admit, I hadn't read any of your works until I saw this post- so I looked you up and picked a book. I got 'Friday Night Alibi' and finished it in one sitting and am moving onto 'How To Date A Nerd' next. Also, I want to thank you for bringing Chase Moron into my life. My book boyfriend list will never be the same!

My question is, what is your favourite thing about the genres you write in? And whats your inspiration for your characters?

(Ps, I love the acknowledgement to your husband at the end of 'Friday Night Alibi'. It made me cry!)

Tania wrote: "Hi Cassie! I've got to admit, I hadn't read any of your works until I saw this post- so I looked you up and picked a book. I got 'Friday Night Alibi' and finished it in one sitting and am moving on..."

First, I want to hug you to pieces for loving Chase! I loved writing him :D Can't wait to hear what you think of Nerd :)

My favorite thing about romance is the small things that feel like the big things. The touch of the hand, the quick peck on the lips, the awkward "I think you're cute" lines that fill my insides with butterflies.

And I love writing nerdy and awkward characters because I feel like they are so real. There have been many times when I want to get all cute with hubby, and he spouts off something like, "Hang on, don't kiss me yet, I have to sneeze." Then he'll sneeze and say, "I love you, hun." And it's that mix of funny and sweet that I love about romance and the characters I write, so that's what makes me want to write them :)

Oh! And I always leave cute messages for hubs in the acknowledgements because he doesn't read most of them, so I can be as cheesy as I want, lol! But they make me cry too :)

Cassie wrote: "Tania wrote: "Hi Cassie! I've got to admit, I hadn't read any of your works until I saw this post- so I looked you up and picked a book. I got 'Friday Night Alibi' and finished it in one sitting an..."

Goodness, I finished nerd, I love your book love interests- Zak was just as good as chase, if not better! (LIIIEEES) Their first in book kiss made me breathless, and again, another beautiful acknowledgement.
Oh, and congratulations for making it into my top 10 authors list, I told my friend and she couldn't believe so feel proud!
I also recommended you to her, so im sure you'll have another fan soon:)

Tania wrote: "Cassie wrote: "Tania wrote: "Hi Cassie! I've got to admit, I hadn't read any of your works until I saw this post- so I looked you up and picked a book. I got 'Friday Night Alibi' and finished it in..."

I'm ready to reach through the screen and hug the crap out of you!

SWITCHED has my all time fave guy I've written (well, in the books that are out ;)) But Zak was the first love interest I've EVER written. :) So happy you loved him!

I've got the goofy grin on that I'm on your list! :) :) Thank you so much!

Cassie wrote: "Tania wrote: "Cassie wrote: "Tania wrote: "Hi Cassie! I've got to admit, I hadn't read any of your works until I saw this post- so I looked you up and picked a book. I got 'Friday Night Alibi' and ..."

'In the books that are out'- Are you trying to kill me!??! I haven't read much of it, (because my kindle is stupid and doesn't have it), but I do like Wesley so far:)

Cassie wrote: "Tania wrote: "Cassie wrote: "Tania wrote: "Hi Cassie! I've got to admit, I hadn't read any of your works until I saw this post- so I looked you up and picked a book. I got 'Friday Night Alibi' and ..."

'In the books that are out'- Are you trying to kill me!??! I haven't read much of it, (because my kindle is stupid and doesn't have it), but I do like Wesley so far:)

Tania wrote: "Cassie wrote: "Tania wrote: "Cassie wrote: "Tania wrote: "Hi Cassie! I've got to admit, I hadn't read any of your works until I saw this post- so I looked you up and picked a book. I got 'Friday Ni..."

:D :D