Author Interview: Cassandra Giovanni

In 2021 the world as we know it changed. The government collapsed, and the worst characteristics of human nature were shown as the world fell into ruins. Years after The Fall, the Tribes that were established are still at war. They still fight to keep what they pillaged, and most of all, they fight to keep their lies a secret. In a world filled with deception, nothing is as it seems.
I was born into this world.
Hunter Marks was molded into this world; a General— a person cold and harsh. A person meant to kill me.
We were told to just believe.
We were taught to never question.
We’re supposed to be robots, and accept our roles in this altered society.
Too bad Hunter and I don’t follow the rules.
And we’re a hell of a lot stronger than they ever thought possible.
They’ve been searching for the world’s deadliest weapon.
It’s me.
And I’m not following the leader any more.

BOOK TRAILER:

Release Special Ebook- Just $1.99 for a limited time!

Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Kobo
Google Play
Signed Paperback - Author Direct (limited quantities)

Author Interview
Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
In Between Seasons is a Post-Apocalyptic Romance in the New Adult genre that concentrates on the world after the fall of the government in 2021. It focuses on the relationship between two lovers from different Tribes who are at war with each other, and the knowledge that each of them holds about the world and how it effects their impressions of that world. There's hate, deception lies, but love and friendship--oh, a bit of kicking major butt!

What inspired you to write it?
I used to drive by this old abandoned house everyday, and I just couldn't shake it from my mind. It showed up in one of my dreams where I met Hunter and Kate and saw the snippets that would becomes the major plot points of the novel.

How did you come up with the idea for the cover?
The original cover was the aforementioned building, but after a lot of thought and discussion with my editor/PR, I decided it really needed a person on the cover. I found this model, and several other pictures of her. As a marketer, I know a cohesive image is important, and I was able to create this for all marketing material for the novel. You'll see this model on the cover, postcards, flyers and bookmarks--all different photographs, but the same model.

If it was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
That's a really good question. Hunter is a toss up between Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer. I think that the model on the cover would have to play Kate! She's exactly how I see her.

What is it about this genre that appeals to you so much?
The sub-genre is post-apocalyptic, and to be honest I write a lot of sub-genres. There isn't just one that appeals to me. As for the main genre, New Adult, the age group is really what appeals to me, but I find that I struggle because my writing is very clean compared to what most people consider New Adult. It's a genre in it's infancy, and standing out amongst a crowd of writers that border on erotica can be a bit intimating. There's a sexual expectation that is built into the genre because of writers that have carved their niche in the genre and are borderline erotica. I write clean-steam--all the heat, none of the nasty. I love the freedom that New Adult gives me to do that, because in writing Young Adult I just didn't feel that freedom; not only that, I was writing from a perspective I didn't enjoy at that age and don't want to go back to. I'm not one of those people who wishes they were a teenager again.

What made you want to become an author?
I've always wanted to be an author since I was a child. I asked my parents once when I stared writing, they looked at each other then looked at me and said, always. It has always been a part of who I am. There's not one thing that made me want to do this; it's just a part of who I am.

How do you come up with character names?
Baby name generator.

Name one of your all-time favourite books?
Emma by Jane Austen

Who, or what, inspires you?
Everything and everyone--good and bad.

Where is your favourite place to write?
On my screened-in porch.

What is your favourite dystopian book and movie?
I've only read one, Halo by Frankie Rose. As for movie--I honestly don't watch TV, and I haven't been to the movies in at least years.

Name two of your favourite authors.
Jane Austen and Gwen Hayes

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose?
There's some pretty insanely good New Adult authors that I've met through social media that I would love to meet in real life. Sarah Ashley Jones, Erica Stevens, Kate Mary, Deirdre Roirdan Hall and Sonya Loveday to name a few. I'd also love to meet JK Rowling, Gwen Hayes, Libba Bray, Abbi Glines, Tammara Webber, and Jane Austen.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I've been in college since I was 20, and I still don't have my associates. I'm on Dean's List--but I've changed my major 4 times.

Who would play you in the movie about your life?
I'm not sure I would want there to be a movie about my life.

Where do you live? Can you tell us an interesting fact about where it?
I live in the rolling hills of the Last Green Valley in CT--the very place that In Between Seasons takes place. The town of Brooklyn is where the serial killer Michael Ross killed his second victim, and he was the first person executed in CT.


What are your (writing) plans for the future?
Finished the Beautifully Broken series, start the second novel in The Fall series and FINALLY publish Deadly Sins.

Tell us one thing that's on your bucket list.
Become a famous author ;)

Favourite myth / fairytale?
Cinderella

Who/What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I always wanted to be a writer, but I think I also always knew I couldn't just be a writer. I knew I would have to do something else to pay the bills, so I also wanted to be a vet, farrier, jockey, model, horse whisperer...but never what I actually am-- Retail Banking Operations and Project Manager AKA Banking Ninja-- which I actually love. I never wanted to be anyone else but myself, though.

Cassandra doesn't remember a time when she wasn't writing. In fact, the first time she was published was when she was seven years old and won a contest to be published in an American Girl Doll novel. Since then Cassandra has written more novels than she can count and put just as many in the circular bin. Her personal goal with her writing is to show the reader the character's stories through their dialogue and actions instead of just telling the reader what is happening. Besides being a writer, Cassandra is a professional photographer known for her automotive, nature and architectural shots. She is happily married to the man of her dreams and they live in the rolling hills of New England their dogs, Bubski and Kanga.
Cassandra Giovanni is published by Show n’ot Tell Publishing based out of Connecticut, USA.
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~Goodread
Cover Design: Gio Design Studios
Photography: Alex Kotlov via iStock

www.cgiovanniauthor.com
Monthly Newsletter
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter @Cgiovanniauthor