Cassandra Giovanni is one of those authors that have no problem writing both Young Adult and New Adult fiction. She has authored a couple of post-apocalyptic YA novels (and you know I can't resist that genre!), as well as a contemporary NA romance, Love, Exactly. I had the chance to chat with Cassandra about her books, her writing, and what it's like being a "crossover" author.Introduce yourself! What's your story? Well, the first time I was published I was seven years old. I won a contest in American Girl Magazine to be published with a boat load of awesome prizes to boot. I was always writing even far before that--I used to draw pictures and have my mom write the stories...and if I wasn't doing that I was telling a story to anyone who would listen. I've always loved writing, and began writing full length novels around 15 years old--then they were mostly about girls, horses and boys, and I'm not sure I could find any of those books if I tried! I'm insane about my writing--to the tune of 30 hours a week, when I already work 43-45 and go to college. I'm a writer, professional photographer, marketing guru in disguise, and I'm a pretty kick-butt closet Zumba dancer.
You write YA and NA, and so do I. What would you say the difference between the two categories is? What defines YA or NA as what they are? There's a lot of hype out there that NA is just YA on smut steroids. I've come to understand where this misconception comes from because a)there are books out there that are NA and are smut, and those are really popular and b) NA covers tend to be the same as Adult smut, but with younger looking couples on the front. I do not believe either way that NA is YA smut; I believe that NA is its own category, and while it does have smut, it also has romance, non-romance, and everything in between. NA is a general category focused on the age range between 18-late twenties, while YA concentrates on the age range between say 15-18, possibly 20. The sub-genres are what make it smut, romance or what have you.Tell us about In Between Seasons, your YA post-apocalyptic romance. In Between Seasons is the first book in the series, The Fall. It concentrates on the two children of the most powerful men in their world, and it exposes corruption and what it can do to not only families, but on an individual. It shows that despite the lies, we can rise above and be good in a world filled with evil. The book vaguely shows the world from Kate and Hunter's understanding, which is only via the indoctrination that they have been force fed. They don't understand the world that they live in, and are only focused on surviving it. The second novel in the series, Permafrost, will focus on two popular characters from InBS, Mara and Rob, who actually have an understanding of the world and why it is the way it is.
Sum up your contemporary NA romance novel, Love, Exactly.Emma is broken, Evan is tired, and neither can fix one another, but they help show each other that they are stronger than the things that threaten to break them.Do you enjoy writing YA or NA more? I just recently announced that after The Fall series is complete I will no longer pursue writing YA novels. I guess that means I prefer NA. NA seems a better fit for my writing style and place in life.
What do you like to do in your free time? What types of hobbies interest you? I'm a professional photographer at times, but most of the time I'm doing it for fun. I'm an artist who plays with acrylic paint, pencils, and pretty much any other medium you put in front of me--if I have time to. I also love Zumba, forcing my husband to go on long bike rides, and long walks with my dogs. I'm also a fan of shoes, pencil skirts, pink aviator sunglasses, and metal music.
Favorite writing snack? I'm not much of a snacker when I'm writing, but I do like a good cup of coffee--preferably a Hazelnut Maichatto from Starbucks...but only when I'm in the mood to spoil myself with a five dollar coffee!
About the Author
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 dialog and actions instead of just telling the reader what is happening. In 2012 she became a published Young Adult author, releasing In Between Seasons (The Fall, #1) and Walking in the Shadows. In 2013 she branched out by using her artistic illustrating talents to publish her first Children's novel, The Adventures of Skippy Von Flippy: Tales of Friendship (Skippy Tales, #1). Cassandra will also release her first New Adult novel, Love Exactly, in the Spring of 2013.Cassandra is a freelance professional photographer known for her automotive, nature and architectural shots. She is the owner of Gio Design Studios, a photography and publication marketing company that designs covers and marketing materials for authors utilizing the company's photography. She is currently studying to receive a degree in Marketing. Cassandra is happily married to the man of her dreams and they live in the rolling hills of New England with the other loves of her life their dogs, Bubski and Kanga.Author LinksIn Between Seasons | Walking in the Shadows |Love, Exactly |Website
