Emily Casey Author Interview

Photo Content from Emily Casey

I'm a writer from Tallahassee who chases two crazy kids around the house all day before collapsing in front of my computer.

I write everything from fairy tales to zombies, from middle grade to young adult. I write what's exciting to me and just hope someone else out there likes it.

Other little tid-bits: I'm a dog person (I have a German Shepherd named Guybrush), I like to run (I ran my first half marathon while 4 months pregnant) and majored in Psychology (which explains why I'm a little nuts) at Florida State with a minor in English (which explains the whole writing thing).

Church keeps me pretty busy (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and of course I always love spending time with my husband. He's pretty much awesome.

      

Tell me a bit about yourself.

I’m a stay-at-home mom who fights for every minute so I can write. I love my kids more than anything, but my writing keeps me sane.

Tell us your latest news.

I’m writing a short novel (Cinderella and Zombies) and I’m making notes for The Fairy Tale Twist (Ivy Thorn #2)

Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way?

Gail Carson Levine charmed me with her books when I was a kid. Later, I read a book by her that encouraged young people to write. She had some great advice and exercises that looked fun. That’s when I first decided to write a book.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating The Fairy Tale Trap?

That my writing could be funny. Before Ivy, my characters were almost always serious and practical. (It wasn’t as much fun to write those characters.)

What were your feelings when you first saw the cover of the finished product?

I couldn’t stop looking at it. We made some edits, but once I had the finished product, I knew it was perfect for my book. I wanted to post it on every website I could find!

What chapter was the most memorable to write and why?

In chapter 11, we learn about Beast and how he became what he is in the story. I think that chapter made me see him in a new light.

If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?

I’d like to see how Katniss Everdeen (Hunger Games) handles the pixie. Katniss and Ivy go through situations that aren’t that different. Both are thrown into a dangerous world by someone more powerful than they are, all in the name of entertainment. I think I’d like to see Katniss kick that little pixie’s butt.

What is the single worst distraction that kept you from writing this book?

The internet. Reading blogs, twitter, facebook, email... all good stuff to do, but not when it distracts me from what I love.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

The Fairy Tale Twist is Ivy’s second adventure. She gets thrown into The Twelve Dancing Princesses. It’s a less-familiar fairy tale, but it offers some great twists. I’m having a lot of fun playing with the story and making it my own. Plus, there’s a boy in this book.

What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?

Haha. That’s the hardest question I’ve had yet! My dog’s name is Guybrush. I’ve been expecting someone to ask me where the name came from. Guybrush Threepwood is a character from an old computer game about a nerd who wants to be a fearsome pirate. (It’ awesome and hilarious.) My husband and I had very different childhoods, with almost no overlap. But then we found out that we’d both played this one, obscure game when we were kids. So we named our dog after the main character.

Any recent appearances that you would like to share with us about/any upcoming ones?

Hm... well, the blog tour is chock full of good stuff. There’s a fun guest post coming up on a site called Death by Chocolate. On Feb 1, you can read my post on why fairy tales would be a lot better if they had chocolate: http://dbcanthology.blogspot.com but you’ll have to wait until then.

Which author would you love to co-author a book with?

Gail Carson Levine! It would be pretty great, especially since we both do fairy tale retellings. Patricia Briggs or JK Rowling would be pretty awesome, too.

Where is your favorite place to read/write?

I type from my couch, write by hand at the kitchen table, and read in my bed. (I’m a creature of habit.) But every now and then I get to sneak off to a book store or the library and I’ll write there. I write twice as fast, for some reason. I should probably do that more often, but finding someone to watch the kids can be a challenge.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?

Leftover fried rice (my husband makes awesome fried rice), milk for the kids, and cake for me. (I love it when it gets all gooey when you cover it and leave it in the fridge overnight.)

Do you have any fun Halloween experiences you can tell us?

Not really. I just take my daughter door-to-door and everyone says how cute her costume is. I think it’s funny how the decorations are such a novelty to her.

What are 4 things you never leave home without?

Chapstick, library card, diapers, and hand sanitizer

What is your most memorable travel experience?

When my husband took me to the Philippines. He lived there for two years and always talked about it. 4 years ago, we went together and I fell in love with the people. (Which is why Ivy’s dad is Filippino.)

Ivy has always been afraid of mirrors, but she never knew why. Then one of them sucks her into the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast.

So what if she’s been pulled from her home and talks to pixies now? That’s no big deal for a military brat. Ivy’s used to adapting. All she wants is to find her way home.

But when she tries to escape, Ivy breaks the wrong spell. Now Beast is not so gentle-on-the-inside, Beauty is falling for the wrong prince, and Ivy is no closer to figuring out how to get through the enchanted forest that traps her.

With magic mirrors, dancing fairies, a sadistic pixie, and other random fairy tale twists, Ivy doesn’t know what’s safe or who to trust. Can she escape the fairy tale trap?

Ever imagined that you were in the book you were reading? Of course! In The Fairy Tale Trap, that is exactly what literally happened to attitude-driven Ivy. She is a military brat who had to leave her friends and life again to move into a new house. When Ivy is sucked into a mirror, she finds herself in an enchanted world where the exit door can only be used when she plays out the fairy tale.

Emily Casey’s take on this fairy tale was very clever and creative. It gives the classic Beauty and the Beast tale a modern-day touch-up with a fantasy adventure that will keep you intrigued and eager to find out what happens next. It is written in first-person that gives you a front row seat of this amazing journey.

Casey’s writing style brings a lot of life into the main character, Ivy Thorn. She is someone that any reader can immediately latch onto and cheer for. I love her humor and fearless willpower. Casey created a strong heroine in Ivy and I can see this series to be a favorite for many readers.

The book is extremely hilarious and very different. The twist bestowed upon the reader is enough to keep interest levels high for fans of fairy tales and Beauty and the Beast. Don’t expect a Disney version or any other retelling of the classic tale. Casey has taken this timeless tale and completely weaved it into something else. It was a fun read and I cannot wait to join Ivy in more adventures.

You can purchase The Fairy Tale Trap  at these following retailers:

   

And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you EMILY CASEY for making this giveaway possible.

1 Winner will receive one e-book of The Fairy Tale Trap by Emily Casey.

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