Jeri Smith-Ready: Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit Tour - Kay Cassidy & THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit Tour - Kay Cassidy & THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY

Today on the Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit is the debut author of a very highly anticipated book, The Cinderella Society. I present to you...Kay Cassidy!

*applause, Kay bows gracefully and waves to adoring fans*

But before my interview with Kay, let's learn a little about her novel, shall we?

What's a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn't want to wear it anymore?

Sixteen year old Jess Parker has always been an outsider. So when she receives an invitation to join The Cinderella Society, a secret society of the most popular girls in school, it's like something out of a fairy tale. Swept up by the Cindys' magical world of makeovers, and catching the eye of her Prince Charming, Jess feels like she's finally found her chance to fit in.

Then the Wickeds--led by Jess's arch-enemy--begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers there's more to being a Cindy than reinventing yourself on the outside. She has unknowingly become part of a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil, and now the Cindys in charge need Jess for a mission that could change everything. Overwhelmed, Jess wonders if The Cinderella Society made a mistake in choosing her.

Is it a coincidence her new boyfriend doesn't want to be seen with her in public? And is this glamorous, secret life even what she wants, or will she risk her own happy ending to live up to the expectations of her new sisters?

A brief excerpt to whet your appetite:

I opened the card, my hands trembling in dread and the faint remnants of what I used to call hope, as a tiny silver high-heel pin bounced into my hand.

I juggled the pin for a second, barely managing to keep it from falling, and flipped open the note with my other hand. The words inside were not a message but an invitation that sent shivers down my spine:

Your presence is requested at The Grind.
Tonight, 7 p.m.
Wear the pin.
Discretion MANDATORY.

Kay Cassidy is the author of teen fiction she wishes was based on her real life. She is the founder of the national Great Scavenger Hunt Contest(tm) reading program for kids and teens and the host of the inspirational Living Your Five(tm) web project. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, movies, music, and reading. Lots and lots of reading. She hopes her debut YA novel, THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY (April 13, Egmont), will help girls embrace their inner Cindy.

And now, Kay was kind enough to take the time to answer my silly questions:

1. If you could inhabit the life of any of your characters, enter their world and deal with it as that person, which one would you choose?

Probably Cammie from Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series. The spy school world is completely amazing to me – how cool would that be??

2. On the flip side, which of your characters would you most like to bring to life in our world (as a friend or a little bit more ;-) ?

As much as I adore Jess and Ryan in The Cinderella Society, I would actually want to bring Heather to life. I just want to give her a big hug and tell her everything is going to be okay.

3. What's the weirdest tidbit of research you've ever incorporated into a book?

I can't think of a weird tidbit, but I did incorporate some mind-blowing stats about girls and body image. The statistics broke my heart.

4. What's your earliest memory?

I'm not sure if this is my earliest memory, but one of my most vivid early memories is of sliding down a curving staircase. My brother, cousin and I would sit inside pillowcases (on the pillows) and race down the stairs, our butts thumping on every step as we went. The foyer was marble which made for great sliding when you finally reached the bottom. We would do this for as long as we could get away with until one of the adults finally made us stop. :-)

5. Which author, living or dead, would you most love to collaborate with?

Probably J. K. Rowling. And really, it wouldn't even be collaboration I was after. I would just love to chat with her about the world of Harry Potter and how it looks in her mind.

Thanks to Kay for stopping by, and congrats on the debut!

Now everyone, go out and find your inner Cindy!

Labels: GCC, reading