Page 17 - Reader's House magazine

Debbie Cassidy’s ‘Deadside Reapers Box Set 1-3’ is a thrilling urban fantasy masterpiece. With a unique world, sharp humour, and captivating characters, it’s impossible to put down. The blend of reapers, ghosts, and Necro city is brilliantly imaginative. A must-read for fans of action-packed, paranormal adventures with a touch of sass! inspirations behind her beloved works. It’s a privilege to delve into the mind of an author who continues to redefine the fantasy romance genre with every book she writes. What inspired you to write in the urban fantasy and reverse harem genres? I grew up reading urban fantasy books, and so it felt natural to write in that genre because I had such love for it. Writing reverse harem was never planned. It happened organically in my Chronicles of Midnight series. The char- acters demanded it, and so did the story. I was powerless to resist. I went with and loved it. More stories found me after that. You’re known for writing strong, take- charge heroines. Tell us a little about the heroine of your upcoming Romantasy Wicked Onyx? Deviyanee Cassidy is a masterful Anamaya is one of my first morally grey heroines. She’s last of a disgraced sorcerer storyteller, blending vivid world-building, compelling characters, and emotional depth into unforgettable fantasy adventures. D R A F T of alpha and beta readers who aren’t afraid to give me constructive criticism. Are there any particular myths or legends that influence your storytelling? So many! Where to start? You should see the reference section of my home library. I do a lot of reading on all kind of mythology. Norse, Celtic, Slavic, Greek, Hindu, I have it all. I often find myself going down rabbit holes filled with juicy information that spark ideas and stories. I like to put my own spin on bloodline. Exiled and cursed, Anamaya has things and go from there. Right now, I’m deep had it tough. She’s learned to rely solely on into Hindu mythology. herself, and friendship might as well be a curse word in her book. When she discovers What advice would you give to aspiring that her bloodline may not be guilty of the authors in the fantasy romance genre? crime that they were punished for, she sets out If you plan on writing Fantasy Romance, to uncover the truth and get a little vengeance. then makes sure that you’re familiar with the Her journey takes her to Nightsbridge Acad- genre. Read the bestsellers so you can see why emy, a place teaming with monstrous beings called horrors, and home to some of the most they are so loved. Read books on mythology to get your brain teaming with ideas. You lethal supernal bloodlines. can also do a deep dive on the internet where I’ve had a blast writing Anamaya. She’s wit- you’ll find blogs on various mythology topics. ty, smart and knows how to fend for herself. I would also highly recommend reading some I’m so excited for readers to meet her. contemporary and paranormal romance books. Can you share your creative process for Once again find the bestsellers. You’ll learn how to write a gripping, emotive dynamic building the unique worlds in your books? between characters. And finally, read a few I don’t have a specific process. My worlds popular fantasy books, so you can be inspired tend to come to me in dreams or bolts of inspi- by the wonderful worldbuilding. Research is ration. I then spend days and weeks thinking key! about them and making random notes on my phone until it’s time to write the books. At this point I usually spend a day or two typing up my random notes and filling out the details. For me, the world building continues through- out my work on any series as I often discover new aspects of the world that I didn’t know about to start with. Which of your characters do you feel most connected to, and why? There’s a little piece of me in each of my characters. Yep, even the villains. But if I had to choose, I would say, I was the most connected to Quinn, from my Wolves of Hawthorne Cove Series. I put way too much of myself into her, flaws included. How do you balance action, romance, and character development in your novels? I go with my gut. I can usually feel when something it off and figure out what is needed to fix the issue. I also have an amazing team Reader’s House II 17