Cass Kim is an author, Ghost Writer and Book Coach that believes firmly in kindness, honesty, and imagination. She’s the author of The Wilders Trilogy, and also coordinates a yearly charity anthology, the Autumn Nights series. You can find out more here: https://casskim.casskim.com

Welcome to the Hive, Cass Kim. Let’s start small: tell us about a great book you’ve read recently!

Since we’re featuring women, I recently read Nicole Scarano’s “There Are Only Four” and it is a thrill ride from start to finish. Currently I’m reading “Sun Giver” by Jacob Klop- he’s a guy, but he writes some strong females and I like the world he’s built in this book.

Okay, time to escalate things: reality warps and you suddenly find yourself leading a D&D-style party through a monster-infested dungeon. What character class are you, and what’s your weapon of choice?

 I’ve never played D&D, but I think I’d want to be a healer with a knife? Or an axe, but I mean, I think I need a small, fast item that can also be used to help with wounds.

When you’re not trawling through dungeons, how do you like to work? (In silence, with music, or serenaded by the damned souls of a thousand dead shrimps? Do you prefer to type or to hand-write? Are you an architect or a gardener? A plotter or a pantser? D’you write in your underwear, or in a dee6p-sea diver’s suit?) 

Tell us a little bit about your writing method!

 I usually work in silence, but I enjoyed this question!  I typically sit at the table, near my indoor garden, and try to keep the cat from flat out knocking my laptop over. I type my actual writing, but any character notes or plotting that I do is all hand written. I have like spiral note cards with tons of random hand written notes that are fairly illegible in both handwriting and meaning. I write in whatever I’m wearing – usually something comfy, but sometimes something else if I’m running amok for the day. I do like skirts and dresses, but favor running shorts or sweats for most days.

What (or who) are your most significant female fantasy influences? Are there any creators whom you dream of working with someday?

 I grew up listening to Ann McCaffrey books on tape in the car with my Mom. She’s also a big Ursula K. Le Guin fan, though I didn’t read her books until I was in graduate school. It’s kind of crazy, I’ve never really thought much about how there are SO many well known male writers in this genre. All of the other ones I read for most of my life are male. Now I also really like Holly Black, Sarah J Maas, and V.E. Schwab. I would never get the chance to work with one of these impressive authors, but that would be amazing.

What was the last thing you watched on TV and why did you choose to watch it? Alternatively, what games have you enjoyed recently?

 I’ve been catching up on Top Chef on Bravo. The season I’m watching is LA All Stars. I wanted to watch it because a) I love cooking shows, b) there’s a local chef on, and I keep watching it because I’m massively impressed by the chefs, and also who doesn’t love Padma’s voice?

The world shifts, and you find yourself with an extra day on your hands during which you’re not allowed to write. How do you choose to spend the day?

 First I’d walk the dog long and slow, and let her sniff to her heart’s content. Then I’d go for a run. Shower, shave, sunblock, and beach it up with some snorkeling and reading on the beach. Drive slowly along the oceanside roads with the windows down and the music up, then come home and have a beer and fresh meal with lots of greens and crunch.

Can you tell us a little something about your current work(s) in progress?

  I’m currently organizing this year’s Autumn Nights Charity Anthology, “Autumn Nights: 12 Chilling Tales for Midnight” which will feature myself and nine other authors from the writing community on Twitter, a cover by Fay Lane, and narration for the audiobook by Garrett Michael Brown. All of the profits from the Ebook and paperback, and half from the audiobook, will be going to Feeding America. My short is water-based, spooky, and sort of a slow burn with a lot of history.

What’s the most (and/or least) helpful piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?

 Hmmm. Most helpful: you can’t edit a blank page. And least… I guess anything that suggests there are absolutes when it comes to writing.

Every writer encounters stumbling blocks, be it a difficult chapter, challenging subject matter or just starting a new project. How do you motivate yourself on days when you don’t want to write?

 I firmly believe in plowing through writer’s block knowing I can edit a cruddy section later. But there are a lot of other reasons a person may not feel like writing – depression, world events, feeling of pressure. I think it’s important to identify the reason, and care for yourself, as well.

If you could visit any country at any point in history, where/when would you go, and why?

You know, I think it’s easy to romanticize this idea. My immediate thought: “oooh the American revolution, I’d sneak into the militia and fight like a man!” But.. really, I’d probably be dead from a poorly managed childbirth or from asthma if I lived then. My mom always says, “Everybody dreams of being a queen, but I know if I lived in the old times I’d be the woman emptying chamber pots or cooking and cleaning til my hands are raw.”

Who are your favourite female characters in literature or pop culture? And do you have a favourite type of female character you enjoy writing?

 I love Chrissy Teigen for her humor and honesty, for pop culture. Same for Kelly Clarkson. For literature, even though Gone With The Wind has some very problematic themes, I think Scarlet O’Hara is an interesting character. She’s strong. She’s selfish, but pushes through to do what needs to be done. And yet she’s never not flawed. I like that she’s charismatic and bold and flawed.

I like to write characters that feel real in their actions. I think there’s an authenticity to being timid but also brave, wild but also loving. I like characters that are multi-faceted and that’s what I aim to write.

Tell us about a book that’s excellent, but underappreciated or obscure.

 Oh goodness there are a lot. Since this is to celebrate and highlight female scifi/fantasy I’ll try to stick to that. I really loved “The Legend of Zero” series by Sara King. I like pretty much everything she’s written. I also really like Jordan Rivet’s books.

Finally, would you be so kind as to dazzle us with an elevator pitch? Why should readers check out your work?

Awww man, I’m so bad at this.

The Wilders Trilogy is a post-apocalyptic series that features a well-balanced cast of characters you’ll want to root for. It delivers a surprising amount of twists for a straight-forward plot, and also presents a cat you’ll want to take home with you. 

Thanks so much for joining us today Cass!