Book Interview: Cassandra King

July 21, 2008. Queenie D Chats with Cassandra King about her latest novel,
Queen of Broken Hearts

Book Interview: A Conversation with Cassandra King

How did the idea of a therapist who specializes in divorce, complete with running retreats including an Asunder Ceremony, originate?

I met a woman in Atlanta, at one of my signings, who told me she'd started a nonprofit organization that conducted divorce recovery retreats for women. She herself wasn't a therapist but brought therapists to the retreat. At the time, my sister was going thru an awful divorce, so I paid for her to go on one of the retreats. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a good idea for a book, a woman who ran these retreats to heal others' broken hearts, but had never dealt with her own. I made up the Asunder Ceremony.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Cassandra King

As a woman and a therapist, I was surprised by Clare's lack of intuition when it came to Rye and Lex's feelings for her? Do you think she honestly doesn't notice or chooses to turn a blind eye because in her heart she is not over Mack?

No, I think Clare knew both Rye and Lex were in love with her, but she refused to see it. Again, I wanted to present the idea of a woman who knew the workings of the human heart by the book, but was blind to her own feelings. Plus, she was not over Mack, another theme of the story. She helped everyone else get over their lost loves but hadn't gotten over hers.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Cassandra King

Clare and Dory's friendship is a central part of how each woman defines herself. But in my mind they are polar opposites. Dory remains hopeful and can see the good in her husband when Clare is ready to write him off. Did you create Dory as Clare's best friend so that Clare wouldn't become cynical or jaded by all the broken marriages and sadness she witnesses on a regular basis?

A couple of things went into that friendship. For one thing, it has become a theme of mine in other books--the way we are attracted to people who have opposite qualities than us. I believe we become friends with those who complement us ... if we're shy, we're more likely to be drawn in by an outgoing person. I can't imagine anyone in Clare's position not getting cynical, though...they'd have to really work at it. It would help to have an upbeat friend like Dory.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Cassandra King

The two men vying for Clare's affections are also polar opposites. Rye is gentle, almost feminine, while Lex is all man. What was your thinking behind making them so extremely different? Combined as one man - they'd be perfect! Is it a harder choice for Clare because she can't have it both ways?

Yeah, I was a little stinker with that one, wasn't I? And you read it exactly right. I've enjoyed the different reactions from readers---some saying they loved Lex and pulled for him, others hoping she'd end up with Rye. I'm not sure you cant have it both ways, but it sure is rare. My husband, for example, is 'all man' but also sweet and sensitive. My sons are, too. So it does happen. However, in the book, I wanted the contrast, and I wanted the choice to be difficult for Clare so she'd be sure once she decided to let go of Mack and love again.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Cassandra King

Underneath all the gruffness, Lex is actually quite gentle and sweet. Did years spent with a thankless, game-playing wife cause him to be so cautious and guarded?

Hmm...I hadn't thought of that. Instead, I was thinking of the Maine temperament. We've spent several summers in Maine, and have found the natives to be rather gruff on the surface, not 'southern' friendly, but goodhearted once you get to know them. Remember, Lex was a 'man of Maine.'

Book Interview: A Conversation with Cassandra King

Hayley has seen a lot of turmoil in her life. Why did you choose to put her in an unhappy situation with Austin? I almost felt like she was a product of her environment meaning that since her mother's life was based on divorce, it's inevitable that Hayley would end up there as well.

Haley was one of those characters who developed a life of her own, and let me explain what I mean by that.

Haley's story is my sister's, the one I mentioned earlier as having gone through a bad divorce. She'd only loved one guy in her life, and all of us thought he was great. Suddenly he changed, new job, etc, and they started having problems. Like Clare, I did not suspect another woman until we stumbled on undeniable evidence. My sister was crushed because she too thought it was just the stress of a new job. Now, in an attempt to change some of Haley's characteristics from those of my sister's, (as well as add depth to the story) I came up with a background for Haley totally different from my sister's. As it turned out, I think you're right---with such a sad background, she was probably doomed to have difficulties with relationships.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Cassandra King

I love Etta! She is the embodiment of a strong female in my mind. So I was surprised when we didn't hear more about her standing up for Jasmine and Tommy's relationship when the men in her family are angrily working against its success. Why didn't she? Or why didn't we hear more about it?

I love Etta, too, and I always hate questions like this, and let me tell you why: I had much more about Etta and her family in an earlier version. However, as had happened with my other books, I had to cut out a lot of stuff. When that happens, it's so painful for the writer but has to be done. I always promise myself I'll go back and use the stuff I cut in another book, so hopefully we'll see Etta again.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Cassandra King

Zoe Catherine and Cooter are a little bit like the comic relief in the story which is definitely needed with so many serious undercurrents running through it! I found it ironic that they were the happiest couple in the book and had never gotten married to each other! Is this saying something about marriage as a possible cause of ruin for a good relationship?

Absolutely. And yes, I thought of them as comic relief in some ways, but Zoe had also had a sad life. I admired her resilience and toughness. And, both Zoe and Cooter are based on real people I know who are 'real' characters in that sense of the word as well. Both, in real life, hilarious, and Cooter's mis-sayings were taken from actual people.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Cassandra King

Is Clare able to love again after giving her heart so completely to Mack? Do people ever love fully the second time around or is it just a different kind of love?

I think they're always different. I've always heard that there's no love like the first one, but I don't remember for sure who mine was, so I'm a bit skeptical.

However, I think the only thing to do is love again after a loss like Clare had. If we were too afraid of getting hurt to ever love anyone, we'd miss one of God's greatest gifts to us, I truly believe.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Cassandra King

You obviously have a knack for writing strong, independent, female characters - but with something to learn about life and themselves. Why do you think you focus on journey's of self discovery as a central plot in your novels?

For several reasons. I often say I write the kinds of books I like to read, and I much prefer inner journeys and struggles to adventure stories.

Another reason, I must've been a therapist in my other life, because I almost went back to college to get a degree in psychology, but decided to write my lst novel instead. Mainly, though, I honestly believe that ALL of us have much to learn on life's journey. No one has all the answers, and every thing that happens to us can be a learning experience. It might be a difficult learning experience, but sometimes those are best because we never forget them. My philosophy of life, as I've often said before, is: when the pupil is ready, a teacher appears.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Cassandra King

What other projects are you working on right now that you can share with us?

I'm at work on a new novel now, with a lot of the same themes you asked about. The name is Bridal Falls, and it's about a group of six families who have summer cabins on a lake in the mountains. Someone buys one of the cabin, tears it down, and builds a modern house in its place. Nothing is the same after that. So it's about the contrast between the past and the present, and the way we are forced to deal with change.

BCQ: Can you give one piece of advice to struggling writers out there on how to become successful?

Cassandra: I wish I could. You hear so much of the same thing, never give up, write what you know, write what readers want, etc etc.

BCQ: Thank You Cassandra!

Book Interview: A Conversation with Cassandra King

Return from Book Interview: A Conversation with Cassandra King to Home