Author Spotlight - Cassie Lein

Author Spotlight

Apr 1

Sayre: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

CL: In 5th grade when I read my first thick chapter book and fell in love with the world and story. The dream died as I got older but I never left my passion for reading so I tried my fired up the dream again and wrote my first book.

Sayre: How long does it take you to write a book?

CL: Really depends on the length. I wrote my current preorder which is 30k in about a month and my co-write which is 120k in about 3 months.

Sayre: Does writing energize or exhaust you?

CL: Really depends on how cooperative my boss…I mean children are. If they let me bang out some words I feel invigorated and pumped. If they’re going HAM in the house while i’m in the office the whole thing just exhausts me.

Sayre: What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

CL: I outline everything which isn’t that weird I guess. I do however write while my kids are all around and I’ve let them name my characters. I just just tell whatever kid I want and say give me a girls name and boom the character is born.

Sayre: Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

CL: I’ve let my kids pick slot of names and features of characters and then just find pics for inspo that for those traits. Idea wise they just come to me randomly and I not them down and then later as I ‘m outlining I just kind of get swept up in the story.

Sayre: When did you write your first book and how old were you?

CL: 33 and it was just this year.

Sayre: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

CL: I’m a mom of six kids so when not writing I’m momming lol We have sports and clubs and school and all kinds of things all the time. Plus we live on a 60 acre farm so there are ask kings of animals to feed.

Sayre: Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer If so what are they?

CL: Follow the dream no matter what! Promote yourself if you wing do it no one else will. I was terrified to promote and put myself out there but how else would what I wrote be seen?

Sayre: What is your writing Kryptonite?

CL: Dark anything I shays wanna take the story in a dark direction and she has no limits lol

Sayre: What other authors are you friends with and how do they help you become a better writer?

CL: Alisha Williams and Bre Rose are two of my best friends. They both support my dream and share their knowledge and have my back no matter what! Bre even has read my manuscripts and helped tweak them.

Sayre: How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

CL: Made me want to write with more detail. I want pages on just details so you can really envision my characters and the places we are.

Sayre: Whats your favorite under-appreciated novel?

CL: I’m not sure if it’s under appreciated but I’m overly in love with Z.S Storms Pretty Little Psycho

Sayre: Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

CL: No but that is a fantastic idea

Sayre: What does literary success look like to you?

CL: My books paying for themselves financially. Otherwise I really just want people to read them and enjoy them!

Sayre: Do you have any events or special things coming up?

CL: I’m co-writing a PNR RH series with Bre Rose, and we will be signing together in Atlanta and Salem in 2024

Sayre: Where can we find you on social media?

CL: