Say hello to new Type Eighteen Books author Cassondra Windwalker! She’s published a variety of books in a variety of ways. She writes poetry and fiction–much of it in the horror, thriller, or magical realism neighborhood, but if you look at her Amazon author page, you’ll get a feel for her range. We’re thrilled to be publishing a novel that marks another new terrain for this talented author. We’ll tell you more about it soon. In the meantime, here’s her bio and a Q&A so you can get to know her a bit.

Cassondra earned a BA of Letters from the University of Oklahoma. Born and raised on the red clay, she’s wandered the sticky corn fields of the Midwest, the frozen seas of the Wild North, and frequently rests her wings where orange skies meet purple mountains. She’s the author of nine novels and three works of poetry who does her best to keep fed the menagerie of stray critters, cryptids, marooned kelpies, and lost specters. She enjoys interacting with readers, writers, and generally decent humans on social media.

Five Quick Questions for the Author

Who are some of your favorite authors, and why?

Oh, gosh. It would be easier to pick a favorite child – at least I only have two of those to choose from! I love JR Ward, Julia DeBarrioz, John Cordial, and anything about trees or mushrooms or stars. As far as most influential, though – definitely, always, Ernest Hemingway, followed closely by Mary Stewart and JRR Tolkien. If you’re struggling to find the common theme among those, that’s okay – it’d be hard to buttonhole my books, too.

When did you know you were a writer?

I don’t have a memory of any other identity. Even before I was old enough to talk, I was thinking in poetry. But when I understood that it was a career a person could pursue? In fourth grade, I had a teacher named Carol Hamilton who did everything possible to encourage and uplift me, even though I’m sure everything she read of mine was objectively appalling. She was a writer herself, who must have known full well how incredibly difficult and challenging a path it would be, but she never once called on me to hesitate or doubt myself.

Where were you born? Do you think the places of our lives inform our writing?

I was born in Oklahoma City. I only ever wanted to get out of there, and as soon as I graduated college, I did, but that red dirt gets under your nails and into the hems of your jeans and you can never really wash it out. I absolutely believe we are informed in every way by our origins. Recognizing how limited the perspective from our windows is, and likewise that of others, is fundamental to both intellectual understanding and human compassion. I hope every book I write opens a new window for the reader, as every book I read opens a new window for me. We’ll never see the whole picture, but we can always see more.

Where would you vacation—city, country, beach, or mountains?

I’m greedy by nature. I’d have been much better friends with the Epicureans than the Stoics. I want it all. I adore the beach and can spend hours and hours very happily there. Spending a day wandering busy streets, visiting museums and galleries and weird little shops, indulging in new and delicious food and drinks sounds perfectly magical. But the home of my heart, where my soul breathes easy, will always be beside a mountain river.

What do you think is the most important part of storytelling?

The truth. Everything written has to be true. Readers always know and feel cheated when a writer yanks them around, throwing in unnecessary conflict or manipulated plotlines or forcing the characters to act in ways contrary to their nature. The most important part of story telling is telling the true story. Quite often my characters do and say things that appall or grieve me. Stories don’t end the way I want them to. But they always end the way they did. My characters know they don’t have to lie to me: I’ll take them as they really are. So the readers know I won’t lie to them.

Welcome, Cassondra! We’re thrilled to have you.

Readers, connect with the author on social media:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter