"Wow! Breathtakingly brilliant! Aussie author Cassandra Page’s latest fantasy offering, Lucid Dreaming, is a winner in my opinion. A mixture of fantasy and mystery, it kept me glued to the pages unable to stop until the very last page. And I’m hopeful (pretty sure?) there will be a sequel at least." - about book #1 Brenda, Goodreads
Release Date: August 26th, 2017
How can you fight your nightmares when they’re real?
Melaina, half-human dream therapist, just wants her life to return to normal. Yes, her Oneiroi father is in prison and, yes, the place she worked burned down, but she has a cute boyfriend and a new house. She beat the bad guy. She’s earned a break. Right?
Unfortunately for Melaina, people are still getting possessed by nightmare spirits; the police are investigating her past; and the bad guy’s brother, the Morpheus himself, is coming to town to demand answers. When a deranged ex-nurse checks himself out of hospital on the same day her cousin runs away from home, Melaina is dragged into a fight not just for her life but for her soul.
Author's Q&A
Can you tell us a little about your Lucid Dreaming series?
The books tell the story of Melaina Armstrong, who is half human and half Oneiroi, or dream spirit. That had always been impossible, for rather obvious anatomical reasons; her birth caused a significant amount of consternation and raised a significant amount of interest—not all of it from benign quarters.
After discovering and defeating the individual targeting her in the first book, poor Melaina just wants to get her life back to what passes for normal in her world. Of course, things are never that easy.
Tell us a bit more about Melaina.
Melaina appeared in my head one day, almost wholesale, as I was driving home after work. She came stomping out of my subconscious complete with steel-capped boots and a nose piercing. I loved her instantly, and put my fantasy novel plans aside to tell her story instead. She is a university drop-out, a dream therapist and a fierce friend and daughter. I’m going to miss her.
Does that mean you’re not planning any more books in the series?
Not at this stage; Melaina’s story was always intended to be a duology. I have four or five other stories percolating away in the back of my brain, each of them clamouring to be told next. But I might be tempted to revisit her again down the track. I’ll never say never!
What is the favourite part of your writing process?
Finishing the first draft? I suppose that’s a bit of a cheat answer, so if I can’t say that then it’d have to be editing. Having something to shape and hone is so much fun, and comes much more easily to me since I’m also an editor in my day job.
My second-favourite part is writing the last few chapters of a book. I’ve drafted six novels now, and it’s always such a heady rush, seeing all the plot threads come together and the plot accelerate. Also, usually by that point I’m doing mean things to my characters, which is also fun (for me)!
Are all your books set in Australia?
All five of my urban fantasy novels are—although part of the third book in my young adult trilogy, Isla’s Inheritance, also has a handful of scenes set in London and Edinburgh. I’ve considered setting a book entirely overseas, but there are several reasons I haven’t. One is that I’ve only ever been on one overseas holiday (to Scotland and Spain), and I didn’t think I could fake it. Another is that I’m acutely aware that I write in Australian English. Readers would be onto me faster than I could say “hey, mate”. Besides, I love Australia and thought there wasn’t enough supernatural fiction set here, so I decided to put my money where my mouth is!
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About the author:
Cassandra Page is a mother, author, editor and geek. She lives in Canberra, Australia’s bush capital, with her son and two Cairn Terriers. She has a serious coffee addiction and a tattoo of a cat — despite being allergic to cats. She has loved to read since primary school, when the library was her refuge, and loves many genres — although urban fantasy is her favourite. When she’s not reading or writing, she engages in geekery, from Doctor Who to AD&D. Because who said you need to grow up?
Author's Giveaway:
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I look forward to reading this book. Top of my TBR list. (jozywails@gmail.com)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fantastic read! Looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten just how different Ozzie English is!
ReplyDeleteFalse Awakening sounds like a good read. Thank you
ReplyDelete