Thursday, March 1, 2012

CassaFire by Alex Cavanaugh

Okay, so today it is my great pleasure to welcome Alex Cavanaugh to the blog! I know, you're shocked I'm here on a Thursday. But this book was too good to pass up.

So a little bit about THE BOOK:
The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less: On a distant planet boasting alien ruins, a loner pilot meets his match. All Byron wanted was his privacy…

Tell us how this second book came to be. Always a planned series? Finished the first and wanted to write a second? Are you kidding? I never intended to write another book! Everyone kept asking though - when’s the sequel and will it contain women? I never planned it but I wanted to make my fans happy.

What one thing did you learn by writing a sequel? That I could do it! That I really could continue Byron’s story.

Name one thing that was harder the second time around. Coming up with something fresh. My original outline for CassaFire in no way resembles the finished book as I kept making changes.

And, one thing that was easier. I already knew the main character really well, so everything surrounding Byron was easy to write.

What else are you working on? Secrets? Inside scoops? Give us the juicy stuff! Juicy? Can I offer you a soft orange? I’m working on the third book, tentatively titled CassaStorm.

About THE AUTHOR:
Have you always wanted to be a writer? Ironically, no. I wrote a little when I was younger but I never had any aspirations to be a writer or author.

What made you decide to go that “extra step” and seek publication? Crap, I’m supposed to tell you something brilliant, aren’t I? Um, I just decided what the heck! What’s the worst that could happen?

Quick! You’ve been chosen to be a contestant on Survivor. What luxury item do you take? Luxury item? My iPad. (The essential item would be a Bible, which fortunately is on my iPad!)

Tell us something about yourself we don’t know. My wife would say I’m a compulsive hands washer, but I’m not that bad.

And the most important of all: bacon or chocolate? Bacon AND chocolate? Yes, please!

Visit Alex’s site and leave a comment during his book tour for a chance to win CassaFire, CassaStar, and a CassaFire tote bag and mug!

Buy CASSAFIRE:

Watch the trailer:


CassaFire is the sequel to Cavanaugh’s first book, CassaStar, an Amazon Top Ten Best Seller:
“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” - Library Journal

Whew! If you're not excited to read CASSAFIRE now, I don't know what else we need to do. I do want to echo that last statement by the Library Journal. My 13-year-old son enjoyed CassaFire and CassaStar, so it's definitely for readers of all ages!

What sci fi have you read that you like?

73 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thank you, Elana! And really pleased your son enjoyed the books. You rock!

Alice said...

I'm not a big sci/fi fan, but this one sounds good.

Ciara said...

I've read the first book CassaStar, Alice. It is light on the science fiction so I think you'd enjoy it. Have a great day, Alex and Elana!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Awesome interview. That's so cool you wrote your book Alex because your fans and friends encouraged you to. And of course Elana, you have to ask that question about bacon. Ha!

Good luck with your book Alex. I'm learning a lot watching your blog marketing strategy. Can't wait to read your book.

Rusty Carl said...

Great interview. I'm a big fan of bacon AND chocolate, I'd hate to make one of them upset by choosing the other. Good call on asking for them both.

Ron Easton for Dads UnLimited said...

This promotional tour has been great. A great post again. I'm a new follower and will be back

Sarah Tokeley said...

I love that the second one was written due to popular demand, and now there's going to be a third :-)

Lindsay N. Currie said...

Oh my goodness, I love Science Fiction and all of it's many subsets. Congrats to Alex - this actually sounds like something my son would love as much as me!

Karen Baldwin said...

Great interview, Alex. Bacon AND chocolate? Like bacon wrapped around a chocolate kiss? Um...I don't think so. :)

Old Kitty said...

Hi Elana, Hi Alex! It's great to know you wash your hands! :-)

Take care
x

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Fun interview. I couldn't answer that last question though as I don't eat either food.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Great interview, thank you. made enjoyable reading.

Yvonne.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Washing our hands is always a great way to get through the winter flu-free. :)

Looking forward to reading my copy of CassaFire.

Anonymous said...

Nice interview Alex.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Alice, it's very low tech.

Natalie, I gave the fans what they wanted in the second one.

Rusty, thank you.

Lindsay, I hope you enjoy it then!

Em, don't knock until you've tried it.

Kitty, I'm all about the clean.

Elizabeth, hope you enjoy it!

Cathy Olliffe-Webster said...

I think I saw a recipe for chocolate-dipped bacon on the Food Network. Seriously.

Karen Lange said...

See, this is one of the reasons we like Alex - bacon AND chocolate. Need I say more? Wishing Alex the best!

Matthew MacNish said...

The two coolest, and most fundamental pillars of the blogosphere just came together in a single post? I think you guys just broke the internet.

Morgan Mandel said...

i know what you mean about proving that you can do it. With each book, I face the same challenge!

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Good things come in threes! Good luck with the series. They get easier to write each time.

Helen Ginger said...

What sci-fi have I liked? Hmmm .... CassaStar. Bacon and chocolate, Alex? Bacon and donuts would be better. ;-)

Leovi said...

Yes, very lively and interesting interview. Greetings.

Laura S. said...

My final version never looks like the original outline, either!

Congratulations, Alex!!

PR said...

Ooh a third book. You don't like sleep huh? :P

Universal Gibberish

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

I love the fact that Byron is now so much more mature in this book. I love it when characters grow and Alex knows how to do that.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Matthew, I'll try to fix it!

Stephen, I'm holding you to that.

Helen, I've heard that's really good!

Michael, thanks, and he definitely needed some growth.

Thank, everyone!

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Man, I have been meaning to read these forever! I'm going to have to bump them up on the TBR pile. Thanks, Elana! :-)

T. Powell Coltrin said...

I love all sci-fi. Books and movies. Let's just say that I was glued to the tube when Star Trek (both generations) was on TV.

Congrats, Alex. Thanks, Elana. I always feel at home on both your blogs.

Teresa

Jennie Bennett said...

ummmm... chocolate covered bacon...

Theresa Milstein said...

Writing sequels on demand? That's an author who wants to please his fans!

Dani said...

Gorgeous blog, Elana! Alex, you're doing such a super job on this tour. Hope you sell tons of books!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Shannon, thank you!

Teresa, you are one cool chick then.

Theresa, I'm trying!

Thanks, Dani.

Bob Sanchez said...

Your latest is on my TBR list, Alex!

Christine Rains said...

Great interview! I like bacon and chocolate, but together, um, I don't know.

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Wow, Alex, that was a great compliment that Elana's son enjoyed both your books. Elana, great incisive interview. Love that you made the Twitter synopsis the start of it. Ah, Miss Piggy insists I choose chocolate. (It wasn't that hard a choice, actually! LOL.) Roland

N. R. Williams said...

Hi Elana, Hi Alex.
Great interview. One time on Food Network under My Favorite Food show, Duff Goldman highlighted a desert that was both chocolate and bacon. Can't wait to read both your books Alex. Can't find a bunch of stuff since we moved last summer. I'll bug my daughter for her kindle.
Nancy

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Bob, I appreciate that!

Christine, you must try it. Sweet and salty.

Roland, I'm really happy he enjoyed them.

Thank you, Nancy.

Kela McClelland said...

This was a great post, i already have both CassaStar and CassaFire on my TBR, but this just made me decide I must move them up on the list.

Oh and Alex, my 3 year old is a compulsive hand washer-nothing wrong with it. She even washes her hands in the middle of eating-they can NEVER be dirty :)

Leslea said...

OMG, you just reminded me. That bacon chocolate bar I gave Tim for Christmas as a joke is still uneaten...

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Alex's first book was wonderful and I'm looking forward to at last being able to read his second! Yay!

Oh, an ipad may not be a good thing to take to an island unless you can recharge the batteries on a coconut ;)

Bianca C said...

Great interview.
This is a beautiful blog! :)

M Pax said...

I bet it's easier if you write the series in order, too. :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Kela, thank you!! And that's good to know. Can't have dirty hands.

Leslea, you'll have to try it.

Lynda, thanks - and good point. Guess I'll need a generator.

Jessica Salyer said...

At the fair last year I tried bacon covered chocolate. It wasn't that bad. Great interview.

Laura said...

Oh- some great snippets there Elana - thankyou!
Laura x

Bryan Thomas said...

Alice, Alex and I belong to a school of space fantasy (space opera) highly influenced by Battlestar Galactica (1978), Star Wars, etc. It's old school, retro, and more about plot, characters and fun than science. It appeals to far beyond the usual SF crowd. I'm sure you'd enjoy it.

Leigh Covington said...

I know Alex's books will be my trigger into the Sci-Fi world. I watch a lot of SF movies, but haven't read a lot of books. Looking forward to his.

Golden Eagle said...

I like the continuity between titles; CassaStar, CassaFire, CassaStorm. It's nice when books in a series match up.

Great interview! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

I love sci-fi! CassaFire is waiting (a little impatiently) for me on my Kindle :)

ediFanoB said...

Bacon AND Chocolate! Bacon AND Chocolate!

To wash hands is not that bad... as long as you do not damage the skin.

Every time when I pass the mailbox it need to open it even I know there is nothing inside.

Thanks for a great interview. I learned something new about Alex.

You have more followers than a lot of small villages in my sourrounding!!

Mark said...

Rad interview, I luv Alex's site. Your blog is cool too:)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Leigh, thank you! Cope we can convert you.

Jemi, thanks!

Edi, checking the mailbox isn't too compulsive.

Marta Szemik said...

Great interview. I enjoy learning something new about Alex everyday:)
And, planning to read both books very, very soon!

Empty Nest Insider said...

Great interview Elana and Alex! Glad you'd still continue blogging with all of us if you were on Survivor! I also can't wait to read CassaFire! Julie

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Marta, thank you!

Julie, you know I'd be connected to the Internet.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Chocolate and Bacon??? Dark chocolate, I hope to offset the heart attack brought on by the bacon.
Congrats on the great review.

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

Yes, chocolate and bacon need not be mutually exclusive. There's a phenomenally rich bacon flavored dark chocolate bar. I forget what company makes it - starts with a V. Anyway, excuse my digression; your interview's inspiring. Thank you, Alex and Elana.
xoRobyn

Ella said...

Great interview you two! It was fun and playful~ Survivor, huh...is that a clue for the next book?! ;D

Tina said...

Yeah! Thanks Alana for hosting the main man himself, the Ninja Captain! I've got CassaFire all ready to go on my Kindle...but I probably won't allow myself to read it until after the April challenge...
Tina @ Life is Good
Co-Host of the April A to Z Challenge
Twitter: @AprilA2Z #atozchallenge

Jo Schaffer said...

Coolness.

Unknown said...

Elana and Alex, good interview!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Susan, that's funny!

Robyn, you are the chocolate master!

Tina, but it's brief! And I know how much you love brevity...

Thank you Elana and everyone!

Enid Wilson said...

I like anything that's short, such as this interview. And I like it that you can do it, for two times already. Maybe you can do sequels, again and again...

The Spinster’s Vow

Author A.O. Peart said...

I love short and straight-to-the-point interviews (something I can never master myself).

Yep, the iPad (with the Bible) would be my answer too, or, at least, my 11 inch laptop and Kindle - oh, wait... these are two items.

TerryLynnJohnson said...

great interview! we all love Alex.

Nancy Thompson said...

Bacon AND chocolate! See, another reason for my writerly crush!

Anonymous said...

Great interview. CONGRATS Alex!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Enid, I just need one more...

Angela, that is wonderful to hear!

Terry, thank you.

Nancy, we need to talk about this crush...

Thank you, Susanne!

Unknown said...

Good luxury/essential item to pick :-) And, um, I've never actually tried bacon and chocolate together... though I hear that bacon and peanut butter are supposed to be good together!

Shannon Lawrence said...

I am a little grossed out at the thought of a combo of bacon and chocolate. However, you know how many bacon flavored things they have out there? You could get bacon floss, bacon mints, and, yes, bacon chocolate (and coffee)!

Shannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Rahel, I essentially have that sometimes for breakfast since I put peanut butter on my pancakes.

Bacon floss - funny, Shannon! Goes well with garlic floss.

Unknown said...

Bacon and chocolate are definitely two very important food groups. I do believe they make the world a better place. LOL

Sorry I am so late with getting aorund this awesome tour. But better late than never. :)

Leslie S. Rose said...

I need to quit blogging and go read this book. I love Sci Fi and the trailer hooked me big time.

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