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LiveChat Today with CIRCUS MIRANDUS Author, Cassie Beasley

Our live chat has now ended. Read the archived version below.

Live Blog Live Chat with Cassie Beasley: CIRCUS MIRANDUS
 Live Chat with Cassie Beasley: CIRCUS MIRANDUS(03/18/2015) 
4:10
 Lisa Von Drasek
Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:10 
4:45
Lisa Von Drasek: 
We will begin our live online chat with Cassie Beasley, author of CIRCUS MIRANDUS, in about 15 minutes.

The book will be published by Penguin/Dial in June.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:45 Lisa Von Drasek
4:48
Lisa Von Drasek: 
A debut middle grade novel, it just received a starred review from Kirkus.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:48 Lisa Von Drasek
4:48
 Lisa Von Drasek
Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:48 
4:48
Lisa Von Drasek: 
Here's the full review …
Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:48 Lisa Von Drasek
4:48
Lisa Von Drasek: 
KIRKUS REVIEW -- starred One strange afternoon, 10-year-old Micah Tuttle finds out that magic is real. Micah always thought Grandpa Ephraim’s wild stories of the centuries-old Circus Mirandus were spun solely for his amusement. But when his dying grandfather writes a letter to the “Lightbender,” hoping to call in the miracle the magician had promised him as a boy, Micah learns the stories were true, and the appearance of Ms. Chintzy, the circus’ cantankerous parrot messenger, clinches the deal. Happily, Micah finds a loyal if somewhat challenging friend to help him track down the elusive light-bending magician: the magic-leery, science-minded Jenny Mendoza. Their budding rapport is nuanced and complex, a refreshing illustration of how absolute like-mindedness is not a prerequisite for friendship. On one level, the book is a fantastical circus romp, with fortunetelling vultures and “a wallaby that could burp the Greek alphabet.” On another, it’s both serious and thick with longing: Micah’s ache for the companionship of his once-vital guardian-grandfather; Grandpa Ephraim’s boyhood yearning for his absent father, as fleshed out in flashbacks; the circus founders’ desire to keep enchantment alive in a world where “faith is such a fragile thing.” A delicious confection and much more: it shows that the human heart is delicate, that it matters, and that it must be handled with care. (Fiction. 9-12)
Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:48 Lisa Von Drasek
4:55
Lisa Von Drasek: 

I’m your moderator.


In addition to being EarlyWord’s Kids Correspondent, I am the curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota, one of the world’s largest collections of children’s literature manuscripts and original. Before that, I was the Children's Librarian of the Bank Street College of Education. I’ve served on many awards committees including the Newbery, the National Book Awards for Young People's Literature and American Library Association's Notable Children's Books.

Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:55 Lisa Von Drasek
4:56
Lisa Von Drasek: 


You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to the author before the end of the chat.


Don’t worry about typos – we’re sure to make them too!

Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:56 Lisa Von Drasek
5:00
Lisa Von Drasek: 
I see that Cassie has joined us -- we have a crowd gathering. Say hi to them.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:00 Lisa Von Drasek
5:00
Cassie Beasley: 
Hi, Lisa! Hi, everyone! So excited about this chat.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:00 Cassie Beasley
5:00
[Comment From M. Circus FanM. Circus Fan: ] 
LOVE the book! Thanks for doing this!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:00 M. Circus Fan
5:01
[Comment From Pam D.Pam D.: ] 
Been looking forward to this all month!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:01 Pam D.
5:01
[Comment From Sunny, OhioSunny, Ohio: ] 
Thanks for taking the time to talk to us.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:01 Sunny, Ohio
5:01
[Comment From FridaFrida: ] 
Great to know you're a real person, Cassie.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:01 Frida
5:01
[Comment From Brenda J.Brenda J.: ] 
Hi from Florida, land of circuses.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:01 Brenda J.
5:01
[Comment From Frances, INFrances, IN: ] 
Thanks, Lisa and thanks, Cassie
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:01 Frances, IN
5:01
[Comment From Book LoverBook Lover: ] 
Hi from a fan.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:01 Book Lover
5:01
[Comment From M.G. TeacherM.G. Teacher: ] 
Can't wait to share this book with my kids.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:01 M.G. Teacher
5:02
Cassie Beasley: 
Hello, hello! I am totally a real person, and I have been looking forward to this at least as much as you guys have!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:02 Cassie Beasley
5:02
Lisa Von Drasek: 

I'll start with a few comments.

I know you are excited about that great Kirkus review.



Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:02 Lisa Von Drasek
5:02
Lisa Von Drasek: 
You also got some other pretty great news recently. Film and TV rights were recently sold
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:02 Lisa Von Drasek
5:03
Lisa Von Drasek: 
And, for audio fans, there's the announcement that Bronson Pinchot to narrate the audio book …
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:03 Lisa Von Drasek
5:03
 Lisa Von Drasek
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:03 
5:04
Lisa Von Drasek: 
You must be feeling pretty good about all that.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:04 Lisa Von Drasek
5:04
Cassie Beasley: 
My head is spinning with all of the good things that have happened for CM lately. The Kirkus review was such a thrill, and the movie news was a big surprise!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:04 Cassie Beasley
5:04
[Comment From Brooklyn librarianBrooklyn librarian: ] 
I LOVED this book! I can't wait to share it with my students!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:04 Brooklyn librarian
5:04
Cassie Beasley: 
And Bronson is lovely, lovely. He's promised to sneak me a clip of the audio ahead of schedule.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:04 Cassie Beasley
5:05
Cassie Beasley: 
Hi, Brooklyn librarian!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:05 Cassie Beasley
5:05
Lisa Von Drasek: 

I'll start with a really tough question:

Is there a one sentence “handle” that can describe the book to librarians and teachers?

Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:05 Lisa Von Drasek
5:06
Cassie Beasley: 
Lisa, that is a tough question. I would say that...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:06 Cassie Beasley
5:06
Cassie Beasley: 
Circus Mirandus is the story of a boy trying to save his dying grandfather by finding the magical circus that changed his life many years before.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:06 Cassie Beasley
5:07
Cassie Beasley: 
Which doesn't cover all of it of course! But one sentence can be tough!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:07 Cassie Beasley
5:07
Lisa Von Drasek: 

It works!

What does Mirandus mean?

Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:07 Lisa Von Drasek
5:08
Cassie Beasley: 
It means “wondrous” or “that which is to be marveled at”!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:08 Cassie Beasley
5:08
Cassie Beasley: 
It's Latin.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:08 Cassie Beasley
5:08
Cassie Beasley: 
I spent a ridiculously long time combing through lists of words to find the perfect name for the circus...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:08 Cassie Beasley
5:08
Cassie Beasley: 
so I'm glad you asked!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:08 Cassie Beasley
5:08
Lisa Von Drasek: 

Even though I know that Great Aunt Gertrudis (now that sounds Latin) is from Arizona I am not sure where Micah lives- is that a deliberate?

Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:08 Lisa Von Drasek
5:09
Cassie Beasley: 
Yes...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:09 Cassie Beasley
5:09
Cassie Beasley: 
I was hoping to give Micah’s hometown an Everytown kind of feel…
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:09 Cassie Beasley
5:09
Cassie Beasley: 
I wanted readers to feel like the circus might show up where they lived...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:09 Cassie Beasley
5:10
Cassie Beasley: 
and of course the settings I’m most familiar with are all Southern settings, so I wanted to avoid giving the impression that this was a specifically “Southern story.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:10 Cassie Beasley
5:10
Lisa Von Drasek: 
I think Brooklyn librarian has a one-sentence handle for your CIRCUS MIRANDUS -- one you might enjoy …
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:10 Lisa Von Drasek
5:10
[Comment From Brooklyn librarianBrooklyn librarian: ] 
I'd say if you have kids that love Dahl and want a meaty fantasy...this is for them
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:10 Brooklyn librarian
5:11
Cassie Beasley: 
Ooo....I love that! "Meaty fantasy."
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:11 Cassie Beasley
5:11
Cassie Beasley: 
Can I steal that?
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:11 Cassie Beasley
5:11
Lisa Von Drasek: 
How about the reference to Dahl -- are you fan of his?
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:11 Lisa Von Drasek
5:12
Cassie Beasley: 
I have heard that comparison so often lately. I do love Dahl, but it's actually been a very long time since I read his books!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:12 Cassie Beasley
5:12
Cassie Beasley: 
Matilda was a favorite of mine growing up.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:12 Cassie Beasley
5:12
[Comment From Brenda J.Brenda J.: ] 
Do you like circuses?
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:12 Brenda J.
5:13
Cassie Beasley: 
You know, I only went to an actual circus once as a child, but…
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:13 Cassie Beasley
5:13
Cassie Beasley: 
we went to the fairgrounds every year for the traveling fair. I think there’s an element of mystery…
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:13 Cassie Beasley
5:14
Cassie Beasley: 
and maybe even a kind of darkness to it. It’s all so pretty and bright and exciting, but then…
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:14 Cassie Beasley
5:14
Cassie Beasley: 
there's the background of it. Just at the corner of your eye. Something that makes the glitz seem like a cover for the otherworldly.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:14 Cassie Beasley
5:14
Cassie Beasley: 
I think that's a lot of fun to play with as a writer!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:14 Cassie Beasley
5:15
[Comment From Brooklyn librarianBrooklyn librarian: ] 
It's all yours. That and I appreciated the juicy lNguage. I am looking forward to reading this aloud
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:15 Brooklyn librarian
5:15
[Comment From Brooklyn librarianBrooklyn librarian: ] 
The Dahl reference is that you are unafraid of showing difficult circumstances with unsympathetic adults as well as giving agency to the kids....also the wordplay and subtle humor
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:15 Brooklyn librarian
5:16
Cassie Beasley: 
Yay! Thank you Brooklyn librarian. I'm going to start telling people I write meaty fantasy with juicy language. My books will sound scrumptious.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:16 Cassie Beasley
5:16
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Who were your favorite authors as a child?
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:16 Deborah Baldwin
5:17
Cassie Beasley: 
As a child? I loved William Goldman -- The Princess Bride, The Silent Gondoliers (which too few people have read). I was also a big fan...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:17 Cassie Beasley
5:17
Cassie Beasley: 
of my parents' collection of adult epic fantasy. And Harry Potter. Of course.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:17 Cassie Beasley
5:18
Lisa Von Drasek: 

Micah lost his parents at an early age- (this is typical in children’s books as adventure can’t happen if parents are supervising) we don’t really know anything about them…like how his dad and his aunt got along.

Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:18 Lisa Von Drasek
5:18
Cassie Beasley: 
Oh, and Louis Sachar. I loved the Wayside School books and Holes.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:18 Cassie Beasley
5:19
Cassie Beasley: 
I know…children’s authors are terrible to parents aren’t we?…
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:19 Cassie Beasley
5:19
Cassie Beasley: 
In my mind, Aunt Gertrudis has been more or less estranged from the family, happily living her own life apart from all of her brother’s “nonsense” stories…
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:19 Cassie Beasley
5:19
Cassie Beasley: 
so Micah's dad would have known her but not been close to her.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:19 Cassie Beasley
5:20
Lisa Von Drasek: 

Love the name Gertrudis! Names are clearly important to you. How do you come up with them?

Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:20 Lisa Von Drasek
5:21
Cassie Beasley: 
Gertrudis...I just thought it sounded so crotchety and uptight. Perfect for her!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:21 Cassie Beasley
5:21
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Where did you get your ideas for your characters, especially Aunt Gertrudis? ...Any real life inspirations or purely fictional?
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:21 Deborah Baldwin
5:21
Cassie Beasley: 
I do think a lot about names. I usually just try tons of different ones until one feels right.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:21 Cassie Beasley
5:22
[Comment From Pam D.Pam D.: ] 
How did you come up with the great character, the parrot Chintzy-
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:22 Pam D.
5:22
Cassie Beasley: 
Deborah, my great aunt is the sweetest lady in the whole entire world! So I'm going to have to be really careful to explain to her that...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:22 Cassie Beasley
5:22
Cassie Beasley: 
Great Aunt Gertrudis is not in any way based on her!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:22 Cassie Beasley
5:22
Cassie Beasley: 
As for the others--none of them are based on anyone in particular, except...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:22 Cassie Beasley
5:23
Cassie Beasley: 
Except for Chintzy, Pam!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:23 Cassie Beasley
5:23
Lisa Von Drasek: 
We thought it would be fun to ask people who their favorite characters are. Here comes the poll …
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:23 Lisa Von Drasek
5:23
 Cassie Beasley
Chintzy is based on this pretty girl!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:23 
5:24
Lisa Von Drasek: 
OK, now everyone is totally distracted by Chintzy!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:24 Lisa Von Drasek
5:24
Cassie Beasley: 
Oh, it's a contest! I get to see who everyone likes best! :)
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:24 Cassie Beasley
5:24
Lisa Von Drasek: 

You mention that you read Harry Potter as a kid- How old were you and can you tell us a little about that experience?

Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:24 Lisa Von Drasek
5:25
Cassie Beasley: 
Yes, that's my African Grey parrot! She's sweet...except for the biting. And very talkative.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:25 Cassie Beasley
5:25
Cassie Beasley: 
Harry Potter-- I was in sixth grade!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:25 Cassie Beasley
5:25
Cassie Beasley: 
My homeroom teacher read us a few pages after lunch every day.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:25 Cassie Beasley
5:26
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
What a beautiful bird!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:26 Deborah Baldwin
5:26
Cassie Beasley: 
The whole class was enthralled, but it was taking her so long to get through it! I made my mom drive all the way to Savannah (an hour) so that I could get my own copy and the second book.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:26 Cassie Beasley
5:26
Lisa Von Drasek: 
Have you tried reading CIRCUS MIRANDUS aloud to any kids?
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:26 Lisa Von Drasek
5:27
Cassie Beasley: 
Oh, she knows, Deborah! She thinks she is hot stuff. :)
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:27 Cassie Beasley
5:28
Cassie Beasley: 
That sounds terrifying, Lisa! What if they didn't like it?! Seriously though, I have a friend who is reading a copy to her two boys right now, and I am on pins and needles waiting to find out if they like it or not!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:28 Cassie Beasley
5:29
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
How long did it take you to write Circus Mirandus?
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:29 Deborah Baldwin
5:29
Cassie Beasley: 
I have heard from a few librarians (Yay librarians!) that their students are really enjoying it, and that is the best feeling.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:29 Cassie Beasley
5:29
Cassie Beasley: 
It took me about two years to write the book. Almost all of that spent on various revisions.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:29 Cassie Beasley
5:30
Lisa Von Drasek: 
So far, Ms. Chintzy is beating Lightbender in our poll. Come on, Grandpa!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:30 Lisa Von Drasek
5:30
Cassie Beasley: 
The writing process never seems to stop though...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:30 Cassie Beasley
5:30
Cassie Beasley: 
I just made my very very final tweaks a few days ago, and sent it back to my editor.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:30 Cassie Beasley
5:30
Cassie Beasley: 
It's totally out of my hands now!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:30 Cassie Beasley
5:31
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Thank you for sticking with it!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:31 Deborah Baldwin
5:31
Lisa Von Drasek: 
Interesting that revisions continue AFTER galleys are sent out.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:31 Lisa Von Drasek
5:32
Cassie Beasley: 
I know, isn't it though?
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:32 Cassie Beasley
5:32
Lisa Von Drasek: 

How did you develop the character of the grandfather?

He has many endearing attributes not the least is his faith in Micah. (and the twinkly in his eye)

Who is like that in your life?

Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:32 Lisa Von Drasek
5:33
Cassie Beasley: 
Revisions can happen write up until the moment when they pry it out of the author's fingers and send it to the printer! Which has happened! It's going to be a real book!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:33 Cassie Beasley
5:33
Cassie Beasley: 
Grandpa Ephraim has had his own backstory from the very beginning…
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:33 Cassie Beasley
5:34
Cassie Beasley: 
which I think is so important, because too often grandparent figures in kids’ books are a little one dimensional…
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:34 Cassie Beasley
5:34
Cassie Beasley: 
Grandpa Ephraim's part of the story--finding Circus Mirandus as a boy and then losing it as an adult--is at the heart of the book...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:34 Cassie Beasley
5:34
Cassie Beasley: 
so he grew as a character right alongside Micah.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:34 Cassie Beasley
5:35
Lisa Von Drasek: 

There are small humorous moments throughout the story that lighten the sadness and desperation of the plot, Chintzy of course but also in the dialog.

My favorite is when Micah is desperate to speak with Jenny and says it’s an emergency, its about home work and the mom says, “ Oh, okay.”

Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:35 Lisa Von Drasek
5:35
Cassie Beasley: 
And, I seem to have said that "Revisions can happen 'write up until'"...proof that I am a real person, folks!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:35 Cassie Beasley
5:36
[Comment From Pam D.Pam D.: ] 
We agreed to overlook typos!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:36 Pam D.
5:36
Lisa Von Drasek: 

Circus Mirandus survives because of faith…can you talk a little about why that is important to you?

Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:36 Lisa Von Drasek
5:36
Cassie Beasley: 
Oh, Jenny! She's so cool. She's a lot like I was at that age. And she and Chintzy both make me laugh!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:36 Cassie Beasley
5:37
Cassie Beasley: 
I think that's important in any book...not to have one tone. To have humor and heartache...just like life!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:37 Cassie Beasley
5:37
Cassie Beasley: 
I don’t know if this answers the question, but…
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:37 Cassie Beasley
5:38
Cassie Beasley: 
I think for Micah the circus represents hope, even after he reaches it and finds that things aren’t what he had initially expected…
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:38 Cassie Beasley
5:38
Cassie Beasley: 
the hope that there is something better out there, and the belief that that something is within his grasp…
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:38 Cassie Beasley
5:39
Cassie Beasley: 
it keeps him going even when the situation seems unassailable. It makes him stronger. Hope, faith, belief-- I think we need it...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:39 Cassie Beasley
5:39
Cassie Beasley: 
I think we lose some of it as we go through life, especially at the moments when we need it most, and I think that’s tragic.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:39 Cassie Beasley
5:41
[Comment From FridaFrida: ] 
That is, after all, what life is about. And kids really eat up stories that show both sides.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:41 Frida
5:41
Lisa Von Drasek: 

I related to the themes of a child learning how to deal with change and overcoming adversity. Were you conscious of those, or did the story just reveal itself to you?

Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:41 Lisa Von Drasek
5:42
Cassie Beasley: 
I don't think too much about themes/lessons/morals when I'm writing, especially the initial draft. I think the story has to come first...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:42 Cassie Beasley
5:42
Cassie Beasley: 
and then once that's done, readers are the ones who can really find all of the potential meanings I didn't even know were there!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:42 Cassie Beasley
5:42
[Comment From Pam D.Pam D.: ] 
Well said!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:42 Pam D.
5:43
[Comment From Pam D.Pam D.: ] 
Tell us about the art in the book. i loved the second cover!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:43 Pam D.
5:43
Lisa Von Drasek: 
Speaking of that cover -- here it is:
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:43 Lisa Von Drasek
5:43
Cassie Beasley: 
I love it too, Pam! It's by Diana Sudyka...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:43 Cassie Beasley
5:43
 Lisa Von Drasek
Interior cover by Diana Sudyka
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:43 
5:44
Cassie Beasley: 
They didn't give me much say in the art, and I'm glad...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:44 Cassie Beasley
5:44
Cassie Beasley: 
because I never could have come up with something so cool!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:44 Cassie Beasley
5:44
Lisa Von Drasek: 

There are references to children’s literature embedded throughout this book- Peter Pan…. Can you tell us another?

Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:44 Lisa Von Drasek
5:45
[Comment From Suzanne (from Tennessee)Suzanne (from Tennessee): ] 
Wow! I love that much better than just the circus tent .
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:45 Suzanne (from Tennessee)
5:45
Cassie Beasley: 
I love that that art will show through the die-cut hat on the hardcover's dustjacket. And wait until you see the interior art! I just saw it all for the first time last week. Soooo good.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:45 Cassie Beasley
5:45
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Love the new cover!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:45 Deborah Baldwin
5:45
[Comment From Suzanne (from Tennessee)Suzanne (from Tennessee): ] 
I was a Latin major in college, so I love the name of the circus!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:45 Suzanne (from Tennessee)
5:45
Cassie Beasley: 
Oh yes. The book has two covers basically, which is so neat!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:45 Cassie Beasley
5:46
Cassie Beasley: 
Lisa...about other references.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:46 Cassie Beasley
5:47
Cassie Beasley: 
Those usually aren't intentional, so I have a hard time picking them out!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:47 Cassie Beasley
5:47
Cassie Beasley: 
I think the books we really love stick with us, even if its been years since we've read them,
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:47 Cassie Beasley
5:48
Cassie Beasley: 
we all internalize things, often without even realizing it, and then as a writer…
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:48 Cassie Beasley
5:48
Lisa Von Drasek: 
Tell us what it was like to find out about the TV and film rights.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:48 Lisa Von Drasek
5:48
Cassie Beasley: 
hose story elements you’ve internalized and those themes, they keep cropping up whether you know it’s happening or not!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:48 Cassie Beasley
5:48
[Comment From FridaFrida: ] 
Which would you prefer, a book or a movie?
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:48 Frida
5:49
Cassie Beasley: 
I wish I had a picture of myself jumping up and down and squealing, because I did quite a lot of that!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:49 Cassie Beasley
5:49
Cassie Beasley: 
And it all happened very very quickly. The producer who pre-empted the rights contacted me, and five days later we had the deal!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:49 Cassie Beasley
5:50
Cassie Beasley: 
Well, around five days. I didn't keep perfect track.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:50 Cassie Beasley
5:50
Cassie Beasley: 
Frida, books! I am a book girl through and through.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:50 Cassie Beasley
5:50
Cassie Beasley: 
Though I do love to go to the movies. I love sitting in the theater in the dark and seeing stories unfold.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:50 Cassie Beasley
5:51
[Comment From FridaFrida: ] 
That was a slip -- I actually meant to say -- which would you prefer, a movie or a TV series!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:51 Frida
5:51
Cassie Beasley: 
For that to be a possibility with Circus Mirandus--it's hard to fathom and so, so thrilling!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:51 Cassie Beasley
5:51
Cassie Beasley: 
Oh! A movie. I think.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:51 Cassie Beasley
5:51
[Comment From Suzanne (from Tennessee)Suzanne (from Tennessee): ] 
Who wouldn't be jumping? That's such exciting news.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:51 Suzanne (from Tennessee)
5:52
[Comment From M. Circus FanM. Circus Fan: ] 
I've seen comparisons to the adult book, NIGHT CIRCUS. Have you read it? I don't agree -- NIGHT CIRCUS had great atmosphere, but NO plot!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:52 M. Circus Fan
5:52
Cassie Beasley: 
Yes, a movie. Only because I'm not sure I can picture how they would string the story out into multiple seasons.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:52 Cassie Beasley
5:52
Lisa Von Drasek: 

THIS MIGHT BE A SPOILER perhaps not but….Can you talk about your choice to have Aunt Gertrudis be unredeemed.

Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:52 Lisa Von Drasek
5:52
Cassie Beasley: 
I *have* gotten a lot of comparisons to NIGHT CIRCUS.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:52 Cassie Beasley
5:53
Cassie Beasley: 
I waited to read it until after I was basically finished with CM because I was afraid I would pick up elements, and I didn't want to copy!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:53 Cassie Beasley
5:53
Cassie Beasley: 
I enjoyed it, by the way. Love her conception of the circus.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:53 Cassie Beasley
5:53
Cassie Beasley: 
Lisa, absolutely!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:53 Cassie Beasley
5:54
Cassie Beasley: 
I did have a few early readers question whether it was right for Aunt Gertrudis not to have her moment of redemption…
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:54 Cassie Beasley
5:54
Cassie Beasley: 
but I’ve been pretty adamant from the start that she doesn’t get that. Just because it would feel good to have that tidy bow on the ending…
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:54 Cassie Beasley
5:54
Cassie Beasley: 
that doesn’t make it the right thing for the story. I want to write characters who are real, and the real Aunt Gertrudis has had decades to build up…
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:54 Cassie Beasley
5:55
Cassie Beasley: 
her emotional armor, her resentment, her bitterness. She’s not willing to change. She doesn’t even want it for herself.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:55 Cassie Beasley
5:55
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Are there more "Circus Mirandus" stories in the works?
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:55 Deborah Baldwin
5:56
Cassie Beasley: 
CM does stand on its own, so it's not the kind of story that has to have a sequel. But, I have written one! It's a work in progress...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:56 Cassie Beasley
5:56
Cassie Beasley: 
waiting to see how my editor feels about it. I like it a lot, but that's pretty unsurprising. ;)
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:56 Cassie Beasley
5:56
[Comment From M.G. TeacherM.G. Teacher: ] 
Do you do school visits?
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:56 M.G. Teacher
5:57
Cassie Beasley: 
I haven't done one before, since this is all so new, but I am totally game for school visits!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:57 Cassie Beasley
5:57
[Comment From M.G. TeacherM.G. Teacher: ] 
How can we contact you for a visit?
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:57 M.G. Teacher
5:57
Cassie Beasley: 
The person to contact about that is my publicist at Penguin. Lauren Donovan.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:57 Cassie Beasley
5:58
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Looking forward to hearing if there will be more adventures... good luck... hope your editor like it.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:58 Deborah Baldwin
5:58
Lisa Von Drasek: 

We're closing in on the last few minutes.


One last question --

If you weren’t a writer what would you be?

Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:58 Lisa Von Drasek
5:58
Cassie Beasley: 
Or, you can always send requests through my website, and I'll forward them to her to address since I haven't quite got a handle on my own upcoming schedule!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:58 Cassie Beasley
5:59
Cassie Beasley: 
It's probably cheating to pick something that involves me reading books all day long isn't it?
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:59 Cassie Beasley
5:59
Cassie Beasley: 
But I guess I would be either a literature professor or a chef. School, books, food—my loves are simple ones!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:59 Cassie Beasley
5:59
Lisa Von Drasek: 
Oops, forgot -- I think you have a pecan recipe to share with us!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:59 Lisa Von Drasek
5:59
Cassie Beasley: 
I do!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:59 Cassie Beasley
6:00
Cassie Beasley: 
http://www.myrecipes.com/re...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:00 Cassie Beasley
6:00
Lisa Von Drasek: 

And, WHY do yo love pecans?



Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:00 Lisa Von Drasek
6:00
Cassie Beasley: 
My favorite way to bribe editors, agents, and everyone in between! It's the best toffee there is. :)
Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:00 Cassie Beasley
6:00
Cassie Beasley: 
I do!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:00 Cassie Beasley
6:00
Cassie Beasley: 
But even if I didn't I would be obligated to say yes, all things considered. Farmer's daughter and all. :)
Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:00 Cassie Beasley
6:01
Lisa Von Drasek: 
Cassie, thanks so much for doing this. We know we'll be hearing a lot more about CIRCUS MIRANDUS come June and we feel privileged to be amonth the first to talk to you about it.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:01 Lisa Von Drasek
6:01
Cassie Beasley: 
Oh...WHY? Because they're delicious. And good for your heart...
Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:01 Cassie Beasley
6:02
Cassie Beasley: 
Thank you too! Thank you all! This was so much fun.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:02 Cassie Beasley
6:02
[Comment From Frances, INFrances, IN: ] 
Thanks, Cassie, good luck.
Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:02 Frances, IN
6:02
[Comment From Sunny, OhioSunny, Ohio: ] 
Agree! This was great!
Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:02 Sunny, Ohio
6:03
Lisa Von Drasek: 

Over and out, everyone.

The next title in our program is Ratscalibur by Josh Lieb -- The Tonight Show showrunner reinvents the Excalibur legend—with rats!


More: http://bit.ly/1ByT1wZ



Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:03 Lisa Von Drasek
 
 

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