SnitchSeeker.com - Author Spotlight: Cassirin

Congratulations to everyone who won a Golden Goblins!. Our wonderful and talented Hogwarts Headmaster, Cassirin, had won FIVE Golden Goblins:

Best Fight Scene
Shades of Black - Sa9+ by Cassirin

Best Grammar
Essence of Violets – Sa13+ by Cassirin

Best Character Story
Essence of Violets – Sa13+ by Cassirin

Best SSRPG-themed Story
Essence of Violets – Sa13+ by Cassirin

Most Creative Drabbler
Cassirin and Celandine: Unequivocal Perfection: Cassirin, Tegz, and 100 Mary Sues - Sa13+

Other Works:

All Fall Down - Sa9+ (co-authored with Biochemkris)
Sweet for the Sweets – Sa13+
Ern's 100 Crazy-colored Tonks Drabbles - Sa13+
Shades of Black - Sa13+
Ally Cope: Travels of a PotterGirl - Sa13+

INTERVIEW

Droo: Cassirin! You've won five Golden Goblins! What are you going to do next? *snickers*

Cassirin: IMMA TAKE A NAP

Droo: LOL! Good for you! Deserved rest. So let me ask a basic question, how is it that you came to be a Harry Potter fan?

Cassirin: I like men with scars.

Droo: HAHA!

Cassirin: But really... my sister and I picked up the first book on a family vacation and it's been true love ever since. For both of us.

Droo: How awesome! Did you know then that you wanted to write? and were destined to greatness? I mean... The Golden Goblins! That's huge!

Cassirin: Haha, no. I was sort of disdainful of FanFiction in the beginning. I really couldn't imagine why anyone would want to spend time writing in a world that was so well-traveled and developed by another writer. But then I read quality FanFiction and realized that there were some REALLY good writers who were enjoying those well-traveled roads and I needed to stop being a snob. And it always helps when a question or plotline came to me and I wanted to pursue it.

Droo: I know what you mean. You have three current FanFictions right now, right? Essence of Violets, Ally Cope: Travels of a PotterGirl and the Drabbles you share with Celandine. Do you have a favorite right now? One that you enjoy posting to more than others?

Cassirin: I think I like them all for different reasons. Essence of Violets is a chance to explore one of the characters I've had the longest, and a chance to tell her story to a generation of SSers who didn't get to play with her in the school. Ally Cope has this very distinctive voice and she makes me laugh, so I really enjoy having her crazy voice in my head. And, of course, the drabbles are a hoot because I get to be silly and poke fun at the genre with one of the best writers I know.

Droo: That's wonderful, I know I enjoy reading about Cassandra Rae, as I miss her dearly, so I can understand you missing playing her. So tell me, was FanFiction your first attempts at writing? Or did you start writing BP (Before Potter)

Cassirin: Oh, I have lots of my own writing projects in the works, and I've been writing for years. FanFiction is just a fun way to hone my writing skills. But my first FanFiction was right here on SS. It was called "Shades of Black" and was the story of Tonks and Lupin during the course of the sixth book.

Droo: Oh yes, that was a wonderful story. Last year your Tonks in that story won for best Canon Characterization. What is your favorite genre to write?

Cassirin: In FanFiction?

Droo: In writing in general

Cassirin: Hmm. Well, I read all genres, so I guess I enjoy writing all genres. Most of what I've written has been Young Adult.

Droo: What is your process for starting a new FanFiction?

Cassirin: Usually, I get an idea or at least a glimmer of one, and when I figure out that it isn't going to go away until I write about it, I start figuring out who the characters are and where they are going. But it always starts with that little spark of an idea.

Droo: That's what JK had too! To date what is your very favorite piece of writing?

Cassirin: in FanFiction? Haha

Droo: LOL in anything really... that you wrote.

Cassirin: I think everything you write has elements that you really like and things that make you cringe a little because they need serious rewriting, at least at first. I think the FanFiction I'm most proud of is Shades of Black, simply because I finished it completely.

Droo: What kind of advice do you have for our members who aren't sure if they want to write a FanFiction? What can you tell them that had helped you?

Cassirin: I would say... writing is writing. It's about enjoying the craft and about telling a story, regardless of whether or not anyone is reading what you've written or whether you created the characters and world yourself. The nice thing about FanFiction is that you DO have an immediate audience and you get to mess around in an environment you already know.

Droo: Well said! So, other than JK Rowling, who are some of your favorite authors?

Cassirin: I'm a big reader, so I have a slew of favorite authors. Jane Austen, Janet Evanovich, John Green, Cassandra Clare, Suzanne Collins, Jasper Fforde... I could go on for days.

Droo: So if you were an Berty Bott every flavor bean, which would you be and why?

Cassirin: Raspberry chocolate chip cheesecake, because I'm complicated, yet delicious.

Droo: LOL! That's awesome! And you are! Thank you and congratulations on your wins!!

Cassirin: Thanks, dude