Reading with... Kristin Cast

Kristin Cast teamed with her mother, P.C. Cast, to write the House of Night and the Escaped series. She has editorial credits, a thriving T-shirt line and a passion for all things paranormal. When away from her writing desk, Cast loves going on adventures with her friends, family and significant other, playing with her French bulldogs and discovering new hobbies. The Scent of Salt & Sand, The Escaped Book Two, was published by Diversion Books (October 11, 2016).

On your nightstand now:

Moon Chosen by P.C. Cast. This epic fantasy novel is an incredible adventure in a world filled with beauty and danger that's strange and familiar at the same time. AND I LOVE THE DOGS! (Plus I'd like to live in the trees.)

Favorite book when you were a child:

A Porcupine Named Fluffy by Helen Lester. I still have my original copy of this book. When I was little, it made me cry with laughter. Looking at the cover and feeling the book in my hands brings back memories of being with my mom. It even has my funky, little girl handwriting on the first page. I've carried it through many moves, and it's been with me through many hardships. It's so much more than just a children's book. But isn't that one of the best things about reading?

Your top five authors:

Scott Sigler has a gift. I swear his characters reach right out of the book and yank you into their world. Some of his books are so gross and chilling in the most delicious, stay up all night reading way. When I grow up, I want to write books just as creepy and suspenseful.

P.C. Cast is a super talented author and absolutely fabulous to work with! But my love for this woman goes beyond her amazing novels. She, as you might already know, is my mother and my best friend. What you might not know is that she's the person who urged me to pursue writing. Without her, I never would have started to share my stories with the world.

Pintip Dunn is not only a wonderful woman, but also a gifted author. Her writing is beautiful and captivating. Forget Tomorrow needs to be at the top of your to read list.

Neil Gaiman is a genius. With his words he paints extraordinary pictures. I know each of his books holds an amazing tale.

Gena Showalter and Kresley Cole (who I'm counting as one person because my love for them is equal). From their ultra-hot adult novels to their bewitching YA, Showalter and Cole never disappoint.

Book you've faked reading:

The Grapes of Wrath, Great Expectations, Crime and Punishment, Frankenstein. It's not shocking to me that there are teens out there who don't like to read. To me, forcing these titles upon high school students is not the best way of introducing them to the amazing world of books.

Book you're an evangelist for:

The Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. I am absolutely IN LOVE with this series! Cat and Bones are my absolute favorite characters, and I am in no way exaggerating. I listen to these books when I'm in my car, and I'll end up sitting in my driveway way longer than I care to admit because Frost has me completely hooked. This series is edge-of-your-seat suspenseful, laugh out loud funny, and will have you all goosebumpy with emotions.

Book you've bought for the cover:

I don't buy books strictly because of their cover very often (I'm a firm believer in reading the first few pages before committing), but during my last trip to Powell's Books, I could not stay away from The Killing Jar by Jennifer Bosworth. The beautiful girl, golden butterflies and scarlet lettering got me. This cover is hauntingly beautiful, and as I'm finding out, so is the story.

Book you hid from your parents:

I never felt like I needed to hide any book from my mom. She was and still is happy that I enjoy reading, no matter the book. I am so grateful that there were no rules when it came to books. It allowed me to freely explore different genres and talk with her about what I was reading without being scared of being judged or told I was doing something wrong.

Book that changed your life:

Richard Preston's The Hot Zone. Preston made me want to work for the Army at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. When I realized I wasn't very good at science (which it turns out is something one needs to excel at to be an asset to USAMRIID), I reread The Hot Zone. This time I read it not as an aspiring scientist, but as an aspiring author. Preston showed me that there's still a chance I could live within the world of infectious diseases.

Favorite line from a book:

"Normal is overrated." --Aphrodite, House of Night series by P.C. & Kristin Cast

To me, normal is the absence of passion. I want to crave an embrace, lose myself in the taste of a delicious piece of dark chocolate, feel every hair on my arm stand on end from the lick of a cool breeze. Normal? Nah, keep it. I'm too busy being grateful and passionate about this life I'm living.

Five books you'll never part with:

Other than my own...
A Porcupine Named Fluffy by Helen Lester
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Infected by Scott Sigler

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost. Didn't I tell you I was obsessed? If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn't inhale this book like I did the first time. I would pace myself and savor every page. Yes, Cat and Bones are that damn good. Drop this article, and go find a copy this very minute. You're welcome.

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