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Guest Author: PC CAST

Unembarrassed fan girl squeeage. She’s here! She’s here! EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! *running around the room, shrieking*

INSPIRATION! Man-oh-man I lurve this subject! Lately I’ve been asked by several interviewers about where I come up with the inspiration for the books I write. I guess that’s because now that I have twelve novels out they’re thinking that I’m going to run out of ideas. Not a chance! I constantly have more ideas swarming around inside my head than I can possibly write at one time. So this blog subject is, as Shaunee and Erin (a couple of my YA characters) would say, easy-peasy!

Basically, I am inspired by life and by research. Okay, I’ll explain. We’ll start with research, because that’s where my career began. No. I don’t like “normal” research (as in plodding through info for papers or dissertations or other yawn-inducing stuff like that). I like research as a basis for fiction. Actually, how I came up with the idea for my first novel, GODDESS BY MISTAKE, which ended up being the basis for a 6-book series for LUNA, was through research. I knew I wanted to write a fantasy novel about a “normal” (a.k.a. – someone like me) modern woman who gets pulled into another world and acts like “we” (a.k.a. – someone like me) would. I planned to base my fantasy world on an ancient culture, or a mixture of several, so I started researching cultures I already knew a little about. I was a Lit major in college, and I’m high school English teacher now, so I’m clued into the ancient Greeks and Romans – and I checked them out, refreshing my knowledge of their myths, focusing on the pre-Hellenistic, matriarchal versions, which I prefer. I’m of Welsh descent, so I also gravitated towards the Celts. And while I was researching I found this fantastic paragraph written by a priest about a ceremonial mating Celtic fertility ceremony he witnessed a thousand or so years ago which involved the ritualistic mating of a Clan Chieftain and a mare. He was appalled and totally freaked out. I’m twisted, so I was intrigued by it, as well as by the history of Celtic Pagans and Druids. I ended up mixing all of that together, sprinkling in some Greek and Roman mythos, and creating my own world called Partholon. It’s a world where centaurs are a noble race, and they co-exist with humans (sometimes not so peacefully), and they can even mate because of the Celtic Shamanistic belief in shapeshifters. Partholon’s main deity is Epona, horse goddess of the Celts, and it is a matriarchal society. Thus ELPHAME’S CHOICE, BRIGHID’S QUEST, CIARA’S DESTINY, GODDESS/DIVINE BY MISTAKE, DIVINE BY CHOICE, and DIVINE BY BLOOD were born!


My Goddess Summoning Series for Berkley (the latest being GODDESS OF LOVE, starring the fabulous Venus) grew out of life inspiration. Several years ago the first 3 books in my Partholon series were tied up by the Draconian machinations of a horrid small press, so Berkley asked if I had anything else I was writing. I thought fast – used life and art and luck (and perhaps a hint of Goddess inspiration!). Several of my fabulous girlfriends and I have been known to get together the night of a full moon, partake of excellent food and too much wine, and then craziness might possibly ensue. There have been times when we’ve danced (to very loud Enya music) around a chimenea and burned prayer papers on which we’ve written our hearts’ desires. So… I brainstormed with my editor about a series based on women who somehow have their hearts’ desires heard by different goddesses, and then, after a romantic adventure, of course, those desires come true. My editor, Christine Zika, loved the concept and that’s how the Goddess Summoning Books were born. Some of them are retellings of old myths, i.e., GODDESS OF THE SEA is based on the Undine mermaid myth; GODDESS OF SPRING is a retelling of the Persephone/Hades myth; GODDESS OF THE ROSE is based on Beauty and the Beast. Some of them are my own creation, and/or what my editor would like me to bring to life: GODDESS OF LIGHT has Apollo and Artemis stranded in Vegas with no powers. GODDESS OF LOVE (released just this month!) is Venus coming to Tulsa and doing a make-over on a dorky young woman, and in turn, the Goddess of Love finds out that her own life needs a different kind of a make-over. Right now I’m working on the 6th Goddess Summoning Book, which features Achilles as my hero and the Trojan War as my setting. It is, as yet, untitled. Any suggestions?

Another example of life inspiration came from my amazing agent, Meredith Bernstein. At the RWA National Convention in Reno a couple of years ago she said she had an idea for a paranormal series she’d like me to write, and then she said the three magic words: Vampire Finishing School. That brilliant inspiration has turned into a YA (young adult) series for St. Martin’s Press that I’m co-authoring with my 20-year-old daughter, Kristin. The first book in the HOUSE OF NIGHT series is MARKED, and was released last month. Book 2, BETRAYED, will be out in October. Book 3 CHOSEN, is due out in March 08. And Kristin and I have just signed with St. Martin’s for an additional 3 books in the series!

So…I think inspiration comes from research and life…and a little goddess-driven luck!

Thanks for coming, PC!

As for our readers, do you want an autographed copy of Goddess of Love? Of course you do! We will pick ONE random commenter [think: What should PC call her 6th Goddess Summoning book? God of War, while sexy-hot, might be a little scary] and the winner will receive her very own autographed copy of Goddess of Love AND a $20 Amazon gift certificate from yours truly. The winner (luuuuucky!) will be announced on Friday morning. Happy commenting and good luck!

PC’s contest is now over. Thanks for playing, everyone!

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 12th, 2007 at 8:15 pm and is filed under Guest Author. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

37 Responses to “Guest Author: PC CAST”

  1. Mar
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 8:06 am
    1

    God help me, Bam I want to read one of PC’s books SO BAD. But our LIBRARY doesn’t have it around here, neither does our book stores! TRAVESTY! *whines* I think it’s amazon.com time!

  2. Cherie J
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 9:10 am
    2

    How about Goddess of Desire since the war started because of the desire to possess Helen of Troy. PC, I recently read Elphaime’s Choice and enjoyed it. Need to pick up Brighid’s Quest next soon. Have not read any of your Goddess series. Will have to remedy that soon. Thanks for being here.

  3. P.C. Cast
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 9:31 am
    3

    Mar - if you tell your local book store(s) to order in my books they will start carrying them, which is probably more convenient than Amazon.

    Cherie - Oooh! I do like Goddess of Desire. Don’t know how well it’ll work for this one, though because in MY version the whole Helen causing the Trojan war is bullshit. Man’s greed started it - Helen and the 3 goddesses were just a fabricated excuse. Aphrodite/Venus will tell you she wasn’t even at that damn party. Actually, I think Berkley wants to use “god of” as the title of this one…

    BAM - I heart you, baby!

  4. Ann(ie)
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 9:46 am
    4

    I like God of War, myself. Might be a little confusion with that Nicholas Cage movie, though.

  5. Tumperkin
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 11:31 am
    5

    Does it have to be “God of…”? How about “Almost a God” - what with him having that troublesome heel and all?

  6. Katharine
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
    6

    Very cool to be a writer and teacher. I’m a teacher too (for adult students) and I sometimes wonder if I will have to keep my romantica writing a work secret! Thanks for the inspiration that you managed to teach and write :) I write stories of the similar vein of women like me and their lives in another world.

  7. L.E. Bryce
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
    7

    Bam, you rock, getting PC to guest-blog. I love her books–Goddess of Spring is my favorite.

  8. Alyssa
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
    8

    Hm…I’m horrid at titles. Luckily, I hardly finish things so I don’t have to name them. How about War of the Demi-Goddess? Or the Demi-Goddess’ War. Because wasn’t Helen a daughter of Zeus/Jupiter? That would make her a demi-goddess. But if it has to be in the same format as the others…Goddess of Turmoil or Goddess of Chaos. Yeah…

  9. Alyssa
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
    9

    Actually I read the P.C.’s comment above, and I think I’ll change my title suggestions to these (Achilles was a demigod):

    - Demigod’s War
    - War of the Demigod
    - God of Turmoil
    - God of Chaos
    - The Demigod’s Demise
    - Demise of the Demigod

  10. P.C. Cast
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
    10

    Y’all are coming up with some excellent possible titles! I’m going to pass along quite a few of them to my editor. Well done you! I think my fav is Almost a God - kinda reminds me of my Goddess/Divine by Mistake titles.

    Katarine - no way would I hide I’m an author! And I teach high school sophomores smack in the middle of the Bible Belt. Yes, I get hassled. No, I don’t give a shit. Go for it, girl.

    L.E. Bryce - I go back and forth between Goddess of Spring and Goddess of the Rose as my favorite Goddess Summoning Books. I do heart me some Hades!

    Ugh, I’ve got to go work out now. UGH. I only honestly dislike two things about almost being fabulous fifty - 1) I can’t f-ing see! and 2) the slow metabolism. Hence the horrid work out. I hiked 6 miles yesterday with my publicist (who wanted to kill me by the time we were finished). Today stupid aerobics with weights. Yes (BAM) I realize this wouldn’t be such a up hill battle if I DIDN’T LURVE MY WINE SO DAMN MUCH. Sigh…

  11. bam
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
    11

    Yes (BAM) I realize this wouldn’t be such a up hill battle if I DIDN’T LURVE MY WINE SO DAMN MUCH. Sigh…

    Lush. :D

  12. Kimberly
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
    12

    I’m not coming up with much, since my knowledge of Greek myth seems to be hindering rather than helping me on this occasion. Maybe you could adapt one of the Homeric epithets (Achilles’ is usually “fleet-footed” or “godlike.”)?
    “King of Heroes” has a nice ring, though that’s the label for Agamemnon not Achilles.
    “God of Wrath” (since a major theme of the Iliad is the wrath of Achilles—though maybe your Achilles is a bit more mellow).
    “Goddess of Strife” would work if you were doing the Judgment of Paris thing, but I bet you aren’t (Eris, the goddess of strife, throws down the golden apple that starts the whole thing).
    Anyway, I hope you get some good suggestions. I’ve only been able to find “Divine by Mistake” so far, but I thought it was a hoot!

  13. P.C. Cast
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
    13

    I am, indeed, a lush. Right now I’m a sweaty lush.

    Kimberly - yes, I am keeping the original theme of the Iliad - Achilles’ wrath, only I am (of course) changing the basic reason behind it. Oh, and my Achilles doesn’t act like a petulant teenager. (barf) How could THAT be romantic???

  14. Jessica T
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
    14

    How about God Betrayed? (If you put the whole thing about Briseis in there). Or, depending on how you do the whole Homer thing, God of Anger / God of Rage / God of Revenge?
    I just have to say I really enjoyed the 2 Goddess Summoning books I have read (Rose & Spring), so thanks for writing them! I’ll have to check out your other books.

  15. Collette
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
    15

    I think I’m with Kimberly–God of Wrath. I think the first word in the Iliad is wrath or rage. God of Rage. Neither one sounds like he’s a cuddly fellow, do they?

    I know there’s a long passage about his armor (seriously can’t remember much else though). God of Armor? Too esoteric.

    Despite being of absolutely no help, I do love your books!

  16. L.E. Bryce
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
    16

    Though Achilles did act like a petulant teenager in The Iliad, even if he was probably in his early thirties at the time. And styling the long hair–can’t forget about that.

  17. Karen W.
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
    17

    I love your books, P.C., and I’m finishing up GODDESS OF LOVE now! I also read and enjoyed MARKED, and I’m looking forward to the next one in the series.

  18. Kaitlin
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
    18

    Actually, I think God of War would be cool. I love that video game, so that might be why. :) I’d like to see Goddess of Fashion. LOL! That would definitely be a trip. You’d have the Greek puritans scrambling to figure out which goddess that would be. he-he

    Goddess of the Hunt (isn’t that Athena?). That would be cool. You could have your heroine be a bodyguard or something. Or the complete opposite. And now, I’ve got to go look your YA’s up. *sigh* Thanks for more reading suggestions. :D

  19. Kaitlin
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
    19

    Sheesh, see this is why I shouldn’t skip ahead. Argh!

    Okay, so if Achilles is your hero then these are my options for you. :)

    God of Wrath (got that off wikipedia :) )
    God of Hotness (since he was supposed to be a total hottie). Okay, I’m lame, but I was really & truly trying to think of things that he actually was. Really & truly. :D

  20. Jambrea
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
    20

    “GODDESS OF THE ROSE is based on Beauty and the Beast” Beauty and the Beast is my all time favorite romance. I’m going out to get it right now! : )

    As for a title. How about the God of Greed?

  21. Brandy
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
    21

    New here, but had to comment. I adored Goddess of Love!

    As for the new book, how about God of Fate. For wasn’t it written early on that Achilles would die young despite the efforts of his mother?

  22. SweetNSourGirl
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
    22

    I’ve heard wonderful things about your stories, Ms. Cast and I’d be honored if you’d use this title for the Trojan war novel you’re writing (if not, that’s cool too.)

    GODDESS OF THE BLADE

    Just a thought. Trojan war kicks ass. Any thoughts of retelling Odyessus’s story?

  23. April
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
    23

    Would “warfare” or “battle” sound less scary than “war”? God of Warfare? God of Battles? God of Combat? God of Conflict? Being an Aries, I see nothing wrong with God of War for a title, but I guess the marketing department would argue that it doesn’t sound sexy or romantic. Ah, well.

  24. P.C. Cast
    Posted: Jun 6th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
    24

    April (et all) - yeah, no way is Berkley going to okay anything that sounds more war-like than sexy (even though I think God of War is fine). Marketing would have a fit, I’m sure.

    SweetNSour - actually, I have considered writing my own version of Odyessus’ journey, but that’s nearly impossible to pull off as a romance. I mean, the heroine should be Penelope, but she’s not with the hero for the vast majority of the story. Basically she pines at home while he adventures and stays faithful to her in his heart (which is the only organ that stays faithful to her). The more likely heroine would be Athena or even Circe, but our boy is MARRIED - and not to either of them. See the romance dilemma? Now, switching up genres and moving to fantasy - then the story would be way more possible. But definitely not a Goddess Summoning Book.

    Jambrea - yep Goddess of the Rose is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Love it!

    Kaitlin - my heroine in this one is an anger management therapist, which will definitely come in handy when dealing with Achilles! (Oh and what he “actually and truly” was? Don’t get stuck there. I’m going to change it up anyway - as I always do.)

    Thanks Karen W! Kristin and I love writing that YA series!

    Thanks for the ideas guys!

  25. Ashley
    Posted: Jun 7th, 2007 at 2:31 am
    25

    Oh wow! I loved reading this interview!! PC Cast is one of my favorite authors ( so much that I go out and buy her books as soon as they come out instead of reserving them at the library)! “Goddess of Spring” is my favorite, favorite book and I usually try to read it once (or twice) a year. I have to admit, I have “Goddess of Love” and finished reading it the night I bought it. :D But, unfortunately PC Cast has yet to come to Georgia (please, please!!) so I haven’t had the chance to get it autographed in person.

    Anyways, I love PC Cast’s books and I can’t wait for the next one!!

  26. Shiloh
    Posted: Jun 7th, 2007 at 3:27 am
    26

    …what….? huh…? I can’t hear anything over Dionne’s squealing. ;o)

    PC, I have to say that you’ve got some of the prettiest covers.

  27. Leslee
    Posted: Jun 7th, 2007 at 3:38 am
    27

    Oh, I love all the Goddess Summoning books. Can’t tell you how much! I was very fortunate to read Goddess of Love to review and was on cloud nine for days. Then, I was able to read Marked for review as well! Awesome stuff. Can’t wait for the sequel. I agree with previous posts. I like Almost a God or God of War. But regardless of a name, I will be there at the bookstore when it is released. Thanks so much Ms. Cast for your wonderful work. You have a wonderful gift, combining humor and emotion. I can’t read one of your books without a Kleenex or two standing by.

  28. shuzluva
    Posted: Jun 7th, 2007 at 6:01 am
    28

    I’m happy to say that I have a pile of P.C.’s books on my nightstand…waiting for Sunday when all of the annoying studying will be over and the hellish exam will be out of the way.

    Writer’s inspiration is something that eludes me…probably because I’m not a writer. I’m awed by some of the plots and worlds that authors create, and having worked with Bam for over a year, I can’t believe how many ideas are just flying around in her head. P.C., I haven’t read any of Bam’s reviews of your books yet because I don’t want her crazy fangirl insanity to color my reading experience but I’m so excited to get started reading!

  29. Josie
    Posted: Jun 7th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
    29

    Hi PC! I’ve only just discovered your books and have absolutely adored the four that I’ve read… Goddess of Spring is probably my standout so far - I am loving me some Hades!
    Looking forward to the Achilles story - although I think it’s going to be difficult to not picture Brad Pitt while reading this one… Could be worse though I suppose!

  30. Emily
    Posted: Jun 7th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
    30

    What about “God by Fire,” since in one version he was made (nearly) invulnerable by his mother burning away his mortality over a fire?

  31. P.C. Cast
    Posted: Jun 7th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
    31

    Ashley - I was in Atlanta last summer at RWA! Where were ya, baby?

    Shiloh - Sarah at Smartbitchestrashybooks.com dubbed me Lucky Cover Bitch. I do have me some excellent cover chi!

    Leslee - thank you! What a sweet post. (I just read a kinda crappy review of Goddess of Love on Amazon, so I needed the pick me up. Although I’ve been telling myself to STOP reading the Amazon reviews I’m like a junky…unable to look away…aaaahhhhh!)

    Shuzluva - ugh - school. I feel your pain and love that my books are your reward!

    Josie - I know. I even have a picture of “me” with Brad as Achilles on my website. Damn that boy got in good shape for that movie.

    Emily - I like God of Fire, but that’s who Vulcan is in Goddess of Love, so I think it would confuse people.

    Well, I’m exhausted (in a good way though). I launched Goddess of Love tonight at our 41st Street Barnes and Noble in Tulsa with MaryJanice Davidson and Gena Showalter. A good time was had by all, and I do believe I will crash now…

  32. AnimeJune
    Posted: Jun 8th, 2007 at 4:57 am
    32

    Wow, PC Cast - I’m kinda new to the romance genre (I’m a Smart Bitch convert who’s catching up as fast as she can) and I’ve heard only good things about you, but I can never find your novels at my bookstores! -_-;; Possibly because they’ve all sold out…*lol*

    Emily - I heard Achilles was dipped in a river to make him immortal - and his nymph mum held him in by his heel, which is why that part of him was vulnerable. Would that lead to some mama drama? “My mother tried to drown me, and now I never go swimming with women, EVAR!”

    How ‘Bout Goddess of Mischief? Because believe me, there was a lot of Godly meddling going on during the Trojan war - I mean, every god and goddess was choosing a different side. Ares was for the Greeks, Aphrodite for the Trojans, etc. etc. Plus, Helen - yeah, she and Paris kind of started the whole thing for a little booty.

  33. Jessica Madden
    Posted: Jun 10th, 2007 at 7:10 am
    33

    How about The Trojan God?

    No tongue in cheek there… ;)

  34. bam
    Posted: Jun 10th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
    34

    How about The Trojan God?

    I second that.

  35. AnimeJune
    Posted: Jun 10th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
    35

    Always Trust A Trojan - and you can pick up royalty checks for both publishing a book AND having product placement!

  36. P.C. Cast
    Posted: Jun 10th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
    36

    Uh, guys…Achilles was Greek, not Trojan. He was fighting against the Trojans and killed by a Trojan - so it can’t be called God of Troy, etc.

    Now when BAM writes her book about Hector - THAT can be called God of Troy!

  37. bam
    Posted: Jun 10th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
    37

    Now when BAM writes her book about Hector - THAT can be called God of Troy!

    Oh, God… I hope I can find the time to do that soon. Damn you, School!!

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