Behind the Scenes: If It Kills Me

If It Kills Me is a story about a young man who falls in love with a woman who later ends up dating his roommate. As his friendship with her grows, he's tormented as to how he'll ever reveal the depth of his feelings for her. He's determined to make it happen even if he dies trying.

Inspiration / Muse:
Jason Mraz's song "If It Kills Me" is the inspiration behind this novella. After listening to his We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. album for hours, a story began to take shape. It didn't take long before a female response to the male character in the lyrics came alive as well. Sprinkle in the insecurities expressed in Rick's Springfield's "I Wish That I Had Jesse's Girl" and the plot takes off.

Theme:
Isn't it all about love? The thing most people crave and may struggle a lifetime to connect with that special someone. This story focuses on what happens when an opportunity is delayed. If only Jaeson had asked Jessica out the first time he saw her.

Journey:
I enjoy listening to songs and the stories they portray. When I start seeing a motion picture play out in my head, one of two things happen: I enjoy the daydream and let it go, or I start writing. Putting pen to paper didn't happen for months, but, once it did, I couldn't stop. I submitted the manuscript to five publishers before landing a contract. When that publisher closed, I submitted to yet a sixth publisher and signed another contract. However, after waiting about two years for an editor who never contacted me and a pending closure, I received back the printing rights and began working toward self-publishing this story, my first romantic comedy.

Meaning behind the cover:
A graphic artist hired by the second contracting publisher created the cover. Three tries later produced a cover I really liked. I'd purchased the photos of the guy and the hands holding the coffee cup to guarantee I got the look I wanted. Creating the perfect cover is nothing less than an adventure.

Impact / Tribute:

In the story, Jaeson's grandmother plays a special role in his life and reminds me of the grandmas whom I've personally known and loved. In fact, I've added a Bonus Poem after the story in the upcoming release as a tribute to my mother-in-law who passed away too soon. Look for this book on Amazon come September 21, 2020 and don't forget to leave a review.

The twelfth in the Behind the Scenes series is planned for October 3, 2020.

Cover Reveal for "If It Kills Me"

 

He just couldn't catch a break. That is, until he met Jessica Stewart.

After losing a promising accounting job, Jaeson secures a position at a coffee shop where he first meets Jessica. He instantly falls for her, but weeks later, he is shocked to find out his playboy-turned-suddenly-serious roommate, Rick Springer, is her new boyfriend. Jaeson, thrown into the middle of this mismatched pairing, is left tormented that he cannot have what he wants most. He's determined to let her know how much he loves her... even if he dies trying. 

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A New Adult Romantic Comedy novel by Cassandra Ulrich COMING SOON on Amazon

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For the latest info, visit

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Behind the Scenes: Battle at Kitee

Battle at Kitee is a futuristic depiction of warfare in 2030 with a cast of characters, both human and mechanical, the reader won't soon forget.

Inspiration / Muse:

I enjoy watching Sci Fi Adventures, like iRobot, Bourne Identity, and G.I. Joe. I just never thought I'd write a story that painted a battlefield in a country no one can find on the globe with action worthy of the movie screen.

Theme:
The goal was to write about technologies that might have a place on the battlefield a decade from now. 

Journey:

A fellow author and friend informed me about a Mad Scientist writing contest. At first, I thought...Neat. Then, I wondered if I'd ever be able to pull off a sci fi adventure story when I'd only written YA/NA sweet romances, an inspirational story, and poetry up to that point. An injury placed any research or planning on hold for about a month. By the time I recovered, only one week remained before the submission deadline. I wasn't going to bother until two coworkers encouraged me to give it a go. They said, "What do you have to lose?" So, I agreed to think something up, knowing I wouldn't be able to have anyone edit it before I pressed the send button. My research consisted of talking to a former military guy at my office and reading any websites he pointed me to. But what about the story? My mind was blank. So I said a prayer, asking for a scene I could write about. In an instant, the mental motion picture of the Battle of Kitee started running. Check out The creating of "Battle at Kitee" for additional information about the contest.

Meaning behind the cover:

No cover needed for this entry, but brainstorming one would be really cool.

Impact / Tribute:

I'm so glad I leaped into this story with the imagination of wonder as the words created an amazing landscape with self-aware drones and helicopters with personality. Thanks to my friends who encourage me to keep taking risks with my writing. It surely is a type of self-discovery.

The twelfth in the Behind the Scenes series is planned for September 5, 2020.

Behind the Scenes: I Exist. Hear Me.

I Exist. Hear Me. is a poem born out of self-reflection and a determination to never give up on me no matter how much lingering voices I'd heard over the years say otherwise.

Inspiration / Muse:
I entered a contest sponsored by the South Jersey Writers' Group in January of 2018. Even though this poem had a slight dark edge to it, I submitted it as a statement of courage in the hopes of helping others to persevere even when the mind attempts to talk a person out of pursuing one's dreams. It's a crazy battle, but one worth fighting.

Theme:
I Exist points to the value a person has just by being here, before any accomplishments and outside of monetary wealth. Hear Me is a desperate cry to be understood on a deep level.


Journey:
Writing poetry is a vibrant and colorful way to express emotions sometimes too deep for mundane words. I write what I feel, not just what I think. It's a journey that started in grade school and continues through the challenges of adulthood.

Meaning behind the cover:
No cover needed for this poem. It's interesting to think what it might have been, though.

Impact / Tribute:
I'm glad I didn't listen to my initial thought of not submitting this poem. The words resonate with many people and continue to inspire me to keep going. I look forward to helping others with my writing. I'm grateful to have this gift.

The eleventh in the Behind the Scenes series is planned for August 1, 2020.

Behind the Scenes: Zale's Tale

Zale's Tale is a story about a seven year old merboy who visited Rehoboth Beach, DE for the first time and made friends with a seven year old human boy. Curiosity and acceptance led to the start of a fun friendship.

Inspiration / Muse:
A friend from the South Jersey Writers' Group told me about a writing contest held by Cat & Mouse Press and sponsored by Browseabout Books, To compete for a spot in Beach Fun, the story had to take place in Rehoboth Beach, a famous summer destination I'd never visited. I almost talked myself out of entering, but thankfully I ignored that voice. I would have missed out on all the fun I had creating this story. I'd always been fascinated with stories about mermaids. Now, I had the chance to shake things up a bit. Since I have two boys of my own, it made sense to develop a small adventure around a merboy instead.

Theme:
Basically, the story had to live and breathe Rehoboth Beach scenes, foods, locations, and fun times.

Journey:
By the time I time I learned about the contest, I had less than two months to think up and write a story between 500 and 3,500 words. I studied maps of the area in an attempt to help with the visual of a merboy traveling south along the eastern shoreline. Having never been on a boat offshore in Rehoboth Beach, I encountered some difficulty in describing the landscape accurately from the viewpoint of an ocean creature approaching a sandy beach with strange structures as the backdrop. I also had to imagine the evolving experience of a merboy eating foods that didn't have a tail and scales. Giving the story a shot landed me a spot in the Beach Fun anthology of 25 stories and the chance to autograph copies with other authors.

Meaning behind the cover:
The publisher chose a cover that depicted a crowd having fun at the beach. I was not involved at all in that process. A relief for sure. 

Impact / Tribute:
I've had the opportunity to read this story for students at a couple middle-schools. I'm glad I have a part in showing young people just how enjoyable a story can be with images that can free their minds from the every day hardships, if only for a moment.

The tenth in the Behind the Scenes series is planned for July 18, 2020.

Behind the Scenes: A Love Gift

A Love Gift 💝 is a collection of poetry gifted to anyone who's searching for love, whether from another human or from God. The poems talk about love between friends, in a family, or directed toward the Creator. 💕

Inspiration / Muse:
Nature, songs, holidays, and special people have all inspired the words in this collection. The experiences lived with those muses fueled the emotions that penned the words. I wanted to share the essence of the poems with others as a gift to reopen even when the world doesn't feel quite right.

Theme:
Love makes it possible to forgive, try again, persevere, reach for the stars 💖, stay grounded, care for others 💞, nourish self 💓, believe in the impossible 💗, and heal 💔. The problem is humans keep forgetting that love is the key to many wonderful things. Perhaps, these poems will remind us.

Journey:
The poems were written over a decade from middle school through college, as were my previous collections. It is eye-opening rereading the words. Some were memories while others looked to the future, like the poem Being in Love. 💘

Meaning behind the cover:
This cover was painted by the same college student who painted the covers for Real Purpose: You Are Special, Life Experienced, and Encouraging Through Sharing: A Christian's Perspective. Without knowing, she painted one of my favorite flowers--cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Impact / Tribute:
Hopefully, these poems lift the spirit of every reader, reminding them to love one another and that someone in the universe loves them too. 💟

The ninth in the Behind the Scenes series is planned for July 4, 2020.

Behind the Scenes: Adelle & Brandon: Friends for Life

Adelle & Brandon: Friends for Life is a short story about a young woman's hope that a long time friendship will grow into something more. In the meantime, she remains as a shoulder for him to cry on whenever he has a breakup.

Inspiration / Muse:
During a South Jersey Writers' Group meeting, a guest speaker talked about about the best way to write descriptions of the scene so the reader isn't bored. In response, I started writing the first half of this story the moment I arrived home.

Theme:
Friendship, love, and longing pretty much covers it.

Journey:
For two years after finishing the first part of the story, no additional scenes came to mind. I thought the story was complete until a dance performance with a similar beginning inspired the rest. Only then did I know the end of the story had arrived.

Meaning behind the cover:
The pinky-swear and Coney Island are involved in a major turning point in Adelle's and Brandon's lives--the day they promised to remain "Friends for Life" despite the fact that they'd be living in different cities. When the graphic artist asked me whether I wanted to use warm or cold colors on the cover, I had no idea how to respond. After a bit of research on the internet, I choose a rainbow of cold to warm colors from top to bottom to depict the progression of Adelle's friendship with Brandon. I'm very pleased that this cover has received many compliments.

Impact / Tribute:
I enjoy rereading Adelle and Brandon's story over and over. I've spoken to others who feel the same way. It's a sweet, feel good kind of story with a bonus short, a tribute to my dad, to wrap up the small book. I hope you enjoy it too.

The eight in the Behind the Scenes series is planned for June 20, 2020.