Our guest today is Christine Amsden, author of the Cassie Scott series. Christine just launched her new book, Madison’s Song. When I asked her about themes in this book, she had a great answer…
I spent a lot of time listening to the song “The Greatest Love of All” as I wrote my newest novel, Madison’s Song. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the tune – on the one hand, learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all. But I disagree that it is “easy to achieve,” at least not for all of us.
Neither the title character, Madison, nor the romantic hero, Scott, love themselves at the start of this book. Madison is an unlikely heroine – shy and plump, with low self-esteem, she’s been betrayed left and right but still comes back fighting when someone she loves is threatened. Scott, meanwhile, fights an inner demon (a literal one – a werewolf) and doesn’t believe he deserves the woman he loves.
A lot stands in the way of a relationship between Madison and Scott, but most of all, I think, is the fact that neither one of them believes they are fundamentally lovable.
I’ve often thought that to really be able to love someone else, you need to love yourself first. Oh, there are degrees – narcissism is just as big a problem as self-loathing – but you need to see that there is something inside you worth loving before you can accept the love of someone else. Otherwise, how can you believe “I love you” when he says it? They are only words, after all.
I don’t go searching for themes in my books, but they always find me. Feel free to simply enjoy Madison’s Song, without looking for deeper meaning. Or think about the importance of learning to love yourself – even if it’s difficult to achieve.
Her voice is enchanting; his soul is black…
Madison Carter has been terrified of Scott Lee since the night he saved her from an evil sorcerer – then melted into a man-eating monster before her eyes. The werewolf is a slave to the moon, but Madison’s nightmares are not.
Despite her fears, when Madison’s brother, Clinton, is bitten by a werewolf, she knows there is only one man who can help. A man who frightens her all the more because even in her nightmares, he also thrills her.
Together for the first time since that terrible night, Scott and Madison drive to Clinton’s home only to discover that he’s vanished. Frantic now, Madison must overcome her fears and uncover hidden strengths if she hopes to save him. And she’s not the only one fighting inner demons. Scott’s are literal, and they have him convinced that he will never deserve the woman he loves.
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*Stand-alone companion to the Cassie Scot series
Paperback Release: October 15
Audiobook Release: TBA
The Cassie Scot Series
Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective (Cassie Scot #1)
Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot #2)
Mind Games (Cassie Scot #3)
Stolen Dreams (Cassie Scot #4)
About the Author
Christine Amsden has been writing fantasy and science fiction for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and relationships, and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.
At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams. In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work. Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children.
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