Giveaway and Tour Freerunner by Kathy Cassel

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About the Book

Book: Freerunner

Author: Kathy Cassel

Genre: YA

Release date: March, 2022

Set against the backdrop of the sport of freerunning, Kia must decide whether she will continue running or face her past abuser in order to save another child.

Night is Kia’s favorite time, when she freeruns to outdistance the memories of abuse she suffered as a young child. But when former reality television star Terrence Jones arrives at their school as the new head track coach, things begin to change in unpredictable ways. Kia tries out for the team to fit in, but just as she’s gaining a new sense of normal, her abuser steps back into her life. Not only that, but being on the track team causes even more turmoil. Why does the assistant coach, Cassandra Clark, dislike Terrence Jones so much, and even more troubling, why does Coach Clark dislike her so much? As the pieces of the puzzle begin to come together, Kia realizes she has to choose between running from her past or saving a child from the same sort of abuse she suffered. But will she have the courage to do so?

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And now an Interview with the author

1. Why choose the genre you are writing?

I love YA books, but most of the books I was checking out from the library had themes of depression, suicide, death and so on. I quickly realized the books didn’t offer any real answers or hope, and I felt a strong call to switch from devotion books to fiction that would reach teens with the message that no matter what has happened in their lives God has a plan for them. There is always hope. And there is healing. If they walk away from the story with any sense of hope or that God cares, then my book has succeeded in its mission. But to keep them reading, I try to create interesting characters and add action and a little suspense to each story.

2. Why fiction instead of non-fiction?

I believe in the healing power of story. My stories are issue based. If the reader isn’t going through the same thing as my main character, then it can simply be an escape to another place for a while. If they are facing that issue, the story gives the reader a character to relate to and lets her know she is not alone. It’s also a springboard to discuss what is happening in the reader’s life.

My goal is that Freerunner will be a good resource for girls who have been molested or worst. That by reading the book they will find the courage to speak out and get help.

3.Where is your favorite setting for a story you have written?

I have three YA stories and am currently working on an underwater crime scene investigation book.

4. Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

I know the milestones we need to reach, but the characters often decide how to get there themselves.

5. Which scene, character or plotline changed the most from first draft to published book?

This is an easy one because it happened fairly recently. I had almost finished A Thousand Lies, a story where a girl runs away to NYC to try and find her birth mother. Her father had died in prison. Then I sent my fiction coach this message, “What if Bailey’s birth dad didn’t die in prison, but comes after here?” I had to revise the whole story, but it’s a much stronger story now.

6. If I write a review of your book, what do you want to hear?

Move over John Green, here’s an issue-based, faith-based book that not only has realistic characters, a solid plot, action, and suspense, but it also offers hope and healing.

7. Where is your favorite vacation getaway?

New York City with my kids. There are so many different kinds of things to do that it’s a different experience every time. But we also like Bryson City where we tube, raft, and just hang out.

About the Author

Kathy Cassel is author of more a dozen fiction and non-fiction titles for preteens and teens, including 2021 Selah Award finalist Freerunner and the iParenting award winner Christian Girls Guide series. Kathy has lived on three different continents with her USAF husband, has eight children, five adopted from Haiti and the United States, and six grandchildren. To better relate to her characters, she enjoys learning their skills such as whitewater rafting, scuba diving, and riding a motorcycle, but draws the line at sky diving.

More from Kathy

For many years I wrote devotion books for preteens and early teens. I tried to make the devotions both fun and interesting. I wanted preteens and early teens to see that the Bible is relevant to them today. But I realized that the readers I most wanted to reach weren’t likely to pick up the Bible or a daily devotion book. But they might read a story. These are the teens who are hurting inside. Those who have been abused, neglected, bullied, abandoned, or who face challenges. Those who may have lost hope and who need healing. Those who need to realize that God still has a plan for them no matter what has happened.

So I turned to writing faith-based, issue-based young adult books. It hasn’t been easy. There are a multitude of issue based books in the general market, but these can be graphic and offer little hope or healing, yet they are snatched off the shelves and are some of the most popular books. Mine are not graphic and mention God throughout the book. They are not likely to reach library shelves. So the challenge is to get them into the hands of the readers who most need them.

Freeerunner is about a 15-year-old girl who is sexually molested/abused (I never give details so readers can interpret what happened based on their own knowledge and experiences) by a family member when she is only six. She doesn’t get help. No one talks about it. So when the abuser walks back into her life now that she’s 15, she has a lot of unresolved feelings. For adults reading this book, the story may trigger negative feelings or bring up a painful past. But don’t let that turn you away from the book because it may be a powerful resource for those experiencing what Kia did. For teens, the book gives them a character they can relate to. The story lets them know they are not alone and don’t need to suffer in isolation. Like Kia they may find the courage to finally speak out and get help. And they may come to realize that God has an amazing plan for them no matter their past.

So for some the book may simply be an entertaining sports story, while for others it can be a springboard to talk about their own problems. I am hoping this book will become a resource for parents, counselors, pastors, youth leaders, Sunday School teachers, and librarians to share with teen readers.

And above all, I hope the story is a source of hope and healing to those who need it.