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Weird Relatives And Deadly Perils: An Interview With Tumble & Blue Author Cassie Beasley
Just Right Reads is a series hosted by Kamilla Benko, children’s book editor and author of the forthcoming The Unicorn Quest, featuring newly released middle grade books and Q&As with your favorite authors!
Cassie Beasley, New York Times-bestselling author of Circus Mirandus, chats with Kamilla about Tumble & Blue, her new magic-infused novel about a golden gator, a hero-in-training, and cursed kids who take their destinies into their own hands…and into the swamp. A self-proclaimed daydreamer, Cassie discusses fate, the importance of family stories, and an alligator-shaped bracelet.
Your first book, Circus Mirandus, showed us the dazzling world of a magical circus, while this book takes us to the Okefenokee Swamp. What first inspired you to want to write a story about a magical (and devious) alligator?
The alligator, Munch, is one of my favorite characters! I knew from the beginning that Tumble and Blue were dealing with terrible curses, but I didn’t know where that magic had originated. Then one day I walked into the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and found a golden plastic bracelet shaped like an alligator. It was one of those lightbulb moments. So many pieces of the story fell into place once I realized we were dealing with an ancient and slippery swamp creature.
Tumble & Blue takes place in our contemporary world, but everything is touched with a hint of magic. Why do you choose to weave magic into modern settings, and how does using magic shed light on very real, grounded problems?
Some places lend themselves to the magical and mysterious, and I love to play with that in my writing. Tumble & Blue is a story about fate, and that ties in with questions everyone struggles with at some point. Who do we want to be? And how do we get there when our dreams are so different from our reality?
At the heart of both Circus Mirandus and Tumble & Blue is a family story passed on from the older generation to the younger generation. Why do you feel that family stories between generations are important (or do you feel that way)?
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I think stories like that have put down roots for a reason. Maybe they make everyone laugh at the dinner table. Maybe they keep a memory alive. Maybe they just warn you not to go making deals with that alligator in the swamp. Whatever the case, it’s wonderful to explore what happens when an old story meets a new listener. Sometimes they’re both changed for the better.
Your two main characters, Tumble and Blue, are equally lovable but very different. How would each character describe this novel?
Blue would say, “This book is filled with my weird relatives, dangerous curse-breaking schemes, and deadly perils.”
While Tumble would say, “This book is filled with heroic adventures, brilliant curse-breaking plans, and deadly gerbils.”
This book deals with fates of all kind. Looking back on your life, what Munch-given fate do you think you were born with? (I personally think I am fated to have frizzy hair, no matter the product, weather, or shampoo!)
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Your hair would love the humidity in the swamp! Blue’s grandmother is of the opinion that even the good fates have their downsides, and I think she’s right. So maybe I’m blessed/cursed with the ability to daydream anywhere, no matter how inappropriate the situation. It’s great for coming up with story ideas, but it’s hazardous when I’m trying to fry eggs or drive the car.
Finally, what was your favorite middle grade read when you were Blue and Tumble’s age?
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban had just come out, and I had just discovered the series. It’s still probably my favorite of the Harry Potter books.
Tumble & Blue is on B&N bookshelves now!