It would be the first of many such appeals. As her creator, the connection I’ve felt with Cassie since first meeting her in Sunder the Hollow Ones has been both deep and personal. Nevertheless, for a character whose entire contribution to the nearly half-million-word series occupies just eight of those words — a single gesture — her impact on readers continually impresses me. To me, nothing is more compelling than a tale of sadness and strife told from the unique perspective of a young child. How might tragic events be differently depicted when seen through the prism of adolescent preoccupation and naiveté? Given the exact same set of circumstances, which are the forces that propel youngsters to make their fateful decisions, and how are they different from those which impel adults? This distinction is what I have tried to highlight in Velveteen. Cassie’s ideation of a world in which the recently monstrous are now considered mundane reflects her limited perspective and experience.
