Freedom
by Cassidy Langue
Released: Aug 21, 2024
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Why this book and why now?
I’m always looking for deeper meanings and themes in my books, because that’s what I enjoy reading most of the time. I love the light and fluffy ones, too, but give me an angsty romance any day! This one comes at a time when a lot of our rights as queer people feel threatened. (However, this is not a book about politics in any way.)
This book is about freedom in so many different forms. The flip side of freedom is what we are willing to do or sacrifice for it. This book explores what we are willing to give up for the people we love and the freedoms we benefit from when we allow ourselves to fully love someone.
What is a significant way your book has changed since either the first draft or the way you thought it would turn out when you first had the inspiration?
This book took on a life of its own very quickly. When I first started it, two friends found letters from their lesbian grandmas in the attic. I kid you not! This somehow morphed into the clues that Fran finds from Will after he disappears.
I never intended to write a book that had a male character play such a large part of the story – and really, Will himself doesn’t play a part in the story. But his disappearance and Bertie’s quest to find answers for Fran (who she falls deeper and deeper for) end up driving a large part of the story, causing a lot of internal conflict, and creating a deep and lasting bond between the two women.
What’s your main character(s)’s favorite book and why?
For Fran, it’s The Stranger, by Camus. The absurdity of her life, and the loss of her husband being the catalyst for her finding her second true love, shows her how weird and messed up the universe is.
For Bertie, it’s The Alchemist, by Coelho. Before finding Fran, she didn’t really have a clear purpose in life. By the end of her journey, she realizes that Fran is her purpose, and their love is the guiding light that gives her life meaning.
Oddly, I think at the beginning of their journey together, they had the opposite perspective. It’s weird how love changes the way we look at the world and our place in it, isn’t it?
What 3 things would your main character want with them if they got stranded away from civilization, and why?
The most important thing Bertie would bring with her would be Fran. 🙂 As much as they’ve had to spend some time apart, she values every moment they have together. Second, a bed, because no matter where they are, that’s the most fun place to be! Lack of civilization doesn’t matter there. 😉
Bertie’s a pretty resourceful person by nature, not only from her training, so the third thing she’d bring with her is a Swiss army knife. It would come in handy with food, shelter, and maybe finding a way back to the world (in due time)—all important things to provide for her woman.
Publishing a book is a huge accomplishment and it’s time to party! Choose a celebratory beverage for one of your main characters to toast the release of your new book.
Fran would break out a bottle of expensive French merlot. While she’s pretty down to earth most of the time, she likes to enjoy the finer things in life on special occasions. Publishing any book is a special occasion, but this one deals with some important issues, and it definitely deserves to be celebrated! (Besides, it’s about Bertie and their story, so of course it deserves the good stuff!)
