Behind the Scenes with Cassandra Calin
What book feels like home to you?
“The W.i.t.c.h. graphic novel series by Elisabetta Gnone, Alessandro Barbucci, and
Barbara Canepa. I started reading it during my childhood in Romania, and I instantly became a fan. When I moved to Canada, new episodes still published every month, in the form of magazines. A local bookshop in Montreal sold them, which allowed me to continue the series and learn French at the same time. W.i.t.c.h. gave me a lot of comfort, especially at a time when so many things were changing.”
Where do you most like to write?
“In the living room on my couch with a fleece blanket, cozy lights, and a giant mug of tea. My space has to feel as comfortable as possible and also be as quiet as possible.”
What moment in your life felt straight out of a novel?
“My first day of school in Canada. Everything felt so new and different, and each moment was memorable, from the minute I arrived at school, to the first friend I made, to my first time introducing myself in French, and even my first locker.”
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever researched for a story?
“Since I worked on a graphic novel, I researched a lot of reference images, like ‘STM bus from different angles,’ ‘bread brands in Montreal,’ ‘airport minimalist signage in English,’ etc. Now I’ve started taking my own photos in places I know I’ll write about, and I sometimes get strange looks.”
What Canadian season best matches your writing style?
“Spring. It’s a very slow start, it requires a lot of patience, I start to doubt if it’ll even happen … Then it’s suddenly here. Ideas are flourishing, the story’s coming together, and it’s becoming easier to visualize what each chapter will look like.”
Which character from your books would you most likely befriend?
“Wan Yin. She’s a kind and loyal friend, she likes art, and she has a lot of cool travel stories to share. I also think she would be a great running partner because of her skills and positive attitude in general.”