I’ll read lots of genres, but I love writing YA. And suddenly, I thought to myself, “I could do that! I could write books for teens!” And so…I wrote my first YA Supernatural Romance, The Cadence. During the 2006-07 school year, a little genre called YA cropped its head and soared in popularity with the Twilight books shoving the door wide open. The first inclination that I was going to become a writer was during my stint as an English Composition and Literature teacher. Not very creative and not a bit interesting! I’ve since learned what I want as a reader, and thus, what many readers want from me as a writer. It was long and boring about a girl going through the wiles of life from her first kiss to her death. When I was 11, my mom bought me a journal, and instead of using it for its intended purpose, I wrote my first novel, with illustrations. I’ve been writing since I was a little girl, probably around age 8 or 9. How long have you been a writer? When did you first know you wanted to write books? What kind of stories do you like to write? Now, Casey, tell us a little about yourself. I had to jump at the chance to talk with the wonderful Angie Taylor! Thank you! I was really excited when I saw you were going to be interviewing authors. It is my great pleasure to introduce, for those who don’t know her, and for those who do, to become more acquainted with her, one of our author members: Casey Hays! Welcome, and thank you for being a part of BOD’s author interviews. We have so many wonderful authors on BOD. Ages 14 and up.One of the great things about being a member of BOD is that authors and fans get to interact and share together in their love for all things dystopian. And it changes the course of her destiny for all eternity. Her rebel’s heart, however, refuses to comply with Fate’s demand, and what she finds in the Pit draws her one step closer to finding the truth about herself and the Village. Kate’s destiny has always been the Pit–the life of the breeder–which she is expected to embrace without complaint. On the day of her sixteenth birthday celebration, the reality of what this means invades her with a vengeance, and she is forced to contend with her own moral conscience. But Kate longs for something more she hears the call of another life. Many of the women in the Village have acquiesced to this mandate, including some of Kate’s closest friends. Essentially, there is only one requirement: Bow the knee to the wisdom of the Council without question. In a world demolished by war and ruled by the hands of Fate, individual choices have become obsolete. The Archer has spoken, but I have no desire to heed his command.

But I am sixteen now … and I question everything. This is what our history lessons teach us, and this is what we are to believe.

A war waged by men and their hateful weapons long ago made it so, and my people–the women of the Village–are the only survivors. Beyond the Village, nothing exists … except devastation.

Breeder by Casey Hays