editorial notes 

The Magic of the Arden’s World

The Casquette Girls series is one of the most spell-binding stories I’ve ever worked on. This series is designed especially for readers who love complicated characters, intricate plots that weave in history and folklore, and rich settings you can almost reach out and touch. Even if you haven’t visited New Orleans, these books will take you there; it’s almost unreal how Alys Arden can conjure up this city so vividly.

I’ve spent so many years completely immersed in this world with these characters that they feel almost real to me — I’d often be dreaming of them during our most intense editing months. We start working together in the early developmental stages, when Alys is structuring all her ideas and figuring out how to layer story elements for maximum tension, mystery and reader enjoyment. After that, we work through the line edits to hone every detail and piece dialogue. 

Working with an author like Alys is a dream, because she literally cast spells on the page, and you get to see a world being created. Every draft makes the story even more real, more harrowing, more mysterious. She has that storyteller’s mix of talent, creativity and work ethic that’s all about never stopping until the story is coming across exactly how she wanted it (honestly, I’d get emails from her long past the witching hour). It’s all about creating the best possible experience for her readers, and that is EVERYTHING. 

And her fans love her for it. They fly into New Orleans from all over country for her vampire/voodoo-themed book-release parties, and you can join them in the Facebook group called The Attic to chat all things Adele, Isaac and Nicco. It will warm your black, witchy heart.