A day in the life of Cassandra Page…
Posted: March 7, 2014 Filed under: On me Leave a commentDuring the From Australia With Love blog hop, one of the authors I hosted did a little questionnaire called A Day in the Life of Lisa Swallow. Here’s my yesterday. Where’s yours?
Today is: Thursday
I woke up at: 6am when my son “tiptoed” into my room like a baby elephant.
What I ate for breakfast: Cereal
Most interesting thing I did today: My boyfriend and I went to a musical comedy show—he got me the tickets for Christmas. It was see an Australian group that was big here in the 80s and 90s, the Doug Anthony Allstars. Very awesome show—funny, nostalgic and poignant. One of the members of the team, Tim Ferguson, has MS and was in a wheelchair. He made more wheelchair jokes than the other two put together.
DAAS
Least interesting thing I did today: I compiled some stats. The OCD part of me doesn’t mind that too much, actually, but interesting? Not really.
No one knows…: I’m not scared of mice, but when I was seventeen I jumped on a chair when I saw a cockroach run across a floor. If I’d been wearing a big dress with petticoats I would’ve been a 19th century stereotype. (In my defence, this was a giant New England cockroach. I swear it was the size of my hand!)
My pets are: Two Cairn Terriers, a mother-and-son crime-fighting duo named Chilli and Leo.
When I’m bored, I tend to: Fiddle with my hair.
For lunch, I had: Fruit cake! (We had a morning tea at work and there were leftovers. Oops.)
My current mood is: Annoyed at this stupid cough that won’t go away.
I worked on/for: When I was in my late teens and early 20s I was a nightfiller at Big W, one of the big department stores here.
My biggest pet peeve is: Right now I’d have to say computer programs that don’t work properly. But on other days, I’d tell you it was politicians not giving straight answers to questions. Or incorrectly used apostrophes. I have many peeves.
When I drive, people think: Bloody Canberra driver
I get easily distracted by: Words. If I start reading something (even if it’s inane Facebook status updates) I tend to tune out the rest of the world.
Dinner was: Chinese takeaway
My favourite movie so far this year: The only one I’ve seen is Frozen (that’s the life of a parent) so let’s go with that. I did like it though.
In my spare time, I like to: Read. Write. Cuddle my son. Play Minecraft (sometimes while cuddling my son).
When I need to get into the writing mood, and I’m struggling to, I: Trawl Twitter seeing if anyone is doing writing sprints. Those things are GREAT motivators. Check out the #writeclub hashtag on a Friday night.
I decided to be an author because: Well, once I’d written the book it seemed like a better idea than doing nothing with it!
Where in the world is Cassandra Page?
Posted: February 13, 2014 Filed under: On parenting, On social media | Tags: aussie-owned, guest post, scheduling 4 Comments(Ok, the title is a reference to Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, which you’re all no doubt too young to get. With your clothes. And your music. *shakes walking stick*)
Carmen Sandiego – straight from the 1980s. Woo!
The last week has been big with the crazy around my place. My son started preschool, and the same day we drove to Sydney so he could have his eyes tested at the eye hospital there. The results were a bit of a shock: it turns out he’s night blind.
Sort of explains why he’s afraid of the dark. 😦
He’s fine and it’s not degenerative, so it could be much, much worse. But it took me a day or two to adjust my thinking to the whole idea.
Also, my phone line and ADSL have been down. Hopefully by the time you’re reading this they are back, but I’m drafting this post using a 3G dongle I just bought. It feels as slow as dial up did back in the day, although without that charming screech when it connects. (Speaking of the stone age…)
Anyway, I have been kicking around the rest of the internet during my absence here. Spefically there are three places I’ve been lurking this past week — in case you missed me trying and mostly failing to share the links on my phone.
Today I posted the Aussie Owned and Read Valentine’s Day poll. (Yes, I know it’s a day early — shush.) You may recall that I had a blog post up last month calling for nominations. Well, this is where the final battle will be fought. With heart-shaped pillows and arrows made of chocolate. Or something.
On Sunday I made a cameo at Laura Catherine’s blog, talking about the many wonders of scheduling everything from tweets to emails to blog posts (ahem).
And on Monday I was K. A. Last’s guest over at her blog. I talked about using the everyman, familiar cultures and familiar myths as a way of grounding your speculative fiction reader.
I’ll try to be more organised in future. I promise. xo
DOGGIES!
Posted: January 3, 2014 Filed under: On me | Tags: pets 4 Comments(This is post is entirely unrelated to books or writing. If you’re here for those things alone, thanks for dropping by and I’ll see you next time!)
I haven’t forgotten I promised you pictures of my new doggies: Chilli and Leo, the crime-fighting mother and son duo. They are both purebred Cairn Terriers. If you think they look familiar, you might be thinking of Toto from The Wizard of Oz. Or, if you have small children, Hairy McLary from Donaldson’s Dairy.
This is Chilli. She’s a champion show dog who is now slumming it with us.
And this is her son, Leo. He’s named after the blue Ninja Turtle.
Leo really, really loves Chilli.
But that’s ok, because she loves him too.
So, whassup? I’m glad you asked…
Posted: December 24, 2013 Filed under: On me, On the Isla's Inheritance trilogy, On the Lucid Dreaming duology, Short stories | Tags: contests, Isla's Inheritance, Lucid Dreaming, short story, writing Leave a commentI know I haven’t posted a huge amount lately. What with work being busy–that last-minute “HALP I NEED TO GET THIS DONE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR!” rush–as well as various non-work edits that needed finishing, I haven’t had much time for blogging.
Here’s a brief rundown on the things that have been happening lately.
PitchWars
If you read this post, you’d know I entered Lucid Dreaming into PitchWars, one of the festive season pitching contests. I didn’t get chosen as a mentee, obviously, or you’d have heard me yelling all around the globe, without the aid of technology.
What I did get, once again, was some fantastic feedback. The mentors didn’t have to, and frankly I’m not sure how they found the time given some of them had close to 100 entries, but three of the four I pitched to gave me personalised feedback. They were also very encouraging, and said things like “I have every confidence I will see your words in the bookstore some day in the not so distant future.” Aww. Also, squee!
And Dannie, one of the mentors I pitched to, also gave me an honourable mention on her blog:
Most creative use of technology in mentor stalking: Cassandra Page
I stalk like a BOSS.
Anyway, following some edits to my manuscript, I then entered it in…
PitchMAS
PitchMAS is a bi-annual three-day pitchfest and workshop, held in July and December. It has two phases. The first is where 75 pitches are selected to be posted to the blog, where they can be requested by agents and acquisition editors for various presses.
My pitch for Lucid Dreaming was selected to go on the blog, and, as you can see, I got some interest. I got even more from the Twitter pitches. I’m not going into details because a lady doesn’t, er, pitch and tell, but if you want to know badly enough, the information is out there the Twitterverse. You just need to stalk like a BOSS too.
Santa Clash
The premise of Santa Clash was that a bunch of writers would produce Christmas-themed short stories. They didn’t have to continue on from one another like the Zombie Project did. No, this time the catch was much more diabolical. Each writer was challenged to write in a genre they didn’t usually delve into. I was given “adult”. Those of you who know me will realise how HARD THIS WAS FOR ME!
My short story, Letting Go, went up yesterday. I’ve had two people tell me they cried when they read it, so, you know. There’s that.
Meanwhile, over at Aussie Owned and Read
Today my December post went up over at Aussie Owned and Read. It’s called Stop, Revive, Survive, after the NSW road safety message. Don’t drive when tired this Christmas, mkay? Or write, actually.
Also, the post has some of my holiday snaps on it. Ok, one holiday snap. It’s a pretty one, though. Promise.
Isla 3
Finally, edits complete, last weekend I was able to get started on the third book in Isla’s trilogy. I only started yesterday but I’m pleased to say drafting is JUST like falling off a bike. You skin your knees, and maybe your teeth are kinda wobbly afterwards (or is that just me?), but you don’t actually forget how to ride.
My TMP editor will be pleased to know I’ve only bled on the manuscript a little bit so far. I will try and clean it up before I send it to her. I promise.
PS. Don’t forget to enter my blogaversary giveaway if you haven’t already. 🙂
Happy blogaversary to me!
Posted: December 20, 2013 Filed under: On me | Tags: contests, delilah s. dawson 12 CommentsA year ago, I undertook my first venture into the scary world of blogging.
A lot has changed since then. Back then, Isla’s Inheritance was still being queried and I hadn’t finished Isla’s Oath, the sequel. Now both books and the third in the series have been contracted to Turquoise Morning Press.
My muse had yet to mug me like the street thug she is with the idea for Lucid Dreaming. Now I’ve entered it in the same pitching contest that taught me the ropes a year ago, Brenda Drake’s amazing PitchWars.
My charming, adorable and bright three-year-old boy is now a charming, adorable and bright four-year-old boy. We’ve moved house and bought two dogs. AND I’M STILL SANE!
To celebrate all of these things, and just because it’s nearly Christmas and I’m dizzy from heatstroke, I’m having a giveaway. The winner can choose a paperback (made of PAPER) from one of my favourite reads of 2013. The giveaway is open to people anywhere The Book Depository delivers. Enter my blogaversary giveaway HERE!
THE BOOKS
“Pivot Point” by Kasie West
Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.
In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.
“Shadows” by Paula Weston
It’s been almost a year since Gaby Winters was in the car crash that killed her twin brother, Jude. Her body has healed in the sunshine of Pandanus Beach, but her grief is raw and constant.
It doesn’t help that every night in her dreams she kills demons and other hell-spawn. And then Rafa comes to town. Not only does he look exactly like the guy who’s been appearing in Gaby’s dreams, he claims a history with her brother that makes no sense.
Gaby is forced to accept that what she thought she knew about herself and her life is only a shadow of the truth – and that the truth is more likely to be found in the shadows of her nightmares.
Who is Rafa? Who are the Rephaim? And most importantly – who can she trust?
“Wicked as they Come” by Delilah S. Dawson
When nurse Tish Everett forced open the pesky but lovely locket she found at an estate sale, she had no idea she was answering the call of Criminy Stain, from the far off land of Sang. He’d cast a spell for her, but when she’s transported right to him, she’s not so sure she’s ready to be under the spell of another man. (It didn’t go so well last time with controlling, abusive, domineering Jeff.) If only Criminy wasn’t so deliciously rakish….
Half the inhabitants of Sang are Pinkies—human—and the other half are Bludmen, who in Tish’s world would be called vampires. But they don’t mess with any of the bat/coffin/no sunlight nonsense. They’re rather like you and me, just more fabulous, long living, and mostly indestructible. (They’re also very good kissers.) But when the evil Mayor of Manchester (formerly Bludchester) redoubles his efforts to rid Sang of the Bludmen once and for all, stealing Tish’s locket in hopes of traveling back to her world himself for reinforcements, Criminy and Tish must battle ghosts, sea monsters, wayward submarines, a secret cabal, and thundering Bludmares to get the locket back and allow Tish to return home…but has she found love with Criminy? Could she stay in Sang forever?
“Tomorrow, When the War Began” by John Marsden
When Ellie and her friends return from a camping trip in the Australian bush, they find things hideously wrong — their families are gone. Gradually they begin to comprehend that their country has been invaded and everyone in their town has been taken prisoner. As the reality of the situation hits them, they must make a decision — run and hide, give themselves up and be with their families, or fight back.
Ten books that have touched me
Posted: December 8, 2013 Filed under: On Books, On me | Tags: reading 3 CommentsStacey tagged me in one of those Facebook status games where you have to list ten books that have touched you in one way or another. The rules say not to overthink it, but since in my case I’m pretty sure that’s a genetic impossibility, I thought I’d post the list here, with some of my thoughts.
1. “The Stone Cage” by Nicholas Stuart Gray
This is a Rapunzel retelling from the perspective of the witch’s cat. I read it when I was about 11, and then again at 17, and then again in my late 20s – and I loved it every time.
I think I’m due to re-read it again. 🙂
2. “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams
All of the laughs. ALL OF THEM! (I could add Terry Pratchett to the list for the same reason, but I read Adams first.)
3. “All the Weyrs of Pern” by Anne McCaffrey
“The Dragonriders of Pern” was my first fantasy series, and will always remain my favourite. It’s hard to choose one book, but it has to be either this one (I had SUCH a crush on Masterharper Robinton) or “Dragonquest” (for the mating flight scene).
4. “Magic’s Pawn” by Mercedes Lackey
As with Dragonriders, I loved all the Valdemar books. But Vanyel was my first and my favourite. It’s also the first series I ever read with a gay main character.
5. “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkein
I had an illustrated edition as a child, and read it SO MANY TIMES. In fact, I still have that same copy. I’m looking forward to sharing it with my son.
6. “It” by Stephen King
CLOWNS! AAAAAH!
7. “The Many-Coloured Land” by Julian May
This (and the rest of “The Saga of the Exiles”) is one of the few scifi series that I love. The way the past and the future have been woven together is so clever – and I loved Aiken Drum. Not as much as Masterharper Robinton, but, you know, a lot.
8. “The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I’m not much of a fan of the last book in the trilogy, but I loved the first two. I couldn’t put them down.
9. “Interview with the Vampire” by Anne Rice
The early books about Louis and Lestat were my formative vampire fiction. To me, the series jumped the shark a little later on, but these books were where my first love of vampires was born. (Buffy was my second love.)
10. “Stormdancer” by Jay Kristoff
My first Steampunk experience was only last year, and I LOVE IT!
PitchWars Mentee Bio
Posted: December 6, 2013 Filed under: On me, On the Isla's Inheritance trilogy, On the Lucid Dreaming duology | Tags: aussie-owned, Isla's Inheritance, Lucid Dreaming, PitchWars 4 CommentsIf you’re a writer and on Twitter, you’ve probably heard of PitchWars, an annual battle run by Brenda Drake where writers attempt to win the love of one of several mentors. Those mentors in turn get overwhelmed with, ah, love, but choose one writer (and two spares!) to polish and take forward to the final round. There, each writer–mentor team competes for the further love of one or more agents.
It’s a giant lovefest, basically. I believe there’s some sort of prize involved, but I doubt the winning writer cares, because agent love!
Last year I entered PitchWars with Isla’s Inheritance. I didn’t win, but what I did do was receive some encouraging feedback and insightful advice that helped me improve the manuscript into something truly saleable. I’m confident that if it weren’t for that advice, Isla wouldn’t have the deal it does.
The other thing PitchWars gave me last year was exposure to an awesome network of writers, some of whom are now my closest tweeps and crit partners. It was via PitchWars that I met Stacey Nash and the rest of the guys I work with on Aussie Owned and Read.
Lucid Dreaming, which is a new adult urban fantasy unrelated to Isla, is now taking its turn in the PitchWars ring.
Pimp My Bio
The PitchWars mentors have bios, so we have the best chance possible of finding a match for our manuscript. One of the mentors, Dannie, is encouraging entrants to write their own bios, so the mentors can stalk them in turn.
Presumably this is so we know how they feel, having us paw over their blogs for clues. :p
Ten Things About Me
BATMAN!
One. I’m a single mother to the cutest four year old boy in the world. (Yes, he really is.) Sometimes he moonlights as Batman. I’m really looking forward to him learning to read, so that I can share my joy in books with him.
Two. This Sunday, as an early Christmas present, we are getting two Cairn Terriers, a mother-and-son team named Chilli and Leo. Chilli is an Australian Champion going into retirement at the advanced age of two. Leo is named after the Ninja Turtle.
There will be pictures—oh yes!
Three. I work full time as a professional editor for a big organisation, which means I’m used to the process. I’ve been editing for five years now (with breaks for coffee).
Four. COFFEE.
Last weekend my boyfriend and I went to an isolated national park to go caving, and he brought his espresso machine. Because, as he said, “Just because we’re on holidays, we don’t have to live like savages.”
Five. I’m an uber-nerd. One of the things that drew me to some of the mentors I chose is that they liked the same nerdy things as me. Doctor Who, Firefly… even the political nerdiness (and writing genius) that is The West Wing.
Six. I tabletop roleplay. I used to live action roleplay too. I dressed up as a vampire before they sparkled in the sun. (See point five.)
I have a TARDIS teapot.
Seven. I’ve written three books now, and each of them has an element of Greek mythology. I could say that this is by virtue of my name—Cassandra being the infamous Greek prophetess cursed not to be believed—but who knows?
(As an aside, the mythological Cassandra clearly never heard of reverse psychology. “Yeah, bringing that big wooden horse inside the walls of Troy and then having an early night is a TOPS IDEA!” “What? No way! Burn the horse!”)
Eight. Other than the aforementioned shows (and Castle, because Nathan Fillion), I watch very little television. I discovered that, despite points one and three, I could still find time to write if I quit most computer games and TV. Before that I was a WoW addict. And had a flirtation with Farmville. DON’T JUDGE ME!
Nine. I’ve been reading urban fantasy for longer than I’ve known what the genre is called. I used to call it “books that have magical elements but are set in the real world.” This is why people shouldn’t let me name things.
I also love fantasy, light sci-fi, cyberpunk and some horror. I don’t mind PNR but it’s not my true love like urban fantasy is—I just struggle to get into books where the romance is the only plot.
Ten. My writing weakness is semicolons. I LUFF THEM! But don’t worry, mentors, a crit partner already made me take 160 of them out of Lucid Dreaming. *tear*
Winter Warmers blog hop
Posted: November 20, 2013 Filed under: On me | Tags: blog hop, music Leave a commentOnce upon a time, a wonderful writer and blogger named Blue was tagged in a blog hop called the Summer Sun Award. Because Blue is a rebel, she decided to go along with the blog hop, but when she tagged people to participate she flipped it on its head, renaming it Winter Warmers.
And, in a great sense of irony because it actually is summer here next month, she tagged me. 😉
Favourite song with winter in the title or lyrics.
Confession: I could only think of Winter Wonderland when I pondered this question. And it’s ok, but not my favourite. Then I thought, hey, maybe I could make the question “favourite song about winter or Christmas”. Then I chose White Wine in the Sun by Tim Minchin, which (when I listened to it as I was preparing this blog post) made me cry.
Gee, thanks, Tim. :p
Ironically, it’s about an Australian Christmas anyway — white wine in the sun might not go down so well at Christmas in England. Which makes it about summer. I’m a rebel like that.
Favourite book about winter
My most recent favourite would have to be The Memory Game by Sharon Sant. It’s not about winter, per se, but winter plays an important role.
Here’s the blurb:
If there is a hell, I think maybe this is it.’
Weeks after fifteen-year-old David is killed by a speeding driver, he’s still hanging around and he doesn’t know why. The only person who can see and hear him is the girl he spent his schooldays bullying.
Bethany is the most hated girl at school. She hides away, alone with her secrets until, one day, the ghost of a boy killed in a hit-and-run starts to haunt her.
Together, they find that the end is only the beginning…
I should warn you, though — this book made me cry like a baby!
Favourite “hot” winter film
I’ve been sitting here thinking and thinking, and I’ve got nothing. I’m just not a film person. The only cold scene I could even think of from a movie that I love is from Fellowship of the Ring, where they try and cross the mountain, and Legolas is showing off by walking on top of the snow.
So I’ll say pass to this question and lose a point. And know that once this post is up, I will think of ten or twelve different answers.
Favourite winter memory
Duns Castle. My future home.
In 2011, we went to Scotland. It was a scorching Australian summer here, so we arrived in the depths of a northern hemisphere winter. All the locals thought we were barmy for choosing that time of year to visit, but that’s alright. Besides, we stayed in a castle for four nights, and who wouldn’t love that? It would’ve been perfect if it had snowed, but it held off till the day we left.
That being said, what’s not to love about a roaring fireplace someone else has stoked when it’s freezing outside?
I also have an enduring memory of driving along a country road through an area where it had snowed, and seeing a tree totally covered in snow and ice crystals. It was breathtaking.
Favourite winter holiday destination
Somewhere warm. Unless it’s a castle.
What books will be in your suitcase this winter?
Well, given winter is just over six months away, that depends how slowly I read. It may be something on these shelves.
My to-be-read shelf has conducted a hostile takeover
I’m also certain I’ll be reading and re-reading some of my own books in the interim, because Isla’s Inheritance comes out in the Australian spring, so there will be ALL OF THE PROOFING TO DO!
And I tag…
I’m baaaack!
Posted: October 13, 2013 Filed under: On me, On the Isla's Inheritance trilogy | Tags: betas, Isla's Inheritance, real-estate, Turquoise Morning Press 2 CommentsSo I know you guys have all been wondering where I was. Well, probably not, because if you read my blog at all you know I was about to move into my new house — and if you don’t, you wouldn’t care. 😉
I’ve been in the new place for five days and we only just got the PC set up and connected to the internet. I was a bit alarmed to find myself getting twitchy and a little depressed about being sans PC. Even though I had my smart phone and access to social media, at least, I really felt the lack of access to the internet — and to word processing facilities.
Especially when I downloaded my emails yesterday and saw that my editor at Turquoise Morning Press SENT BACK THE FIRST ROUND OF EDITS ON ISLA’S INHERITANCE!
*faints*
I haven’t cracked open the file yet — I’ll save that for when my little guy is in bed — but Shelby’s notes in the email were spot on. I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into them. (Make a note of when I said that, because I bet you $100 I’ll be suffering soon enough!)
I’m also beta reading a YA sci-fi by my friend Stacey, which I haven’t been able to touch for a week, so it’ll be good to get back into that too. The last time I read it was a climactic scene and having to wait has been killing me!
I’ve unpacked two and a half out of six bookshelves — I had to wait to do the rest till the PC was set up, in case we had to move furniture. It’s been fun reuniting with all my novels; once they are all out and looking fine I’ll post a photo of my study. I’m surrounded by books and have dual screens. And this is my view:
How’s the serenity?
Aww yeah.
A big moment for me…
Posted: August 21, 2013 Filed under: On me, On writing | Tags: aussie-owned, Interview, university, writing 3 CommentsMany years ago, I did professional writing at university. I landed there because in year twelve I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life, and a very lazy career adviser said, “Well, what classes do you enjoy?” and I said, “Um, English?”
I also enjoyed computing, so if the career adviser had asked a slightly different question or if I’d mentioned the other class first I might be a highly paid IT nerd right now. I’d still be writing, regardless, but maybe not quite as well. (Much love to any IT nerds reading this. My boyfriend is one; I mean no disrespect.)
As it was, I got a degree that was broadly applicable to every job I had — I draft a mean minute — but only became specifically applicable in the last five years when I landed my precious editing job, and started writing again.
The head of the course — let’s call her Janey — was a huge fan of literary, feminist fiction. Genre fiction fans like me didn’t get a lot of credit from her, and the male genre fiction fans in the class got even less. She also believed in what she probably would’ve called tough love, but what I secretly believed was her way of trying to scare us all into not bothering to write so that she had a better shot at getting her own Great Australian Novel published.
I remember one lecture where Janey was talking about the Australian publishing industry. She told us there were maybe half a dozen Australian fiction writers who could make a living off their work, that they all wrote literary or mainstream commercial fiction (ie they were Bryce Courtenay), and that we should all give up any hope of ever being successful enough to pay a mortgage.
Especially us genre fiction writers.
I have no words
(Note: Her advice is both good and very crappy. Kids, don’t give up your day job to write unless you are independently wealthy or you’re already earning enough from your existing royalties to pay the bills and save for your superannuation. But don’t believe it’s not possible to achieve the latter with a lot of hard work and persistence, either.)
Anyway, a few years later I discovered Kate Forsyth.
Kate is a Sydney writer. She writes speculative fiction. She is very good at her job, and she makes a living from it. When I read her high fantasy series The Witches of Eileanan, I loved the story — but who Kate was and what she was doing was, simply put, a revelation.
And yesterday I got to interview her over at Aussie Owned and Read.
Take that, Janey.
Cassandra Page 