Stacey Kade, Interview by Michelle M. Pillow (Originally published in Paranormal Underground Magazine)

Stacey Kade, Interview
By Michelle M. Pillow, www.michellepillow.com

From her first childhood scribbles about a magical necklace that would turn people into cats, Young Adult fiction author Stacey Kade has long been fascinated with what happens when the “ordinary” bumps up against “out of this world.” Her newest novel released last month from Disney-Hyperion, The Ghost and the Goth.

She’s also written under the name, Stacey Klemstein, penning two science fiction romance novels in a series for adults, involving first contact with aliens and conspiracy theories entitled The Silver Spoon and Eye of the Beholder.

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Q: In your book, The Ghost and the Goth, your heroine is a ghost. What inspired you to create such a character?

Stacey:I think humans have long been fascinated by what happens after death, and, to some extent, wish to be around, unchanged, forever. In this book, I wanted to explore that idea and the potential downside of such an existence. Plus, it was just fun. Alona is a mean girl who’s had almost everyone bending to her will her whole life. It was interesting to see how she reacted to being in a situation where she had very little control.

Q: When world building, did you base your story off of known myths throughout history?

Stacey:I’m the daughter of a Lutheran minister who also happens to be a big science fiction/fantasy fan, so both of those elements are deeply embedded in who I am and how I see the world. When I started thinking about the afterlife for The Ghost and Goth, I knew it wasn’t going to be based on the traditional explanation, but something closer to science. In my world, spirits are basically energy. Different dimensions (or, heck, parallel universes) exist and they are only able to pass through to them under certain circumstances.

Q: What myths or legends inspired you?

Stacey:I’ve always been fascinated by the afterlife/heaven. I think it stems from a plane ride early in life when I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t seeing people walking on the clouds that were just outside the plane window. Once I figured out that heaven wasn’t a literal place (as we know it on this Earth), it made me start thinking about what it was. I believe it exists, but I don’t think you can fly (or drive) there!

Q: Why do you think readers, and society in general, are fascinated by the paranormal?

Stacey:Because it gives an explanation to the otherwise inexplicable. Because it gives us the “rules” to make us feel safe and feel like we understand the world (e.g. you’re safe from vampires as long as you don’t invite them in). And because, heck, it’s exciting. It means there’s still more out there we don’t know, we don’t understand, and while that exists, the possibility for anything and everything still exists.

Q: Do you have any paranormal pet projects?

Stacey:No, though I’m a big fan of SETI (http://www.seti.org/seti)

Q: What are your favorite paranormal shows, movies and books?

Stacey:I love the new show on BBC-America, Being Human. A vampire, a werewolf and a ghost all living together as roommates. Does it get any better than that? True Blood is a big favorite, too. And the classics, of course, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the X-Files!

One of my favorite paranormal movies is The Others (with Nicole Kidman). That one had a twist I didn’t see coming and still chills me to this day. I also loved The Sixth Sense, though I have to watch parts of that one with my eyes closed. Ghostbusters is my classic, all-time favorite movie—that one I have memorized!

The paranormal romance genre is one of my favorites so it’s almost impossible for me to narrow it down to just a few books. In Young Adult, I’m a huge fan of the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare, The Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You Series by Meg Cabot, and, of course, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. For adults, I love the Mercy series by Patricia Briggs, the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, and the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. On the science fiction side of things, anything and everything by Linnea Sinclair.

Q: Do you believe in the supernatural? Or are you a skeptic?

Stacey:I believe in the supernatural, yes, but I believe that they are all things that will be explained or explainable one day once our science or knowledge base catches up.

For example, I think about the stories in the Bible, specifically in the New Testament, about people being possessed by demons as a form of illness. That was a rational explanation, at the time. However, these days, some theologians and scientists believe these people may very well have had epilepsy or some other medical condition that is commonly recognized as such today.

Q: Have you ever had a paranormal experience?

Stacey:Yes and no. When I was on my honeymoon in San Diego with my husband, we went to the historical Whaley House (http://whaleyhouse.org/ghostly.htm), California’s only haunted house authenticated by the state. I didn’t experience any of the footsteps or voices others have reported hearing (thank goodness!), but it was so cold in there. And it was a beautiful warm sunny day outside!

Q: What kind of paranormal creatures do you wish you could meet?

Stacey:Honestly, I think it’s probably safer to stay under the radar and not meet any of them!  But if I had to chose, I’d love to be present for (though not a central figure in) first contact with life from another planet. That would be pretty cool.

Q: If given the chance, would you become a ghost?

Stacey:No, I think it would be too hard to see everyone I love moving on with their lives afterward. If I had to chose, I’d rather be a ghost-talker (aka medium) like my hero, Will, though even that would probably be way too stressful!

Q: How would you react if you came face to face with a ghost?

Stacey:Probably faint! I know that’s not very daring, but it’s true . I believe they are out there, but I’m very glad I’m not a medium. I suppose you get used to it a little, if you grow up with it, but to suddenly one day be able to see and hear them when no one else can? No thanks! I think that’s why I like writing about them—gives me a chance to explore but safely, you know?

Q: What does the future hold for Alona and Will?

Stacey:I’m very excited that Alona and Will’s story will continue in two more books (in 2011 and 2012), so I’ll get to explore even more aspects of this world.

Thanks for joining us, Stacey!

Learn more about Stacey and her books at www.staceykade.com and www.staceyklemstein.com. Interview by Michelle M. Pillow, www.michellepillow.com