Today, we\u2019re excited to have Cassidy Wasserman with us on the Mixed-Up Files. I had the pleasure of reading her graphic novel On Guard!<\/em>, which is releasing tomorrow, June 10! \u00a0I also got to interview her about the book, her inspiration and process, and more. Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us, Cassidy! \u00a0<\/p>\n The author\u2019s note in the book shares that the original seed for this story was about a friend breakup but slowly became about the relationship between mothers and daughters. The line you shared about the real story finding you along the way was lovely, and I wondered if you could talk more about how the story on the page came to be. How did you know when that shift needed to happen?<\/em><\/p>\n When I started writing On Guard!<\/em>, I was focused on Grace and Ava, and how they grew apart. As I wrote, I dug deep into the feelings I experienced in middle school that were likely to be a more universal experience for readers. The story of my parents\u2019 divorce was prevalent in my mind, and I realized that there was a natural through line between Grace, Ava, and Grace\u2019s mom. I decided the shift in focus had to come from Grace starting that school year all on her own, where her struggles at home and school are now completely intertwined. Not only do we see her struggling at home while butting heads with her mother\u2019s personality, but even at school she\u2019s faced with how much she believes her mother liked Ava more than her.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n There is a lot of your own story inside of Grace\u2019s (and it\u2019s awesome that you\u2019re both artists!). How did you approach weaving parts of your own life into the narrative?<\/em><\/p>\n I feel the best stories come from personal experiences. I approached adding these parts of my life to Grace\u2019s story by picking the ones that felt the most relatable, and the ones that I hadn\u2019t yet seen told. I mention in my author\u2019s note that I didn\u2019t get to see relatable stories of mothers and daughters growing up, and it was important for me that this feeling of alienation from your maternal figure would come through. I wanted to ensure the story was true to my lived experience.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Relationships are handled deftly in your work, whether it\u2019s Grace with her mom, Grace with her dad, or Grace with her friends, old and new. It was fascinating to see how you gave all of these relationships space in the book\u2014both in the text and in the art itself. Could you tell us how you balanced these threads?<\/em><\/p>\n It all comes down to pacing, and making sure every story is intertwined with another. Grace is going through quite a lot, and all of those relationships need their time on the page. I like to let the art tell the story where I can. When you can let a reader sit with a silent panel or two, it can have a big impact. I found that when the plotlines organically developed to suit the needs of Grace and the story, they all started to naturally click into place.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n One of my favorite lines was when Grace admitted she mostly just wants to hold a sword\u2014who doesn\u2019t? There were many other powerful moments that came through analogies to fencing, like when Grace realizes she can only control her own moves, not her opponent\u2019s. Could you tell us about how you got into fencing? Did that experience give you the idea for this book?<\/em><\/p>\n I could talk about fencing all day! When I was a kid, I read The Spiderwick Chronicles, and the sister in that book fences. Ever since then, I\u2019d hoped to be able to do it myself someday. I didn\u2019t get to fence in school, but after college I joined a local club. Epee just happened to be the only weapon they taught, as my coach was a collegiate women\u2019s epee coach. (Go, Wellesley!) It worked out nicely, because epee is the simplest weapon to explain. Foil and saber have a few more rules. I was in love with the sport from the moment I walked into the club and heard the bell guards ringing. I had been mulling over a story about my \u201cAva\u201d for a while, and after I starting fencing, it became clear.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n You mentioned you\u2019ve always loved to draw and read. Are there any favorite books or artists that have profoundly shaped you as an author-illustrator?<\/em><\/p>\n Lucy Knisley is a big influence on me when it comes to graphic novels. Her travelogues were my favorite thing to bring around in art school. I\u2019ve also pored over Jen Wang\u2019s artwork in The Prince and the Dressmaker<\/em> a million times, and anything from Tony DiTerlizzi. Be Prepared<\/em> by Vera Brosgol is also one of my favorites. The biggest influence on me as a writer, though, has to be Rick Riordan. I am a Percy Jackson kid through and through\u2014it holds such a special place in my heart.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n You\u2019re also passionate about video games and work as a UX\/UI artist. Do video games influence your creative process or storytelling?<\/em><\/p>\n Yes! Some of my favorite plots and stories to study are video games. The Last of Us<\/em> in particular is incredible\u2014I love how it deals with difficult topics and gray areas. My coworkers teach me to be a better artist and listener every day. As a UX\/UI artist, I care deeply about accessibility and inclusion, and that naturally follows me to creating comics. Things like: Are the colors on the page workable for someone who is color blind? What about the font\u2014is it easy to read for those with dyslexia? These are important questions when it comes to both comics and video games!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It sounds like book two for Grace is already underway! Will we get to see more fencing as well as more of Asher and Nia?<\/em><\/p>\n Yes! I cannot wait to dive deeper into their stories.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Do you have any other projects in the works we can get excited for?<\/em><\/p>\n I can\u2019t say just yet, but stay tuned\u2014I\u2019m excited to show the world what\u2019s next.<\/p>\n If you could give writers any advice on how to keep writing even in the face of rejection or overwhelming odds, what would it be?<\/em><\/p>\n Keep going! Your story is worth telling\u2014we need new perspectives on life. Take breaks when you need to and be kind to yourself, but don\u2019t give up. Getting your story out there is sometimes about having it resonate with the right person, so writing something that is meaningful to you will always be worth that initial rejection.<\/p>\n No MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so here it is!<\/em><\/p>\n Favorite place to write? <\/strong>My office!<\/p>\n Coffee or tea?<\/strong> Coffee, coffee, coffee!<\/p>\n Superpower? <\/strong>I want the chalk zone powers, where whatever you draw becomes real. I would draw myself so many ice cream sundaes.<\/p>\n Dream vacation? <\/strong>The Australia Zoo!<\/p>\n Dream job when you were a kid? <\/strong>I specifically wanted to be a \u201cveterinarian, and an artist on my lunch breaks.\u201d<\/p>\n House pet? <\/strong>Dogs and cats<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Learn more about Cassidy and her projects at her website: https:\/\/www.cassidywasserman.com\/<\/p>\n Like<\/span><\/span> Loading…<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Cover](\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/81ETZhxnOEL._SY522_.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Cassidy](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fromthemixedupfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Cassidy-Wasserman.png?resize=360%2C360&ssl=1\")
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