Behind The Book Caged With CC Robinson

Mickey Mikkelson has once again graciously connected me with CC Robinson to do this Behind The Book discussing the sequel to Divided titled Caged! I always enjoy it when I can interview authors again! 

Q: CC welcome back to Book Notions! What can fans expect in this second book in the Divided series titled Caged?

A: Readers can expect the story in Caged to pick up right where Divided left off. Our main characters are thrust back into their normal lives, with Rose having to return to her house arrest. But Rose’s unrelenting questions and curiosity land her in serious trouble. She’s kidnapped by her enemies, tortured for what they think she’s figured out. But while she’s in captivity, Rose learns a devastating secret that will kill not only her city’s Underground leaders, but millions of others. Caged is a wild, twisty ride with Rose in charge of the plot, so readers can expect daring confrontations, plenty of action and adventure, and the team’s collaboration at the center of it all. Readers can also expect no sexual content and only made-up curse words. Other content warnings are in front of the book.

Q: Was it more fun writing the sequel than it was writing the first book? Why or why not? 

A: Writing Marcos as the main character advancing the plot in Divided was a very different experience from writing Rose as Caged’s plot-advancing MC. Rose’s main motivation is anger and she tends to become irrational with her rage. Marcos’s anger and fear are far quieter than Rose’s, so working with Rose’s character in this plot presented multiple opportunities for negotiation. I’m sure I’m not the first author to say my characters talk back to me, but mine do, especially Rose. She fought me on a plot element, and I got the sense her character’s personality would keep pushing her enemy’s buttons until they had to shut her up. So, I let her do that on the page. She’s relentless when she suspects something. She will not give up! I love her determination and grit, but it got her into a nasty situation. I had to sit and think for a few days before the solution for how to get her out of that situation appeared, but I think the plot of Caged is stronger because of her stubbornness.

Q: What messages and emotions will fans learn in this sequel?

A: I want readers to see that collaboration across cultural barriers and divides is not only possible but produces a richer life. Rose must learn to trust others with her safety, that others will help her, even if she doesn’t understand their every motivation. In our current culture, it’s easy to assume we understand someone’s motivations or desires based on an external characteristic. In Caged, I demonstrate through Rose’s collaboration at the end with the Ivory patrol partners Jason and Sam that trusting others not only helps us accomplish something important but can be the very thing we need to survive.

Q: Are you currently writing book 3?

A: I am! I’m in what we call “the saggy middle” of writing Betrayed. Since I utilize a broad plot outline, though, writing is going well. I’m not one to plot out each move inside a scene but rather sketch out scenes with broad strokes of action or emotion. The MCs are split into two teams heading to find allies among the FRA’s neighbors. Harriet is my MC advancing this book’s plot, yet, despite her more contemplative nature, Betrayed is just as fast-paced as Caged or Divided. Betrayed is a journey of healing from grief and trusting your own gut rolled into a road trip adventure. It will set everything up for Book Four, United, the last book in the Divided series.