Crafting Cassandra: Five Years, One Dissertation

Crafting Cassandra: Five Years, One Dissertation

Ever wondered what happens when you take a pinch of Hawaiian sunshine, mix it with Nebraska cornfields, and throw in a crime scene investigation just for fun? Well, you get Death by Dissertation, a concoction I brewed up during a month-long cram session known as National Novel Writing Month back in November 2014.

I was fueled by a longing to bring a dear friend closer to me, at least in spirit. Living in Nebraska, far from the sunny skies and sandy beaches of Honolulu where I once resided, I found myself wishing my friend could experience life alongside me amidst the endless cornfields. But who would trade paradise for face-freezing winters?

In my novel, I brought this fantasy to life by creating Cassandra Sato, a character inspired by—but not exactly mirroring—my real-life friend. I moved Cassandra from Hawai’i to small town Carson, Nebraska. Although technically I write the books, I’m just as curious as readers to see how she navigates the starkly different environment, from bizarre Midwestern weather patterns to a less diverse population.  

The underlying theme of Death by Dissertation touches on the universal struggles of adjusting to a new job, fitting in at school, or finding your place in the world—even if it’s far from where you started. Morton College and Carson, Nebraska are make-believe, but the academic backstabbing and student angst are all real. 

After spending over thirty years as an American Sign Language interpreter, I’ve had a unique vantage point. Sitting in on classes from anthropology to photography, I’ve been a fly on the wall in diverse college classrooms, witnessing everything from inspiring lectures to those perfect for catching up on sleep.

As I approached a birthday ending in zero and faced the impending empty nest after my children grew up, I was reminded of Erma Bombeck’s poignant words, which I had kept in my email signature for years: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’” 

Creating characters for the story, I drew from my own experiences of feeling like an outsider after moving from Nebraska to Hawai’i. Those intense emotions of cultural shock and adaptation reversed for Cassandra, adding depth to her character. Cassandra’s friend, Meg, an interpreter, allows me to voice observations I could never speak aloud in my professional setting. The student office workers, with their unfiltered comments and antics, bring a genuine hilarity that only real-life can inspire.

I realized that if I wanted to chase my childhood dream of writing, it was now or never. For me, Death by Dissertation stands as a reminder that it’s never too late to follow your passions. As we celebrate this significant milestone, the journey doesn’t end here. I’m fueled by more stories to tell and more mysteries to unravel in the years to come. For me, and hopefully for my readers, the most unlikely ingredients continue to make the most delightful recipes for storytelling.

Kelly Brakenhoff is the author of 15 books and a seasoned ASL interpreter. She splits her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus and children’s books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog.

Parents, kids, and teachers love the children’s books and activity guides because they introduce ASL and the Deaf community through fun, engaging stories. And if you enjoy a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have ever lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, the Cassandra Sato Mystery series will have you connecting the dots faster than a group project coming together the night before it’s due.

A proud mom to four adults, head of the dog-snuggling department, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.