P C Cast Kristin Cast

Phyllis Christine Cast, known professionally as P. C. Cast, is an American author specializing in romance and fantasy genres. She is widely recognized for co-authoring the popular House of Night series with her daughter, Kristin Cast. Prior to this collaboration, P. C. Cast established her own literary career with series such as Goddess Summoning and Partholon. Her debut novel, Goddess by Mistake, garnered several awards and accolades, setting a precedent for her subsequent literary achievements. The success of the House of Night series, which began in 2005, coincided with a surge in vampire fiction, leading to significant critical and commercial acclaim for the mother-daughter duo. Their books have frequently appeared on bestseller lists, including those of USA Today and The Wall Street Journal. The concept for the House of Night novels, a 'vampire finishing school' set in an alternate Tulsa, was inspired by Cast's agent. P. C. Cast's early career included teaching English, and she has influenced former students, including horror journalist Preston Fassel. She currently resides in Oregon.

P. C. Cast's independent writing career is marked by the Goddess Summoning and Partholon book series. Her first book, Goddess by Mistake, published in 2001, received multiple awards, including the Prism, Holt Medallion, and Laurel Wreath, and was a finalist for the National Readers' Choice Award. The Partholon series, also known as The Divine Series, features a protagonist who swaps places with a High Priestess from a parallel world populated by mythical beings. In 2005, P. C. Cast began a successful collaboration with her daughter, Kristin Cast, on the House of Night series. This series, set in a reimagined Tulsa where humans coexist with 'vampyres,' focuses on a young protagonist marked for transformation into a vampyre and sent to a special school. The series gained substantial popularity, especially within the context of the contemporary vampire fiction trend.

The concept for the House of Night series, involving a 'vampire finishing school,' originated from P. C. Cast's agent. The narrative unfolds in an alternate version of Tulsa, Oklahoma, populated by humans and a unique type of vampire referred to as 'vampyres,' a spelling choice made by the author for aesthetic reasons. The protagonist, Zoey Redbird, is introduced as a fledgling marked for transformation and sent to the House of Night school. The series' success escalated following the popularity of vampire fiction, leading to significant critical and commercial recognition. By March 2009, the fifth book, Hunted, topped the bestseller lists of USA Today and The Wall Street Journal. The series also attracted interest from Hollywood, with film rights being optioned by various producers over time.

Born in Watseka, Illinois, P. C. Cast later resided in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she taught English at South Intermediate High School. Her daughter, Kristin, was a student at the University of Tulsa during this period. P. C. Cast now lives in Oregon. Her influence extends to her former students; horror journalist and novelist Preston Fassel has cited her as his earliest writing mentor and an inspiration for his own work. This connection highlights her role not only as a published author but also as an educator and influencer within the writing community.