The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters Publisher: Amulet Books on October 14, 2014
Genres: Historical, Paranormal, Young Adult
Pages: 464
Source: Blog Tour
Purchase: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads
Olivia Mead is a headstrong, independent girl—a suffragist—in an age that prefers its girls to be docile. It’s 1900 in Oregon, and Olivia’s father, concerned that she’s headed for trouble, convinces a stage mesmerist to try to hypnotize the rebellion out of her. But the hypnotist, an intriguing young man named Henri Reverie, gives her a terrible gift instead: she’s able to see people’s true natures, manifesting as visions of darkness and goodness, while also unable to speak her true thoughts out loud. These supernatural challenges only make Olivia more determined to speak her mind, and so she’s drawn into a dangerous relationship with the hypnotist and his mysterious motives, all while secretly fighting for the rights of women. Winters breathes new life into history once again with an atmospheric, vividly real story, including archival photos and art from the period throughout.
Guest Post
The Inspiration for The Cure for Dreaming
By Cat Winters
I started writing my newest novel, The Cure for Dreaming, in the fall of 2011, when I was waiting to find out if my debut novel, In the Shadow of Blackbirds, would be picked up by a publisher. As I typically do during the Halloween season, I was listening to music by Kristen Lawrence, whose CDs “A Broom with a View” and “Arachnitect” live in my car during the entire month of October. Kristen is an organist/singer/composer who can be found at HalloweenCarols.com. Like me, she grew up near Disneyland in Orange County, California, and found herself heavily influenced by numerous trips to the Haunted Mansion attraction.
Kristen’s song “Dark Glass” is a particular favorite. It’s haunting and dreamlike and always makes me feel as though I’m floating in the air. During that fall of 2011, “Dark Glass” put me in the mood to write something theatrical, Victorian, and Gothic. I imagined a theater stage, smoky lights, magic, drama, and a girl floating to a ceiling. At the time, Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus—a novel about Victorian magicians—was a major new book release, so I didn’t necessarily want to write about magicians. Instead, my mind turned to the idea of hypnotism.
I researched the history of Victorian stage hypnotists, and a young character named Henri Reverie started coming to life. I learned about audience members getting called up on stage, put under hypnosis, and turned as a rigid as a plank. The hypnotists would then lay the volunteer across two chairs and even stand on top of him or her to show how stiff they’d become. In addition to “Dark Glass,” the historical photograph on the cover of The Cure for Dreaming (a photo that also appears in its full form inside the book) served as inspiration for the opening chapter of the novel. The full image shows a hypnotized young woman laid out between two chairs, her eyes blank, her legs and skirts bound by ropes. The photo epitomized another topic I wanted to tackle: the limitations placed upon women at the turn of the twentieth century, and the women who fought against those limitations.
Ever since I saw the HBO movie Iron-Jawed Angels, I’ve been fascinated by the early-1900s suffragists who endured physical and mental pain, as well as imprisonment, in order for people like me and other modern U.S. women to possess the right to vote. I had wanted to write about twentieth-century suffragists for a while, and suddenly, with my hypnotism novel, an idea struck me: What if I made the protagonist of my new novel a seventeen-year-old girl who, in October 1900, attends her first suffrage rally? What if that girl’s father is the type of Victorian gentleman who’s terrified of “modern women”? And what if that father hires a young hypnotist to cure his daughter of her rebellious thoughts and dreams?
That’s precisely what happens in The Cure for Dreaming, and it all started with a song, a photograph, and an HBO movie about women surviving force feedings and jail in order to give their gender the right to vote. It’s a novel that involves mind control, magic, and empowerment, and I’m extremely proud to send it into the world this Halloween season.
Happy reading! Happy Halloween!
About Cat Winters
Cat Winters’s critically acclaimed debut novel, In the Shadow of Blackbirds, was named a 2014 Morris Award Finalist, a 2014 Best Fiction for Young Adults pick, a 2013 Bram Stoker Award Nominee, and a School Library Journal Best Book of 2013. Her upcoming novels include The Cure for Dreaming (Amulet Books/Oct. 2014) and The Uninvited (William Morrow/2015), and she’s a contributor to the 2015 YA horror anthology Slasher Girls & Monster Boys. She lives in Portland, Oregon. Visit her online at www.catwinters.com.
Giveaway
This is a Tour Wide Giveaway
braine
I am such a skeptic re: hypnotism. There’s always an annual feature at the country fair but I believe its a bunch of crock. Maybe I should try it next year for fun.
Anyway, id like to read this, this sounds like my kind of YA read!
Jennifer Bielman
I am on the same page. I just can’t seem to believe it.
Carmel @ Rabid Reads
I’m not familiar with Kristen Lawrence’s music, but I will be after I finish making the rounds this morning, especially Dark Glass. I have always been fascinated by hypnotism, and after reading this post the cover makes WAY more sense now. Thanks for sharing your writing inspirations—very cool!
Jennifer Bielman
Even though I am a skeptic, I feel like I understand the concept better now.
kindlemom1
Loved this post! Thanks so much for sharing it. This was a great read and it makes me want to read more from this author.
Jennifer Bielman
Happy to hear it. 🙂
Lisa @ Lost in Literature
For some reason I’m so drawn to this cover. This isn’t a book I would normally read, but every time I see it I HAVE to read the posts. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
That’s funny because I do not like this cover at all. LOL
Shomeret
19th century suffragettes are a historical passion of mine and I love YA paranormal novels. This sounds like a dynamite premise. I really want to read this book.
My own experience of hypnosis is that it depends on the suggestability of the subject. Not everyone can be hypnotized, but it sounds like this particular hynotist has paranormal powers.
Jennifer Bielman
I would love for someone to try to hypnotize me!
Melanie (YA Midnight Reads)
what an interesting post! music is always the best way to get me thinking of a story line for writing, too!
thanks for sharing, jennifer <33
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, me too!
Melliane
I’m so curious about this book! I can’t wait to try it! Thanks for the post.
Jennifer Bielman
Me too! So excited to try it out.
kimbacaffeinate
The 1900’s is such an interesting period in history. Thanks for sharing. I do have this on my wishlist.
Jennifer Bielman
I know, I have to read it just for the time period.
Lily B
gah all my friends seem to really enjoy this one. I need to get my hands on it o.o
Jennifer Bielman
That’s awesome to hear.
Olivia
This sounds like the perfect haunting read for me this autumn! As well as that, I share a name with the main character, which makes me super happy 😀 I have been anticipating this book for a while, so I can’t wait to read it ^^
http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2014/10/burning-bright-by-sophie-mckenzie.html