Authors Interviewing Characters: Kristine Rudolph
The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar
Perfect for fans of Laurie Morrison and Jenn Bishop, this lively middle-grade mystery follows a vibrant group of teens and tweens navigating grief, authenticity, and—above all—soccer, while taking an enjoyable romp through the Texas Hill Country.
Every year, spring in Texas means two very different things to sixth grader Cassaty Greene: her beloved Barons Creek High School soccer team, the Battling Billies, will contend for the state title, and the anniversary of her twin brother’s death will plunge her family into a deep, unspoken grief. But this year, the script changes when the Battling Billies’ star midfielder goes missing right before the playoffs begin. Presented with this mysterious disappearance, Cassaty seizes the chance to heroically bring the missing girl home—and hopefully, in doing so, help fill the hole her brother’s death left in her family so many years ago.
An Interview with Cassaty Greene, Age 12, on the Sport She Loves – Soccer
I’ve never been a soccer player. Well, I played a little when I was five but girls didn’t have any options other than co-ed back when I was little. Tell me what it feels like when everything goes right on a play.
When everything goes right it’s like your brain turns off. You’re moving wide, you have the ball at your feet, and your brain’s doing nothing. You’re acting simply from muscle memory, and years of watching the game. But this feeling only lasts for a play.
Having a good game feels like being exhausted, but pushing yourself. Feeling like you know what to do.
And what about when things get tough? How do you put yourself in the mindset to get back out there?
When things go wrong, it’s not like you have a choice to physically give up. You can’t just walk off the field and say you’re done because you got scored on. Most of the time you have to make yourself move back to that flow state and put in 100 times more effort until things start to click again.
How do you like to be coached? What things can a coach do to motivate you? What can a coach do to make you frustrated?
I believe in hard coaches. I think you should run for not listening, for not trying or not caring. I think it establishes the fact that you are there to push yourself. But I also believe that coaches need to be kind to their players, treat them well, and establish the fact that they only push them because they care.
Do you enjoy watching the game? What can you learn from watching?
I enjoy watching the game, because that way I get to better understand it when I’m on the field. Maybe some games get boring, but you can always watch your position and understand things. Other more exciting games help me feel that tangible excitement that I feel when I’m on the field.
Most of all, I love watching my high school team, the Barons Creek Battling Billies. I hope to play for them one day.
Parents on the sidelines can be pretty annoying, right? What are the worst things parents do? Is there anything you like that they do?
Honestly, all I think parents should do is cheer when a play is over. Otherwise, it puts too much pressure on the player to hear a bunch of screaming. Obviously, I also dislike parents who make their kids’ games too serious or overly important. The whole thing is, this is supposed to be fun!
BUY HERE
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Kristine Rudolph is a mom of three with two soccer-playing daughters, a left-winger and a defensive back who won her high school state championship in 2024. Kristine splits her time between Atlanta, Georgia, and Austin, Texas.
Category: Interviews, On Writing
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