I’m back with another fun author Q&A! I’m so happy to have Kassandra on the blog today! I recently read her YA novel, The Walls We Built, and loved it ❤️.

Hi Kassandra! I’m so excited to have you on my blog and to get to know more about you! Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into writing.

Currently, I live with my husband, one-year-old daughter, and two rescue dogs.  To say they keep me busy is an understatement!  I grew up in the country as the youngest of three daughters.  I’ve always loved books, even intentionally misspelling words during the classroom game of Sparkle so I could sit and read.  Writing has always been a part of me but it wasn’t until June 2019 that I decided I wanted it as a career and not merely a hobby.  Since then, I have published three books with another releasing July 9^th, 2022 and my fifth releasing in the spring of 2023. 

I recently read The Walls We Built and thought it was a fantastic YA read! What led you to writing young adult and how did this particular book come about?

First off, I’m so glad you enjoyed the book!  The young adult genre has always been one that I enjoy and one that is relatable to so many people.  We have all either been or are that age, trying to find ourselves and figure out this thing we call life and love.  I think that’s why so many people of all ages still gravitate towards the YA genre. 

The Walls We Built is a melting pot of my life, my mother (to whom the book is dedicated), and my imagination.  Charlotte (the main character) and I are so much alike: a stubborn bookworm who is blunt, witty, and loves rarely but fiercely.  This book holds such a special place in my heart because every page has pieces of my heart, soul, and life intertwined within the fiction of the story. 

I would love to hear more about the first book, The Influencers, in your duology! I’m so intrigued by it! How do these two books differ from The Walls We Built?

While The Walls We Built is largely about family relationships, young love, and forgiveness, The Influencers and its sequel, The Legacy, is more action-packed.  Along with the action of this underdog story, there is also romance, humor, and heartbreak.  With any of my writing, I try to touch on every emotion.  If you’re an emotional reader like me, you’ll laugh, cry, scream, and smile.  Here’s the synopsis to the first book:

“Abducted from her own home, Darcy Bishop finds herself an unwilling participant in a secret society called the Influencers. Yet, this seemingly benevolent group is hiding much more than its identity. As she faces the challenges of ruthless enemies, dangerous missions, and untimely love, Darcy fights to destroy the group that could negatively impact the entire world. With the Influencers everywhere, who can Darcy trust?”

Do you have a particular character you’ve written that you find yourself more emotionally attached to?

Every character holds a special place in my heart so it’s hard to choose just one to whom I’m most attached.  I love every character that I create (except the antagonists HAHA).  Darcy is everything I wish I could be while Charlotte and I are so similar.  When you’re an author, your characters are kind of like your kids.  You can’t choose a favorite! 

What are some of your favorite genres to read and who are some of your favorite authors?

My absolute favorite books to read are rom-coms!  I love the balance that they have:  romance, humor, and heartbreak (but not too much!).  But, of course, I’m a sucker for the promise of a happy ending.  Some of my favorite authors are Jane Austen, Christina Lauren, and Cassandra Clare.

I read that you have two rescue dogs. Tell us more about your fur babies and how you found them!

I have to say how much I love this question!  I never get asked about my fur babies!  Although I could talk about them all day, I’ll limit myself.  My husband and I adopted our fur babies from the same organization in Missouri, Needy Paws.  They are an amazing non-profit who we loved so much that we went back for a second dog! 

Our first dog is June, a female Boxer/Pitbull mix (it’s a guess since she’s a rescue).  Her fur is brindle with stripes of orangish-brown and black and a white chest.  She is the biggest, sweetest BUM of a dog who loves to eat and sleep all the time.  She hates rain and stepping on wet grass (water in general!).

Our second dog is Archer, a male Heeler mix.  He has “ticking” along his fur which is just a fancy term for spots.  He is a speckled ball of tan, black, and white fur. He is the exact opposite of June:  super energetic, playful, and anxious.  He hates the laundry basket and adores the water hose. 

What are some hobbies you enjoy?

I love to bake!  My favorite thing to bake is a braided Cinnamon Babka.  Unlike Seinfeld, I do not believe it is the inferior babka.  😊  I also like taking my dogs on walks, reading (of course!), and drinking coffee (that’s a hobby, right?).

Tell us what a typical day looks like for you! Writing or otherwise!

I’m a stay-at-home mom so my day is scheduled entirely around my daughter.  Most of my day is chasing after and playing with her.  During nap-time and bedtime, I spend my time writing.  Since she was born, I’ve written two books so I must be doing something right! 

If you could pick another author’s brain, who would it be and why?

Hands down, Jane Austen.  Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book.  Jane Austen’s talented writing not only paved the way for female writers but didn’t conform to others’ expectations.  She wrote on the irony of women’s role in society during her time while ingeniously weaving in humor, banter, romance, and drama. 

And finally, I’m so excited to see that you have a new book coming out! Distant Stars sounds amazing and I’d love for you to share the description with our readers as well as when we can expect to get our hands on it!

I’m so excited to share my next story with the world!  Distant Stars is your next favorite beach read.  It releases July 9^th, 2022 with preorders available May 28^th, 2022.  It has a balanced blend of action, romance, humor, drama, and heartbreak like my other novels but adds another level with a Christian theme. Here is the description: 

“Will Rutledge needs a fresh start.  After aging out of the foster care system, he and his brother, Kane, have nothing but each other.  Maybe that’s why he agreed to his brother’s insane plan to kidnap a millionaire’s daughter for ransom.  With his brains and his brother’s muscle, what could go wrong?

Enter Hannah Cole.  When her brother died, her family was left shattered.  No amount of money could fill the hole in her home… not even if her dad has plenty of it.  Hannah thought she knew darkness after a year of living with grief.  That is, until she finds herself thrown into the trunk of a car and crying out to God for the first time since her brother died. 

Hannah and Will soon find themselves in close quarters, fighting the feelings they are developing for one another despite both their situation and seemingly insurmountable differences.  Plans start to unravel and the two risk begging the question: 

Are some stars just too far apart to collide?”

Thank you so much for sharing with us today Kassandra! I loved getting your take on your books and learning more about you, your family, and your writing. Can you believe I read Pride and Prejudice only a month ago?! 🙈 I had to, because so many romance books make a reference to it. It was definitely worth it ❤️.

Friends, to keep in touch with Kassandra and her books you can follow her on IG here or check out here website here.

Stay tuned for more author Q&A’s coming up!

XOXO,

Kristyn