Books-n-Kisses, is pleased to Welcome Kacey Hammell to our blog today.
Kacey: Thank you so much for having me! I’m thrilled to be here.
Q1) Kacey, Can you please share a little about yourself
Kacey: I’m married, a Mom to three active and creative kids who keep me on my toes. I am an Avidreader who found romance books at the age of thirteen. Since then, I’ve been hooked. It was only natural in 2001 when I found an online romance review site and became a reviewer. In a few years, I reviewed over four hundred title and felt compelled to try writing myself. In 2005, at the advice and prodding of my husband, I decided to sit and write my first story. It did very well, as did its sequel and a couple other titles, but I had to take a hiatus from writing in late 2007 when my father passed away unexpectedly. I am now in a better mind-set and have been able to find my way back to writing.
Q2) What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
Kacey: I don’t start a book at the very beginning. I write scenes or full chapters of characters that talk to me and I have to get their voices to quiet down or get an active scene that plays over and over in my head. I end up piecing everything together once the characters dominate my thoughts more. I don’t even start with a title or character names specifically. Those come later, believe it or not.
Q3) Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Kacey: I think any writer would say that other writers influence their writing. I think that the most influential for me are writers that bring readers honest and believable romances, build up the characters/story to make us want to sit next to their characters and have a conversation. Authors that do this for me are Jaci Burton, JD Robb, Cherry Adair, Nina Bruhns, Suzanne Brockmann, Sara Brookes, TL Schaefer, Monette Michaels, Patricia A. Rasey, Jasmine Haynes…to name just a few. I can never begin to compare myself to these wonderful writers though.
Q4) Tell us about Last Man Standing
Kacey: It is true what people say – you never forget your first true love/heartbreak, Last Man Standing represents a woman’s journey working through her past and finding her own HEA.
Over a decade has passed since Jaslyn “Jazz” Vanburren had her heart broken by her high school sweetheart. After turning thirty, Jazz finds herself remembering the past and tells herself to leave it where it rightfully belongs—behind her. In order to do that, she has to face the man who broke her heart. When he calls her out of the blue, asking to see her, Jazz knows her chance has come to show him what he’s been missing.
But Jazz has another problem. Ryder Donovan—her best friend and her boss, the man who’d always been there for her, finally tells her like it is—he’s in love with her. Always has been and always will be.
Will Jazz hold tight to the past and the heartache she’s lived with? Or will she embrace the future with the one man who has never let her down? Who will be the Last Man Standing beside her?
Q5) How did you come up with the idea for this story?
Kacey: LMS actually came to mind when an old flame of mine contacted me through a social network and we became friends again. He was the first guy to ever break my heart, so the thought started to niggle about the “what ifs” of the past. So while Jazz’s story is her own, there were some personal similarities.
Q6) What is up next for you?
Kacey: I have three previously released titles that have been re-edited/revised, new covers & titles altered a little bit that I have submitted to a couple publishers. One I’ll probably self-publish to get my stories and name in reader’s minds as I wait for the outcome of the other two.
Plus I have a ghost story that I’m putting the final polishes on that I will be submitting to publishers once complete. There’s also about ten WIPs that I have to complete. So there’s really no rest for the wicked in the coming months. It’s just difficult because there’s so many characters talking to me right now. J
Q9) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Kacey: Readers are welcome contact me at kaceyhammell@gmail.com
And follow me at …
Books-n-Kisses: Kacey, Thank you so much for talking the time to sit down with me. I enjoyed learning more about you and your books… I am looking forward to reading your story.
Kacey: Thank you so much for the opportunity to reach your readers. I hope you enjoy Last Man Standing, and future titles.
I love the idea of this story! Sounds like a really great read!
Thnx Natasha. I hope you get the chance to know Ryder & Jazz. Super fun!