Q) Your latest book Sheila on the Mend is a story of rediscovery of claiming your own happiness. What drew you to these themes?
A) I personally felt like I needed a reminder. You’re never stuck, things can change, you can take chances on yourself and find happiness and goodness and joy!
Q In Sheila on the Mend was there a particular scene or character that was the most challenging to write?
A) There’s a scene where the MC Sheila gets called out on her behavior and thinks, well this is it. I’ve messed it all up, but she doubles down instead of apologizing thinking her partner is going to just call it quits. But the girlfriend shows her that two people can argue respectfully and calmly and keep the relationship going. I’ve never experienced that before so I was definitely writing out of my depth! LOL!
Q) You write both speculative fiction, poetry and contemporary romance, do you have different approaches to the writing craft when changing genres?
A) No different approach. I just let the energy of the idea propell me. It’s all fun and expression to me.
Q) What is your favorite book you’ve read recently?
A) Rhythm of the Hart by Ryan Webb was super well done; Three very distinct first person points of view, holiday queers loving on each other in all the ways (spicy and emotionally). It was just a feel good, kick your feet and grin kind of book.
Q) How do you keep your work fresh and creative?
A) I combine what I want to see in the world with energy and a slightly slanted perspective. It always feels fresh and necessary at the same time.
Q) What is your next project you are working on? Is it going to be a story or poetry?
A) I’m working on both story and poetry right now actually. The next thing to be available for readers will be a story, a novella. Werewolf Dandies of Rutland Town Demand Brunch! It’s about fabulous dandy werewolves that want brunch and fashion but they’ve set up in a small town and have to get creative. The townspeople are tired of their destruction and call an environmentalist team to trap the wolves, but they just aren’t prepared for how fabulous and beguiling they are. It’s queer foolishness and shenanigans at the highest level.
Q) If people want more information about your or your projects where should they go?
A) The people can find me writing and yammering on Substack (authorkasmith), or over at
https://payhip.com/Authorkasmith
Final four questions –we ask everybody
Q) When the zombies take over the world where will you be?
A) Hmm, I’ll be at the house with my cat minding my Black ass business.
Q ) What is your favorite Fandom?
A) So, I looked up what Fandom meant and I feel super old and I still don’t think I understand. What’s my fav group of fans of something? The readers that go all in for writers and creatives. Does that work?
Q) What piece of art, be it in the form of music, a book, a film or picture, do you think people must experience before they die?
A) Gymnopedie No. 1 by Erik Satie is lovely.
Q) Give one fact that most people would not believe about you?
A) A fact about me that people would not believe is that I’ve had a premonition or two.
Paper Phoenix ink 