An Exclusive Interview with K. Lyn Smith, Author of Kissing Kate

From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:

Happy mid-week, dear readers. Today the sun is shining on this glorious fall day in the Pacific Northwest, and I have a new book to share with you.

I love discovering new authors to cherish and crave. Last month I read Light of a Nile Moon, by K. Lynn Smith and was charmed and delighted by her historical context, engaging characters, and moving love story. Her next novel, Kissing Kate, will be released on January 23, 2024. Here is her elevator pitch for
the novel and an in-depth interview to introduce you to K. Lyn, the story, and the characters.

Enjoy, LA

A secret admiration heats up when Ben’s first love, Kate, pursues his cousin, until a village production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and a dash of matchmaking change the course of true love.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Welcome K. Lyn. Kissing Kate is set in the fictional Cornish seaside village of Newford in 1820. Can you please share your inspiration to write the story?

Thank you for having me! This story came together from multiple angles. I love the intimacy and quirks of village life, and I also enjoy exploring the masks people wear and slowly stripping them away to reveal what lies beneath. Ben and Kate and the family dynamics they must navigate gave me the perfect opportunity to do this.

In my research, I happened across a copy of Much Ado About Nothing, as performed at Drury Lane and printed from the theater’s prompt book. I thought it would be fun to explore a small village theater production as a backdrop to the weightier elements of this story.

And Cornwall… I can’t say enough about the rugged beauty and authenticity of this corner of the world. It’s the perfect setting for romance.

What is the story about?

Kissing Kate (and all books in the Hearts of Cornwall series) features a large and lively family of working-class cousins. Kate has set her sights on a dependable and steadfast match with Ben’s cousin, Merryn. Ben, who’s neither dependable nor steadfast, has always admired his friend Kate. Their friendship and a past family trauma has kept him from pursuing her, until some good-intentioned meddling from Ben’s family sees them paired together to design the sets for the town’s first play. Along the way, Ben and Kate must navigate family dynamics and old wounds as they discover their love for one another and their own authentic selves.

Can you share your hero Ben Kimbrell and heroine Kate Parker’s biggest challenges?

Certainly! Ben suffers guilt over his inability to save his uncle during an accident when Ben was young. He longs for more from life but is unable to move forward until he can begin to heal his heart.

Kate’s challenges are less dramatic but no less immobilizing. Restrained by society’s expectations and her legacy as great-granddaughter to a marquess, she finds it difficult to follow her heart and voice her desires.

Describe the strengths and weaknesses of your heroine and hero.

Ben fears failure and imperfection. He’s charming, with a deep-seated, though often concealed, desire to succeed. His family is important to him; this, combined with his guilt over his uncle’s death, adds complexity to his family relationships.

Kate finds it difficult to voice her desires, hiding her feelings behind a mask of polite gentility. Above all, though, she’s compassionate and loyal.

What is your favorite thing about the story?

Firstly, I love the uplifting theme of discovery—Ben and Kate’s combined journey to discover their love for one another as well as their individual journeys to find their authentic selves.

Secondly, I had such fun writing Ben and Kate’s Shakespeare-inspired kiss.

Did you include atmospheric elements such as location, buildings, family history, clothing, food, animals, etc. in the plot?

The fictional seaside village of Newford and its environs play a large role in Kissing Kate, as do elements of the Kimbrell family history. The Fin and Feather Inn, run by Ben’s cousin, is a key setting, as are the establishments along Newford’s high street. Food and ale and Regency-era fashions also play a role. (Most of my stories feature an element of romance over a shared meal.)

How do the characters and locations connect to the previous novels in the series?

The village of Newford and its environs are a common thread throughout the series. Additionally, Ben is a member of Newford’s prominent Kimbrell family, which is the central family of the series. He featured briefly in the previous book (book 3). Kate comes from a genteel family in Newford and featured very briefly in book 1 as a potential love interest for that book’s hero and again in book 3. Characters from other books in the series reappear in Kissing Kate, but each of the books stand alone.

What was your research process for this novel? Did you discover anything surprising?

I read a lot of books and periodicals from the era to help me get the details down regarding village theater productions and 19th century Cornwall, including the dialect and cadence of the region.

Architecture also plays a role in this story in terms of Ben’s hidden ambition, so I spent a good bit of time delving into that as well. It was interesting to learn there was little formal training for the field at the time—many architects were gentlemen artists who learned through apprenticeships and self-study, which seems so crazy to me.

I was also fortunate to explore Cornwall in person—from the pubs and inns to harbors and twisty village lanes. The fresh, honeyed scent of gorse blooming atop a seaside cliff can’t be underestimated!

List 5 comparable novels set during the Regency era.

Sons of Somerset series, by Deborah M. Hathaway, Mindy Burbidge Strunk, Ashtyn Newbold, Kasey Stockton, & Martha Keyes (2021)
On Devonshire Shores series, Julie Klassen (2022-23)
Strangers series, by Mary Kingswood (2020-22)
A Cornish Romance series, by Deborah M. Hathaway (2019-22)
Sensibly Wed, by Kasey Stockton (2022)

Please share anything that you think is significant for the reader to understand the book.

Readers have described books in this series as:

“Like taking a vacation in that little corner of England.”
Refreshing, redemptive, and romantic.
“A gentle, slow-burn romance with complex, interesting characters.”

What’s up next in your writing career?

There are so many stories to write! Next up is the third book in my Love’s Journey series. It’s a Victorian-era romance set in the gorgeous Lake District and features Edmund Corbyn, son of the hero and heroine in my Regency novel The Astronomer’s Obsession. A release date hasn’t been set, but I anticipate early- to mid-2024 for this one. I’m also planning the next three stories for the Hearts of Cornwall series.

AUTHOR BIO

K. Lyn Smith’s heart resides in Birmingham, Alabama, where she writes sweet historical romance about ordinary people finding extraordinary love. Her debut novel, The Astronomer’s Obsession, was a finalist for the National Excellence in Romantic Fiction Award, while many of her other titles have been shortlisted for honors such as the American Writing Award, the Carolyn Reader’s Choice Award, the HOLT Medallion, and the Maggie Award. When she’s not lost in the pages of a book, you can find her with family, traveling to far-off places and binging period dramas. And space documentaries. Weird, right?

BOOK DESCRIPTION

“Benedick Kimbrell attempted to steal his first kiss from Miss Catherine Parker in the perfectly imperfect spring of 1808. But his hopes, then and since, were larger than fact.”

A Lady’s Unspoken Longing

Kate Parker is resolute in her quest for marriage, seeking a dependable match among Newford’s eligible bachelors. But behind her composed demeanor, Kate’s heart holds a stubborn affection for her less-than-dependable friend and an unspoken longing for a kiss that was never claimed.

A Rogue’s Lost Ambition

Years ago, Ben Kimbrell harbored ambitions, chief among them a kiss from Miss Kate Parker. Fate, though, had other plans. Now, his heart is weighted by family tragedy, his pain concealed behind a carefree charm. His reputation as an aimless rogue is well-earned, but beneath the façade lies a man who yearns for more.

And A Heart Well-Guarded

When Kate sets her sights on Ben’s dependable cousin, a man who fits her expectations if not her heart, Ben can no longer stand idly by. His efforts to save her from a loveless match find the two of them paired together in a village production of Much Ado About Nothing. Tasked with crafting the enchanting sets for their town’s inaugural performance, their undeniable affection finds the perfect stage to blossom.

But for their love to flourish, Ben must reveal his true self and confront the shadows of his past. Can he find the courage to unlock his heart before it’s too late?

Kissing Kate is a heartwarming best-friends romance about finding the courage to choose happiness and the healing power of love. Set in the charming seaside village of Newford, each book in the Hearts of Cornwall series stands alone.