THE BOOKSHOP ON BLOSSOM STREET - an interview with Kay Parquet

Hello Kay, and welcome to Broad Thoughts!  What prompted you to first start writing? What was the first thing you wrote?

Honestly, it all started with my love of stories. Books raised me, shaped me, and whispered, “Hey, you could do this too.” So I did. I dipped my toes in with Star Trek fanfic (because of course I did), and once that door cracked open, the stories just… spilled out. Eventually I figured it was time to stop hoarding them on my hard drive and let them loose into the world.

Can you summarise your latest work in just a few words?

My romance books are heartfelt small-town stories where messy, lovable humans stumble their way into second chances, real connection, and the kind of love that actually feels lived-in. Expect humor, heart, a dash of chaos, and characters who feel like the neighbors you secretly adore.

What was the inspiration for this book?

Honestly? This book was born from me reading a craft book on short stories and then spiraling into my own brain, which is always a fun little adventure. I have ADHD, and yes, the Shiny Object Syndrome is absolutely real. Writing short romance just fits; under 15k, boom, done, dopamine achieved, and I’m off chasing the next sparkly book in the series.

Did you do any research for the book?

Aside from the usual craft books, nope. I didn’t dive deep into research for this one. I only look things up when I absolutely have to, like in Book 3 where my character’s in the military and suddenly I needed to know the correct plane terminology so I didn’t have them flying home on “that big metal bird thing.”

How do you decide on the names for your characters?

I usually hunt for character names by wandering through baby-name sites until something jumps out and smacks me with the right vibe. Either that, or I shamelessly borrow real people I know and slip them into the book; names changed to protect the guilty, of course.

Do you plot your novels in advance, or allow them to develop as you write?

Oh, I am a complete pantser, capital P, thriving chaos gremlin energy and all. I don’t plot so much as I just… follow the characters around and hope they make good choices. My stories unfold as I write, which means half the time I’m discovering the twists right alongside everyone else. Honestly, it keeps things interesting.

Now the book is published and ‘out there’ how do you feel?

Putting my books out there always makes me nervous - like releasing my little paper children into the wild and hoping they don’t immediately fall into a mud puddle. I genuinely care about how readers feel when they pick up one of my stories. My hope is always the same: that someone out there sees themselves in these pages, or at the very least gets that familiar, cozy-warm-hug feeling we all secretly crave.

Do you have any advice for new writers?

I always tell new writers the same thing: keep going. Keep writing. Keep spilling your soul onto the page even when it feels messy or weird or too much. And above all, write for you first - because the moment you try to make everyone happy, you end up pleasing exactly no one, including yourself.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’ve got an entire series mapped out for this world. Each book can stand on its own, but you definitely don’t want to miss the happy endings, side stories, and all the little cameos that make the town feel like home. I love writing a shared world where familiar faces wander in and out of each other’s stories. As for how many books are coming… let’s just say enough to keep me happily busy for quite a while.

 

More about Kay:

Meet Kay Parquet, a Southern gal with a heart full of stories and a passport full of stamps. Growing up with a military family, Kay’s childhood was a whirlwind of new places and exciting adventures around the globe. She’s seen a lot, and all those experiences pour into the pages she writes.

Books have always been Kay’s faithful companions, her escape into worlds of magic, mystery, love and machines that run on steam and spells. She’s got a soft spot for stories where fantasy meets the future, love conquers all, and where heroes have big hearts and even bigger adventures. Her first loves were comic books, cartoons, and Star Trek fanfic.

Away from her books and stories, Kay’s just a regular girl who loves gaming and has a serious love for dogs. She’s convinced they’re the secret rulers of the world (sorry toe bean overlords). With her easy-going Southern charm and a touch of playful sass, Kay’s writing is all about sharing the magic she’s seen and felt in her travels.

 

Link:

https://linktr.ee/kayparquet

 

More about the first book in the series (Bookshop):

Sometimes love shows up between the pages ... and far too many coffee refills.

 

Emma Carter is a curvy, quietly stubborn bookshop owner in the heart of Maplewood who is perfectly content with her shelves, her solitude, and her zero dating life. Thank you very much.

 

But when Nathan Reed, the town’s handsome new librarian, proposes a joint book event, Emma reluctantly agrees. What begins as a professional collaboration quickly turns into something else … with sparks, shared glances, and small-town gossip thrown in for good measure.

 

Can Emma trust what is growing between them, or will the age gap, public whispers, and her own fears close the book before it even begins?

Huge thanks to Bittersweet Book Tours for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour.