Hali Kayhill

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

Reading, writing, cross-stitch, spending time with family, tea with friends

When and why did you start writing books?

My journey begain in 2012 when I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to try writing after being a lifelong reader.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

There are so many stories in my heart that need to be given life! I believe it is my good work in this season.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

Impossible to choose! They are all sweet, faithful friends. My favorite author once said the book she is writing is always her favorite. I suppose that is true for me too. I am working on the third in my Letters from Heaven series, which continues Hannah's journey. I enjoy bringing characters to life - making sure they have more than a one-dimensional, cardboard personality. That means "getting to know" even the minor characters well enough to write them with authenticity.

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

Would You Free Me - I went through so much personal transformation while writing & editing that story.

Who is your favourite author and book?

Laura Frantz is my favorite author. I love so many of her books. My first favorite of hers would be Courting Morrow Little, but Morrow certainly shares that spot with several other of Laura's books.

What book are you reading right now?

I am re-reading A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz & reading through my previous notes on my wip.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

The first one began with a young lady I met in Bible study. Her story & what she had overcome really inspired my first main character, Candy Nolan. I think about my characters & ideas even when I am not actively writing. I think God stirs up ideas & that He blessed me with a vivid imagination. People & their "whys" have always fascinated me. Figuring out what prompted a person to behave in certain ways, good or destructive, is very interesting. An emotional puzzle, if you will.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

What spare time? LOL. I love seeing friends, watching movies that inspire, going to tea, reading, seeing grandkids, being with my daughter, spending time with my husband and furbabies, cooking while listening to great music - I love life!

Do you have any new books in the works?

Always! The continuation of my current series, Letters from Heaven, tells the rest of Hannah's story. I am still thinking about the title & hope to publish this next book in 2025. However, my brain is always jumping to other future stories. Quite often I'll work out a scene or plotline for a future story while showering or doing some other quiet task. Even when I'm not actively writing, I'm thinking about characters, plotlines, and drafting scenes in my head.