Shanti asked Kasie West:

I loved Pivot Point and Split Second! Have you ever had to make a really difficult decision and done something similar- like followed both paths (in your head I mean Did any real life events inspire The Distance Between Us (another book about hard choices) ? Do you intentionally build such a strong family theme into your books?

Kasie West Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the books. And these are great questions. Yes, I'd say I've had times where I've had to make really difficult decisions and I played out the possibilities in my head. Where I wanted to go to college, who I wanted to marry, etc etc. As for The Distance Between Us, it's not necessarily inspired by real life events, but rather a real life place. There is this porcelain doll store in my home town that I used to have to wait in front of while my daughter had lessons and the music place next to it. So I'd stare in the window and always think to myself that a porcelain doll store would be an awesome place to set a novel. :) And as for your last question, I don't think I intentionally build such a strong family theme in my books, I just can't help it. It's my experience. I'm one of five, my husband is one of six, I have four children, and twenty-four nieces and nephews. I'm very close with my family. And it's a huge part of my life, so family themes always creep their way into my writing.

flag