Hey hey, cosmic wanderers — Kendra Cassidy here, reporting for duty and ready to introduce you to an author who lives smack in the middle of the Venn diagram between sci-fi geekery, romance chaos, and pure creative delight.

Say hello to Kay Parquet — storyteller, Trekker, chaos elemental, and the kind of writer who can quote Captain Kirk and deliver a swoony small-town romance without breaking stride.

Kay grew up on the move in a military family and found her anchor in speculative worlds: OG Star Trek with her dad, Star Wars marathons, Stargate binges, and—yes, she still winces when you mention Firefly. By high school she was writing Star Trek fanfic so passionately that her English teacher pulled her aside and said, “Kid, you’ve got something. Don’t waste it.” That moment became the spark she carried for years.

Then came the pandemic. Kay lost her business. But instead of folding, she did what any good sci-fi heroine would do: she adapted. She wrote articles. She wrote fiction. She wrote opposite-POV chapters with her husband for fun. And then she kept going, because that’s what storytellers do when the world cracks open—they build new ones.

Kay isn’t writing twenty-year-olds with flawless eyeliner and zero emotional baggage. She’s writing us: the “my brain buffers for two hours before coffee,” the “late ADHD diagnosis explains so much,” the “I still spill tea on myself weekly” crowd. Her heroines are snarky, self-aware, done with everyone’s nonsense, and still absolutely worthy of love.

And Kay? She writes the kind of hope you feel in your ribs. The kind that says love doesn’t have a deadline. Joy isn’t age-locked. And you never, ever outgrow a good plot twist.

If you’re ready to visit Maplewood — her small town full of nosy neighbors, second chances, cliffhangers, and gossip ladies with their own redemption arcs — then buckle up. Kay-os has arrived, and trust me, you’re going to adore her.

Star Trek or Star Wars? Or are you a Stargate contrarian?

Honestly, I’m all three. My dad started me on the OG Star Trek when I was a kid, and I was instantly hooked. It’s not my generation’s version, but it’s still one of my favorites—campy humor, moral lessons, and just enough weird aliens to keep you thinking about humanity. I used to write Star Trek fanfic and read it out loud to my dad and stepmom, who were my first cheerleaders.

Then came my high school English teacher, another Trek fan, who pulled me aside after I turned in a Star Trek story for an assignment and told me she thought I’d do great things with writing. That moment stuck. It gave me permission to chase it for real.

Star Wars came next (thanks again to Dad) and that cracked open the whole universe of sci-fi and fantasy for me. Romance didn’t sneak in until much later, but even back then I was drawn to the love stories woven through all the chaos. And Stargate? Absolute gold. I loved them all... and Firefly? Still too soon.

What genre(s) do you love to read outside your own?

I love just about everything. If it has -punk slapped on the end, I might have read it. Sci-fi, fantasy, romantasy, romance, thrillers, mystery. You name it, I’ve wandered through it at some point. I think reading across genres keeps your creative muscles from getting lazy. When you step outside what you normally write, you start seeing new ways to tell stories, and that’s where the real growth happens.

Coffee, tea, cacao—or something that glows and comes in test tubes?

 Can I get a test tube with an auto-wake feature built in? Because honestly, it takes me a good two to three hours to boot up. Late-in-life ADHD diagnosis, so while the meds and coffee help, my brain still likes to buffer before it’s fully online. Once it is, though, the squirrels finally fall into formation and I can focus. Coffee or tea isn’t just non-negotiable around here; it’s the law.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I first realized I wanted to be a writer back in high school. I was a shy kid who found comfort in books, especially anything Star Trek or sci-fi. I got called “Trekkie” like it was a bad thing, but honestly, it just confirmed I’d found my people.

I didn’t start taking writing seriously until the pandemic. I lost my business during the shutdown and decided to finally focus on something that had always meant a lot to me. I started writing articles for agencies in my area of expertise, and from there, branched into fiction simply for the joy of it.

For a while, my husband and I co-wrote stories, sending each other opposing POV chapters back and forth. Those collaborations taught me a lot about pacing, voice, and character development. Now I’ve got a hard drive and a Dropbox full of stories waiting for their moment.

Where do your ideas usually start: a character, a vibe, a question, or chaos?

There’s a reason some people call me Kay-os. I’m not completely chaotic (at least, that’s what I tell myself), but there’s definitely a method to the madness. Most of my stories start with a vibe or a question that won’t leave me alone.

I started writing romance because I didn’t see myself in most of the stories out there. So many of them featured twenty-somethings who had their lives perfectly together, and I don’t know about you, but I was a mess in my twenties. Honestly, some days in my forties, I still am. So I asked myself, what if the characters looked a little more like me? A little imperfect, a little uncertain, but still deserving of love and a happy ending.

How important is humor in your writing—essential or seasoning?

Humor is a big deal for me. It’s how I cope, how I connect, and honestly, how I survive most days. That’s why so many of my female main characters end up being snarky or quick-witted. At this stage in life, like me, they’ve hit that I don’t really care what you think era… and it’s a glorious place to be. A little sarcasm, a few sharp comebacks, and a healthy sense of humor make their way into everything I write. It keeps things real, and it reminds me that even when life gets messy, we can still laugh our way through it.

Do you write to a plan or chase the characters off cliffs?

Oh, I’m a total pantser. My editor keeps threatening to turn me into a plantser one of these days, but so far, I’m holding the line fairly well with my notebook full of scribbled thoughts. I love writing cliffhangers at the end of chapters (and sometimes books). It keeps me on my toes and I’m a sucker for a good to be continued.

I tend to chase my characters around and listen to whatever they’re yelling at me while I write. They come pouring out like a chaotic burst of energy that refuses to quit, and if I try to ignore them, they corner me until I give in.

Have you ever surprised yourself with a plot twist or character reveal?

There’s a character in my books, the town gossip, Mrs. Finch, who completely surprised me. What started as comic relief and someone I wanted people to hate,  turned into something deeper—a story about care, compassion, and redemption that I’m actually writing right now. I never planned for her to have her own book, but she clearly had other ideas.

Are you self-pubbed, trad, hybrid—or riding the chaos train with style?

To fully embrace the Kay-os, I went the self-publishing route and I’m still riding that train with as much style as I can manage. It’s a wild journey, but one I wouldn’t trade. I’ve learned so much along the way, and I’m incredibly grateful for the communities and people who’ve mentored and supported me through it all.

What kind of legacy do you hope your books leave behind?

I want my books to leave behind a legacy of hope. The reminder that no matter your age, you still deserve love, laughter, and a little bit of magic in your life. I write stories for anyone who’s ever felt like they missed their moment or fell behind. It’s never too late to find joy or start over, and if my books can make someone believe that, then I’ve done my job.

How many half-finished books live rent-free on your hard drive?

Do I have to count? Because I don’t think I can count that high. Between Dropbox, my hard drive, and a few mystery folders I probably forgot about, I’ve got enough stories to last me several lifetimes. No matter what genre I end up writing in, I don’t think I’ll ever run out of ideas.

What's the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything?

That’s a big question, and honestly, a huge one to answer. While I love the idea that love makes the world go round, I don’t actually think it’s love that does it. For me, it’s hope and purpose that keep everything moving. Human curiosity, creativity, and the drive to make things better, that’s what makes the world wonderful. Love is a piece of it, sure, but the real heartbeat behind it all? Kindness. Our default should always be kindness towards anything and everyone. 

What’s coming next from you—and why should readers be very excited?

I have several books in the pipeline right now. A few are already written for my current romance series, my urban fantasy is nearly ready for edits, and my epic fantasy is still a bit further down the road. The next book to release will be part of my romance series, projected for December. I think readers will have a lot of fun diving back into the small town of Maplewood and getting to know its wonderfully nosy, big-hearted residents a little better.

What’s one thing you hope readers take away from your stories?

I hope readers walk away from my stories feeling like love doesn’t have an expiration date. It can show up when life’s messy, when you’ve stopped expecting it, or when you’re convinced you’re too old, too busy, or too broken for it. My characters stumble, spill coffee, and sometimes get in their own way, but they always find a reason to keep trying, and laughing, along the way. If my books remind someone that hope is still worth holding onto, then that’s everything I could ask for.

 And there you have it, loves — Kay Parquet in all her beautifully caffeinated, chaos-powered glory.

If you weren’t already tempted to pack your bags and move to Maplewood, I’m betting you’re at least eyeing the real-estate listings now. Kay writes with that rare mix of heart, humor, and hard-won hope — the stuff that sticks to your ribs long after the final page.

Her characters stumble, sass, spiral, flirt, and occasionally chase each other off metaphorical cliffs, and every word feels like it’s been lived. If you’ve ever thought your chance at love, joy, or a fresh start had an expiration date? Kay is here to tell you — loudly, lovingly, and with a smirk — absolutely not.

So go follow her, support her, and keep an eye out for everything she has loading in the creative pipeline. Trust me: the Kay-os has only begun, and you’re going to want a front-row seat.

✨ Find Kay here:

 🌐 Website: https://www.kayparquet.com

 🗞️ Substack: https://kayparquet.substack.com/

 ✍️ Medium: https://parquetk.medium.com/

 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KayParquet

Now, grab a refill, stretch those page-turning fingers, and dive into what’s coming next — because in Maplewood, the story is never over.