Author Talk with Kay Smith-Blum

Calendar Date:
Thursday, September 25, 2025 - 3:00pm

Kay Smith-Blum author photo

Kay Smith-Blum presents her writer’s journey and a dream-inspired path to her award-winning debut novel, TANGLES.

Centered on the Cold War years, the tale crosses multiple genres, educates without being teachy, and humanizes a little-known time and place critical to our nation’s history. Over eight months of extensive research of the nuclear arms race and the released classified government documents, including interviews with dozens of experts resulted in what James Anderson, critically-acclaimed author of The Never Open Desert Diner called, “At once labyrinthine, and simply and deeply human, TANGLES reminds us about the devastating and lasting costs of love, loyalty and freedom and, above all, the enduring solace of nature and family.” Smith-Blum relays the craft techniques behind the writing, shows how authenticity can be intrinsic to both character and setting, and how short and snappy dialogue can pack a plot point and a punch. Nuclear revelations abound!

Bring your questions for the Q&A to follow.