With the first instalment in her new romantasy series looming large, Amy de la Force looks back at the genesis of A Kiss of Hammer and Flame and her Fated For Hael world..
Name: Amy de la Force (she/her)
Based in: London, England (I’m an Aussie expat)
What genres/subgenres are you drawn to?
Everything speculative fiction, especially fantasy, paranormal romance, horror, science fiction – and of course, romantasy! I also love romance, historical fiction and a spot of non-fiction.
Is writing your full-time focus, or do you have a day job as well?
I now write full-time, after a decade-long career in corporate marketing and creative.
The book: from pen to print
What was the genesis of this book? Where did you get the idea from?
I had the idea for A Kiss of Hammer and Flame (AKOHAF) when I was studying creative writing at uni (circa 2008?). It came concept-first, which is rare for me as it’s usually my main characters that smack me in the face with their audacity haha! But there was something about three kingdoms battling over a dark, Atlantis-style lost city and its ultimate weapon that stayed with me, to the point where I finally planned the novel in 2016 and started writing in 2019.
In terms of where it came from, I’m a goth at heart, inspired by dark fantasy with kick-ass FMCs, paranormal romance, horror, shadow daddies and anime, and you really get that with AKOHAF.
How many drafts did you go through before you felt it was ready to query? How long did that take you?
Too many drafts; and at the same time, not long enough. I do feel like I probably queried too early, as editing took me two years and I was over it. But I received personalised feedback from a big US agent that was pivotal to wrangling my next edit, so it was very worth it! I’d say the first 10k words had maybe 100 drafts (I am not even kidding)? But my two developmental edits were by far the most intensive undertakings, and took about three years total.
Did you work with beta and/or sensitivity readers? How did you find them? How did you incorporate their feedback?
I was fortunate to have fantastic beta readers in my writing critique group (affectionately known as The Write Inn). I was also selected for Curtis Brown Creative’s novel-writing programme, under our phenomenal tutor Andrew Michael Hurley, and that and CBC’s Edit and Pitch Your Novel course, plus my writing group, were crucial in helping me get my MS in any way query-ready.
After the courses, I wasn’t in a financial position to engage a sensitivity reader, though it’s definitely something I’ll pursue for my novels more based around underrepresented characters – for example my histfic, where my FMC is bi like me, but her found family is fellow queers whose lived experience is different (which I address in-book).
What was your querying process like? How long did it take?
At the time it felt like forever, though I know a lot of writers have much longer journeys than I did. I sent 68 queries for AKOHAF, starting in mid-2022, and signed with my agent in mid-2024 – but for a different book! I met my agent through the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize, where I’d submitted my unfinished historical fiction MS, and she loved it so much that she reached out independently. What’s funny is that she also reps one of my writing critique group friends, so I already knew of her and had admired her from afar, thinking she’d in no way be interested in my speculative writing… Little did I know, she’d started her agenting career with YA dystopian and sci-fi, so it turned out I was in excellent hands. And she loved my romantasy!
Once it was in the hands of your publisher, what was the process to get it ready for release?
Relatively painless, to be honest. My editor was really happy with it, developmentally, so my first editorial letter needed quite minor edits, then followed the standard routine of line-edits, copy-edits, a proofread and the typeset.
And now your book is about to be unleashed on the world! How are you feeling?
This: 😱🤯. Excited, nervous and literally everything in between! Coming from marketing, I’ve put creative works out into the world before, but the buffer has always been that it was a purely commercial product, whether I enjoyed it or not. And while publishing is obviously a business, there is something infinitely more personal about releasing a book, especially as a debut author. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity – it’s been my life’s dream for 20 years.
What would you like us to know about this book?
While it’s an adult romantasy, expect 1x chilli pepper spice. There is a substantial power difference between my FMC Cahra and her love interest (she’s the one with power), and that necessitated respect and addressing issues of consent before the open-door stuff kicks in. Just an FYI!
Who’s the ideal reader for this one? What sort of things do they like to read about?
According to my publisher, women aged 18-40 who are fans of Throne of Glass, The North Wind and The Book of Azrael, as well as authors like Jennifer L. Armentrout. That said, I’d generally add femmes, goths / alternatives, and readers of dark fantasy and paranormal romance who love fighty FMCs, a Hades x Persephone vibe, a splash of anime, and epic magic and battles from an ex-martial artist who dabbled in medieval sword fighting. And feral shadow daddies!
Your writing process
Are you a plotter or pantser or somewhere in between? How do you do your first draft?
I’m a plantser, leaning more towards planning. I use a bespoke Save the Cat template for plotting my novel concepts, which is quite detailed for the story’s first 2/3 then switches to bullet points for the last act, as I like to leave myself the freedom to be surprised (and not get bored!).
In terms of drafting, I cut my teeth on (the defunct) NaNoWriMo, so once I know what a book’s plan is, I can speed through a first draft in 2-3 months.
How do you approach writing? Are you the type or writer who needs to treat it like a job? Is there a particular time of day you find best for you to write?
I am 100% a writer that needs to treat it like a job, mainly because I’m a parent so time is precious. I also have sensory issues, so it can be hard for me to focus / find my flow; for me, writing requires high levels of concentration without interruptions. School hours are when I do the bulk of my work, and I’m both a morning person and a night owl, so I can write at either time. I’m really lucky as my husband is a hands-on parent so he’s very supportive if I need to work on a weekend for a deadline.
Geek out about stationery: do you use a notebook? A specific type of pen? Or are you computer all the way?
I am the stereotypical collector of notebooks who doesn’t write in them because they’re too gorgeous / special! My fave brand is Australia’s The Quirky Cup Collective. My husband also bought me an external typewriter keyboard, which I love.
Is any of that different for editing?
Yes, because I print out my entire MS for read-throughs after every major edit, red pen and all.
Where do you work? Do you have a comfy, creative space at home or are you someone who has to grab the moment wherever it comes?
I have a stunning French desk that often gets overlooked for writing in bed – I know, I know, it’s terrible sleep hygiene, but it’s where I’m comfortable! That said, I’m also a grab-the-moment person, and I frequently take notes on my phone (usually when on the verge of falling asleep).
What’s your writing soundtrack?
Total vibes, and orchestral so lyrics don’t distract me. For my Fated For Hael series, I have a custom playlist (not just orchestral!) for each book – A Kiss of Hammer and Flame’s is on both Spotify and Apple Music.
Do you have a writing ritual?
Currently, a loose one: get up, make coffee, watch an episode of Gilmore Girls, meditate, then jump into writing / editing with a scented candle and some music.
Where can we follow you / find out more about your work?
- I’m on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, and (begrudgingly) Twitter as @amydelaforce
- My website is amydelaforce.com
- My Linktree with the latest bookshop links and events is linktr.ee/amydelaforce
A Kiss of Hammer and Flame is out on 3 July through Canelo. Get your pre-order links on Amy’s website, here.
