Author Q&A: Amy de la Force on A Kiss of Hammer and Flame
We are thrilled to welcome Amy de la Force to The Enchanted Spine for an exclusive Q&A about A Kiss of Hammer and Flame, the first book in her Fated For Hael trilogy.
Amy kindly took the time to answer our questions about her writing process, her characters, and what readers can look forward to in the world of Hammer and Flame.
A Kiss of Hammer and Flame is such a striking title. Without giving away spoilers, how does it capture the essence of your story?
My FMC Cahra is a blacksmith, so it's the ‘kiss’ of her hammer meeting incandescent metal when she forges a sword (which forms the story’s inciting incident). The ‘kiss' is also a signpost for romantasy readers! 
The book blends romance, danger, and elemental magic in a unique way. What threads first sparked this world into being — was it the magic, the romance, or the politics?
It’s a dark fantasy romance, and Hael’stromia’s setting as a pseudo-goth ancient Egypt was what captured me at first: the idea of three kingdoms at war over an ultimate weapon in an Atlantis-style lost city, but without the water. As you can see, there were a lot of threads just in the initial concept! So it took me some time (16 years) to weave it all together.
Your characters seem to face both inner struggles and external challenges. How did you approach building that complexity, and did any of them ever surprise you by taking the story in an unexpected direction?
Cahra was actually a lot of work, mainly because I’m so used to coming to my novels with main characters that are fully formed! But because this story came concept first, which literally never happens for me, it meant I had to figure out who my protagonist was. I’ve done character writing courses, I’ve read a ton of books, but it was really Story Genius by Lisa Cron that helped me tease out the layers of Cahra’s personality, and Terryl and Hael too. Highly recommended!
Were there moments where the world of Hammer and Flame almost felt bigger than the page — ideas or lore you had to hold back for now?
Oh, definitely! When I was first planning and writing AKOHAF, I felt like I had too much material and it would end up being a duology, just on its own. Before querying for a literary agent, I managed to whittle it down to a reasonable length, but still had lots of potential ideas for a book 2; I’m always that person that asks, ‘But what happened *after* they lived happily ever after?’ Happily for me, I’m contracted for 3 books so I’ve got a lot of scope to flesh out Hael’stromia's realm!
Did you always imagine this story as romantasy, or did it evolve as you wrote?
AKOHAF began as a YA fantasy, and you can definitely still feel those bones throughout. But it’s that whole thing of, the pairing of speculative fiction with romance has been around for so long; I didn’t care if it was paranormal romance or fantasy romance or any type of blend, I LIVED for those books as a teen, and again as a (new) adult. So when ‘romantasy’ as a sub-genre got big, it wasn’t a stretch to pitch the book that way, as it was always a fantasy where the romance was central to the plot.
Which scene did you write knowing readers would gasp or swoon — and did it land exactly how you pictured it?
One early on, and one very late! Chapters 42 and 44 are two sides of the same coin, and I adore them (the yearning, the swooning, all of the things!). And then, when I was editing the book for publication, I changed the Epilogue – and there’s a moment, the tiniest moment, that had me in an absolute chokehold and is kind of my whole vibe for Cahra’s love interest...
Was there a turning point in the drafting process where you felt the story finally clicked into place?
For me, it’s never in the drafting process! They say a story’s born in the rewrite, and I honestly believe that. I’ve been incredibly fortunate with my editor at Canelo, Emily Bedford, who is an absolute rockstar when it comes to taking a manuscript and cranking it up to 11/10! When I’ve drafted, and rewritten, and edited, *that’s* when it clicks into place for me. Which is a long-ass process – and a hard one, writing books is without a doubt the hardest thing I’ve ever done – but when you reach the end of the tunnel, and you know you’ve done your best? Absolutelyyyyy worth it.
What’s the one thing you’d love readers to remember about your characters long after they’ve finished the last page?
For Cahra, that you don’t have to be a tiny, dainty woman to be the main character. And that if you suffer from anxiety, you’ll find representation in this book. 
Romantasy readers love to spot their favourite tropes. Are there any that found their way into A Kiss of Hammer and Flame — and did you have fun putting your own twist on them?
Love triangle, slow burn, forbidden love, Hades x Persephone, who hurt you?, fated mates, age gap… So many! The best reader feedback I’ve gotten regarding tropes in AKOHAF is that it’s the ones you know and love, but in a unique combination.
What can you share about what’s next?
Well, AKOHAF is the first book in a series, sooooo… Book 2 will be hitting shelves next year! Keep your eyes peeled for title and cover reveals.
Which moment or line of dialogue are you most excited for readers to discover?
There are honestly so many moments, but a fan favourite is Chapter 24 for the giggling and kicking your feet crowd. IYKYK!
A huge thank-you to Amy for sharing her time and insight with us! We loved getting a behind-the-scenes look into A Kiss of Hammer and Flame, and we’re so excited for readers to dive into this unforgettable story.
✨ You can order your copy of A Kiss of Hammer and Flame directly from The Enchanted Spine here.
