Hays Blinckmann

is an author, journalist, and artist who has been living in Key West for two decades. She is known for her fine arts career as well as being a journalist with The Keys Weekly. Her novels, In The Salt and Where I Can Breathe, have garnered widespread attention and popularity amongst her readership. Her books and short stories are an invitation for people to enjoy dysfunctional families at their finest.
Hays Blinckmann Key West Author
Hays Blinckmann Author Back Cover of Yell Out Loud Novel

Here, Kitty

Hillsdale, Massachusetts, is a small town ripe with secrets. But it’s hard for anyone to keep them after encountering 16-year-old Kitty Kittrick. As subtle as a thunderstorm, Kitty catches everyone’s attention with her bright-colored tracksuits, fearless questions, and disarming honesty. Lacking the usual teenage insecurities or any regard for social boundaries, Kitty manages to gather Hillsdale’s most troubled citizens and pull them from the hot mess they call lives…..

Read More

But this story isn’t just about Kitty. It’s about the people she affects. Her family, friends, and neighbors lie to themselves about what they truly want out of life. The catch? Kitty’s number one rule in life is never to lie, especially to the
people you love, or about anything, ever, at all. But even Kitty gets tested when a menacing stranger shows up in a rundown Toyota Corolla with a misshapen dragon tattoo and pisses off the Starbucks barista.

Here, Kitty is a heartfelt, hilarious story about growing up, taking risks, confronting the past, and learning when to own your mistakes. And not to go to Costco when high. Duh.

Where I can Breathe Novel by Hays Blinckmann Back Cover
In The Salt Book by Hays Blinckmann Author
Hays Blinckmann Author Back Cover of Yell Out Loud Novel
“Where I Can Breathe is a surprisingly candid, funny, and compassionate novel about alcoholism, drama, and family relationships”
% Star ratings on Amazon

“Dysfunctional at its best!”

Mary B.

% Star ratings on Amazon

“This book grabs you, touches your funny bone, and then your soul.”

Chris H.

“In The Salt is a novel that seeps into your skin and your bones like a cold New England day. Vivid in detail, imagery and emotion, Maggie’s journey from anger to acceptance is one that anyone with an unconventional family can relate to. Is there any other kind?”
% Star ratings on Amazon

“In the Salt is an intelligently written, funny, and entertaining literary journey about three generations of strong-willed women who discover themselves and their history – which is rife with dark secrets and familial complexity. This was our choice for book club, and our discussion was lively, real, raw and passionate. We all loved it.”

Sarah B.

% Star ratings on Amazon

“Couldn’t put this book down. It ranks up there with the Goonies and the Sandlot. It shows the vulnerability & honesty of being a kid. And when you have Faith, anything is possible. We need to believe that today!! Especially all the kids who have had a hard uncertain time this past year. Things work out and the possibilities are right in front of us. I Love This Story!!”

Wonderful Characters

Hays Blinckmann Author Back Cover of Yell Out Loud Novel
Where I can Breathe Novel by Hays Blinckmann Back Cover
“Where I Can Breathe is a surprisingly candid, funny, and compassionate novel about alcoholism, drama, and family relationships “
% Star ratings on Amazon

“Dysfunctional at its best!”

Mary B.

% Star ratings on Amazon

“This book grabs you, touches your funny bone, and then your soul.”

Chris H.

In The Salt Book by Hays Blinckmann Author
” In The Salt is a novel that seeps into your skin and your bones like a cold New England day. Vivid in detail, imagery and emotion, Maggie’s journey from anger to acceptance is one that anyone with an unconventional family can relate to. Is there any other kind?”
% Star ratings on Amazon

“In the Salt is an intelligently written, funny, and entertaining literary journey about three generations of strong-willed women who discover themselves and their history – which is rife with dark secrets and familial complexity. This was our choice for book club, and our discussion was lively, real, raw and passionate. We all loved it.”

Sarah B.

First Look

i

Where I Can Breathe

i

In The Salt

i

Yell Out Loud

i

Here, Kitty

Recent Instagram Posts

I’m used to safely sitting at a desk at sea level. Having only learned to ski a few years ago, this is my brain the whole day. It’s terrifying and oddly fun to torture oneself with what is apparently normal to other human beings. I want to yell at those whizzing by me at Mach 5 on their fancy non rental death braces, Yeah, well, I can write books! (So there) . #authorlife #authorsofinstagram #skiingishard #whataboutbob ...

Amazon is awesome for Indie writers. Anyone can publish a book. (Whether it's good or total shite is determined by readers- not corporate looking for the next three movie deal unicorn ) And looky...there are readers, a whole lot of readers, which blows my mind. Thousands of pages each day- that I wrote- are read by total effing strangers. You guys are amazing. I'll keep writing if you keep reading. Read the drama, don't be the drama. #writersofinstagram #authorsofinstagram #authorssupportingauthors #authorlife #bookstagram @amazonkindle ...

Writers 'supposedly' should write 'every day.' (Not a big fan of that one) Go deep! Go personal! Shit on a stick, this is all I have some days. Today, my only real observation is the 'sheer' dress had too many moments last night. But I managed ... I'm that committed to my craft. 👏🔥#authorlife #writersofinstagram #writers #oscars ...

Me: avoiding work, watching the Bravo Blogs, and playing with my electronics bc kids at school. #teamariana , #teamgorga , #teamkyleandamanda ,#teamaustenandtaylor- My tagline? READ THE DRAMA, Don't Be the drama. #bravo, #bravoandcocktails, #bravobybetches , #bravobygays, #authorlife Consider it research for my novels. ...

Looking for a break from spring break? Enjoy someone else's dysfunctional family while on vacation. Perfect for avoiding annoying people on airplanes, at hotels, or considered family through marriage or birth aka your children. #bookstagram, #bookstagrammer, #Funnybooks,#Indieauthor, #bookclub, #bookclubs, #books Buy on Amazon. ...

I'll be talking about the latest -Here, Kitty- where she and the cast of characters came from and why they make you laugh. I promise not to be boring, ill-dressed, or preachy 🙂 Make sure to sign up! https://booksandbookskw.com/event-directory/. @booksandbookskw #keywest #authorsofinstagram #keywestflorida #keywestcommunity #booksandbookskw ...

History Lesson for writers and readers! In February 1971, a man named Ralph Gorin introduced Spellcheck, although it had been in the works since 1961. That's a 60-year history of placing importance on correct spelling (well done). Even the best writers use spell check to double-check. Everyone, EVERYONE, should use spell check, for example...Hello, Guvnor! #writersofinstagram #writers #writingcommunity #authorsofinstagram #authorlife #sarahhuckabeesanders ...

SEND ME YOUR PHOTOS READING! Alice, the cat is not amused her owner prefers another Kitty, who is not a cat btw. Alisa King in North Carolina wrote me "Phuck, you’re funny. …..every morning. If they didn’t have you listed under dark humor I’d think they’d not read your books and understood life might not always be a fucking walk in the park, but you can still stop and smell the flowers …. or step in poison ivy, it’s a toss. Sometimes I read 2 chapters vs 1, one wasn’t enough and two finishes my cup of my hot apple cider lemon water or coffee, depends on my mood. " I love my readers and photos. #bookstagram, #bookstagrammer, #Funnybooks,#Indieauthor, #bookclub, #bookclubs, #books ...

This book is totally undervalued for its punch. It's dramedy and family dysfunction at its finest. I read this years ago and finally realized to stop holding back from the absurd and divine lunacy of being in a family. AND to write about it. Families are insane, and it's glorious. Where I Can Breathe and Here, Kitty are totally influenced by this gem. #funnybooks #bookstagram #writersofinstagram, #writinginspiration #readmorebooks #bookclub #badbitch.bookclub ...

I'm a married, menopausal mother of boys. When I'm not writing (or cooking, cleaning, chauffeuring, avoiding tourists, or scooping kitty shit), I am running. I am running like the Gen X Chariots of Fire I envision myself to be (I actually clock 11 minutes a mile, let's get real). But I do it for the music ..the sweet rhythms of my club past.., all the boys in the club, gotta turn this shit up. #authorlife, #authorlifestyle, #writersofInstagram, #writers, #writerslife, #generationx, #momlife , #authorcommunity ,#keywest, #keywestlife ...

When you finally have time to read and you just want a People magazine. ...