Inside Pink Sand Summer with Chassity Evans
Who doesn’t love a GOOD summer beach read? The kind that makes you want to book the flight, order the cocktail, flirt with a stranger, and romanticize your entire life. Pink Sand Summer does exactly that.
Written by Charleston-based author and lifestyle creative Chassity Evans, the debut novel unfolds on Harbour Island in the Bahamas, where pink-sand beaches, complicated crushes, and the pull of starting something new make for the perfect escapist treat.
We caught up with Chassity to talk about splitting time between Charleston and the Bahamas, the inspiration behind the book’s swoon-worthy characters, and what’s next for her this summer.
Grab a copy. And don’t blame us if you’re pricing flights to Harbour Island by the final page.
1. Pink Sand Summer feels transportive in the best way—where did this story find its root, and when did you know it had to be set between Charleston and the Bahamas?
- It’s the craziest thing. I woke up one day with this book idea in my head, and I knew I had to get the story out. Originally, it had more Charleston scenes, but ultimately, the story really called for it to take place over one summer on Harbour Island. The FMC is from Charleston, so there is a lot of Charleston thrown in, too.
2. Harbour Island feels like more than a backdrop—it’s almost a character! What did you want to capture about island life that might surprise readers?
- I think the reader might be surprised at how energetic the social community is on the Island. You can easily go and have a relaxing beachside vacation, but you can also go and meet a ton of new friends! There’s always something to do and someone to meet.
3. What came first for you: the setting, the characters, or the emotional pulse of the story?
- It was really a little of everything all at once, but the island setting was the most important piece of the puzzle.
4. There is so much personal nostalgia woven into these pages. Did you draw from your own memories, or did this one take on a life of its own?
- There are a lot of my favorite things and memories in Pink Sand Summer. The songs I mention in the book, the food and drinks the characters order, the movie that Lucy and her friends loved watching when they were teens. I do feel like Lucy’s voice is a lot like my own.
5. We loved your writing—lush, sensory, immersive. Are there writers or artists who have influenced the way you build atmosphere on the page?
- I have so many authors that inspire me! A few of my favorite immersive authors include Carley Fortune, Elin Hilderbrand, and Kristy Woodson Harvey.
6. If readers take just one feeling with them after finishing Pink Sand Summer, what do you hope it is?
- I hope they feel joy. The kind of delight they feel after watching one of their favorite romcoms. I always feel lighter after watching How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, or You’ve Got Mail, or Sweet Home Alabama. That’s the feeling I was going for. I also hope they’ll feel inspired to take a trip to Harbour Island!
7. What part of this story felt the most personal to write—the most fun and the most difficult to let go of?
- Easily the hardest parts for me to write were the more intimate scenes. I remember blushing and hiding my face as I wrote the first kissing scene. Have you ever tried to write a kissing scene? I dare you!
8. You had us at the title… When did Pink Sand Summer reveal its name to you?
- It was a few months in, which seems crazy to me because it’s such an obvious title for this book. As soon as it came to me I was like, yes, that’s it!
9. What are you reading (or returning to) lately? Any favorite reads or authors we should share with our readers?
- I’m currently reading Yesteryear, and listening to This Story Might Save Your Life. I like to read on my Kindle at night, and then listen to an audiobook during the day. I mentioned a few author faves above, but I also really enjoy books by Sarah Adams, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Victoria Benton Frank.
10. And finally—where are you headed next, on the page or otherwise?
- I’m working on book 2! Pink Sand Summer is part of a universe. Each book will be from a different character’s perspective, so they’re all stand-alone stories, but it’s a whole world of characters that I’m building. We’re just getting started!
