KJ Kyle is the pen name of J Hall, author of the award-winning nonfiction book College Unpacked: A Practical Guide to Choosing, Preparing for, and Excelling in College, recipient of the 2026 Oklahoma Writers' Federation Award for Published Non-Fiction Book. He is also the host of The Okie Bookcast, a literary podcast featuring author interviews, reviews, and recommendations, with more than 150 episodes released since 2021. A community college dean with more than twenty years of experience in higher education, he drew on his experiences in podcasting and the book community to create the world of THE NEXT LAST WORD.