Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Kenna McKinnon is a freelance writer since 2010 and self-employed home based medical transcriptionist (1999), occasional runner and boxer, and frequent walker. She lives alone in a high rise studio suite in the quaint neighborhood of Oliver in the City of Edmonton. Her most memorable years were spent at the University of Alberta, where she somehow managed to graduate with a degree in Anthropology despite the beginning signs of paranoid schizophrenia, at which time she self-exploded in public.
She has lived successfully with schizophrenia for many years and is now a senior woman, member of the Writer’s Guild of Alberta, the Children’s Book Insider, and the Canadian Author’s Association. She had three wonderful children and three grandsons.
I have written SpaceHive, DISCOVERY – An Anthology of Poetry, The Insanity Machine, Benjamin and Rumblechum (unpublished), Den of Dark Angels (unpublished), a short story collection soon to come out on eBook in honor of my son, Steve, who loved Science Fiction, and my unedited mystery novel Red Herrings. 7 books to look for in the future later this year.
Kenna is the author of SpaceHive, a young adult sci-fi/fantasy novel; The Insanity Machine, a memoir with the latest research available at the time of writing; and DISCOVERY – An Anthology of Poetry, all released in 2012. All are available in eBook and paperback on Amazon worldwide.
Her author’s blog: http://kennamckinnon.blogspot.com
Twitter: @KennaMcKinnon
Facebook: KennaMcKinnonAuthor
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
SpaceHive is the name of my latest traditionally published book, and it was inspired by a summer in my friend’s garden when I was stung on the ankle repeatedly by a wasp, then later she was also stung and went into anaphylactic shock. I thought at the time, what if giant alien wasps and bees attacked earth and threatened to eliminate humanity? Thus the idea was born. It ended up as a young adult sci-fi novel, much shorter than the original adult novel I had planned, thanks to the careful advice and guidance of my eventual publisher, Imajin Books.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I often write at night and eat jam sandwiches at 3 o’clock in the morning, and nap during the day or stay up for 24 hours. I often edit as I go along. I don’t like the radio playing while I’m writing. I find it distracting. I sometimes don’t answer the phone while I’m writing. I don’t know if that’s unusual. I write sober. I don’t know if that’ s unusual, either.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The old masters like Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, and Isaac Asimov, as well as Greg Bear’s Eon, Margaret Atwood’s ascerbic wit and wordcraft, Margaret Laurence’s character development and gentle international spirit, motivational books and Writer’s Markets, which give advice as well as sites to find publishers and agents. I haven’t found a publisher or agent through writer’s markets, though. An author named Alison Bruce referred me to my first traditional publisher, Cheryl Tardif of Imajin Books, and I’m grateful to her for that. Another author named Eileen Schuch has been very encouraging in regard to promotion and encouragement. Many more too numerous to mention.
What are you working on now?
A mystery novel starring a schizophrenic female private eye who lives on a float house on an island in British Columbia, Canada. I’m finished the first draft and it’s with Beta readers, also needs editing and a publisher.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My blog/website http://kennamckinnon.blogspot.com then I tweet the blogs and put them on FB. I’m slowly growing my blog by using keywords but not focusing exclusively on SEO, and I try to provide quality content.
SpaceHive will be 99 cents on Amazon from May 3 – 10, 2013 inclusive. Look for it there, I’m promoting it on my blog and on FB, with prizes to be won and a launch on FB on May 3. I’m also running some guest blogs that week. BIG SALE.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read a lot in your genre and other genres, listen to advice (you’re not Stephen King), edit, edit, edit, if you’re self published hire a graphic designer for your book cover, a proofreader to catch typos and grammatical errors, and an editor to make it the best possible book you can. Join social media groups and create networks rather than shout BUY MY BOOK. That doesn’t go over well. You must develop relationships first.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Life is an adventure and if it isn’t an adventure then it’s nothing.
What are you reading now?
The Leopard Tree, Flat-Out Love, various motivational books, and Cinder, a book I must finish for a Goodreads reading club I belong to.
What’s next for you as a writer?
More workshops and writer’s conferences as I hone my new found skills with other authors. I’m going to a writer’s conference the end of May 2013 which will be attended by editors, publishers, and agents, and hope to learn a lot. I belong to the Canadian Authors Association and will be attending meetings once a month beginning in September again. I also find the Writer’s Guild of Alberta a valuable organization, and I belong to that as well. I’m keeping an eye on Access Copyright.
I hope to learn more about publishing and marketing and promoting. I’m working on my next novel, a mystery called “Red Herrings” and will be editing it, as well, have a book of short stories to work on in memory of my son Steve, who passed away in September 2012 from esophageal/stomach cancer. Also have a couple of other novels I need to find publishers for.
What is your favorite book of all time?
The Brain That Changes Itself by Dr. Norman Doidge
Author Websites and Profiles
Kenna McKinnon Website
Kenna McKinnon Amazon Profile
Kenna McKinnon Barnes and Noble Profile
Kenna McKinnon’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account