Interview with C. Lee McKenzie 5 September, 2012

C. Lee McKenzie

When did you first decide you wanted to write?

I have to honestly say I don’t know. I just always wrote something: diaries, notebooks, notes in margins of books, ideas for titles on the back of grocery receipts. Writing is just what I’ve always done. I only started to put out the fiction I wrote for others to read starting in 2009. I think I’m addicted!

Absolutely. Writing can be very private, very personal. Now, since I’ve been sharing writing and critiquing for a while that’s not a problem. I write for others to read, so I’ve gone over a major hurdle.

I’m very fond of contemporary realistic young adult fiction, but I also love middle grade fiction that has some fantasy and adventure in the story. I think those middle grade years are so wonderful: kids are just on the verge of the teen years, struggling to fit in and not sure what kind of critters they really are.

I read a lot of non-fiction. I know. I know. I write fiction, so why do I love non-fiction? I don’t know. I just do. But I read fiction as well. I’m very fond of historical fiction. And there I go again. I don’t write historical fiction, but I read it. Maybe I just like to read what I don’t write. Still I read my friends’ books and a lot of them write YA and MG. That’s always exciting–to know someone and to read what they write.

Not one, but about a zillion. F. Scott Fitzgerald, S. E. Hinton, Steinbeck, E.B. White. Every time I answer this question I think I add a few new author names to the list. Our world is filled with wonderful and compelling writers. I just can’t seem to say one is my favorite.

That’s a hard question to answer. I’ve written about issues that grabbed at my heart: cutting, suicide, death and loss. I do have a couple of stories that I have almost ready to go out. These are about issues that I haven’t tackled before: abuse is one and the other is about a fragmented family and its secrets.

I love hot fudge sundaes. Is that silly? I try to have at last one major hot fudge sundae session a year and I mean a major one. I want real ice cream, absolutely the fudgiest fudge topping available, nuts galore and, if possible, two maraschino cherries. After I gorge myself on that I can wait another year. . . so can my waistline.

Interesting. You’re the second interviewer to ask me that question. The first time I had to give this a lot of thought. Now I have my answer. He’s not a main character, but he’s one that I’d like to explore more. He appeared in my first book, Sliding on the Edge. His name is Kenny and he’s a Vietnam vet with a lot tragedy in his past and a huge heart. If I ever get around to it, I’d like to create a story and dig deeper into Kenny.

No. My characters come from so many composites that if I tried to explain who they reminded me of, I’d fail . . .totally. Even if I start with a person in mind, s/he’s soon lost and the character takes on a life of his or her own.

Spaghetti. I love the slurping part, you know, when you get to slurp those noodles through your lips. I only do that when I’m alone, mind you. And I feel so sneaky and so pleased with myself because I was never allowed to do that when I was little. Free to do whatever I please with my spaghetti noodles at last!

Well, since I was ten and read The Last of the Mohicans, I’ve always had a crush on Hawkeye. I’d like to meet him.

Aspire away and enjoy the process. Even when things aren’t going the way you’d like, take a moment and figure out what you’re learning from the situation you’re in at the moment.

Thank you, Emily. I’ve enjoyed answering your questions. Lee