McKensie Stewart is a native of Columbia, South Carolina where she attended Columbia College. Currently, she is an educator, fictional novelist and entrepreneur living in Charlotte, North Carolina. McKensie enjoys long walks on the beach with her Yorkshire Terrier, Jewel, when she isn’t terrifying and romancing her readers. Presently, she is working on her next novel.
Marina Raydun: How old were you when you wrote your very first work of fiction?
McKensie Stewart: Actually, I wrote my first book 2 years ago so well into my 40’s which proves you are never too old to try something new.
MR: If you could tell your younger writing self-anything, what would it be?
MS: I didn’t know I had a gift to write so I would say if you want to write, try it and see where your imagination takes you.
MR: What does literary success look like to you?
MS: Selling books. I measure success on selling books and to tell my story in the number of books I write.
MR: What do you owe real life people upon whom you base your characters?
MS: All the characters in my books are totally made up so they aren’t based on anyone. I am blessed to have an imagination to create the characters to be believable and people are drawn to them.
MR: What’s the most difficult part about writing characters from the opposite sex?
MS: I don’t see writing a character of an opposite sex as a challenge I write about what the person is doing, and the sex doesn’t matter.
MR: What did you edit out of your book?
MS: I only edit the words/sentences that turn the reader away from understanding or following the story. I don’t want to do more telling that will bore the reader.
MR: What’s the best and worst book review you’ve ever received?
MS: I continue to try to receive reviews, so I have a balance of feedback. So, the answer is I haven’t received a negative book review.
MR: If you could cast your characters in a Hollywood adaption of your book, who would play your characters?
MS: Because of how evil Meryl Streep character played in Big Little Lies, Mary Louise Wright, hands down she would play Kyndall. I love Meryl Streep in this role.
MR: What is your favorite genre to read?
MS: It is easier to tell you what I don’t like to read—it is Sci-Fi.
MR: Are there any books you’ve read over and over again?
MS: I can ready anything James Patterson.
To learn more about McKensie Stewart, please visit: www.McKensieStewart.com
For McKensie Stewart’s books, visit: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=shattered+an+emily+graham+novel
From McKensie Stewart:
Please join me Friday’s at 5:00 pm EST on the FBRN.US, The Writer’s Edge Radio with McKensie Stewart www.fbrn.us
I host The After Show with McKensie Stewart and Amy Shannon on Blog Talk Radio
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/wetheaftershow/podcast