Meet Mackenzie Crowne

Time for another Adventure in Authorland. This time, fellow Wild Rose Press author, Mackenzie Crowne,  takes centre stage.

Sorry about the pics, Mac  

 What inspired you to write your first book?

To tell you the truth, I began writing down the stories in my head when I read one too many, really bad books. I figured, geez! If this person got published, I shouldn’t have a problem. How naïve I was. LOL But once I’d begun, I found I couldn’t stop writing, despite the occasional rejection letter. I forged ahead with an ‘Ignorance is bliss’ attitude, and I’m so glad I did. I spent the next years developing my voice and learning the craft. I hit a writer’s block wall when my dad died, and didn’t write for nearly five years, until I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Dad’s spirit was heavy with me as I went through the various, nasty treatments, and I swear at one point, he chastised me for walking away from something I love. As soon as I felt well enough to think clearly, I began writing in earnest. Gift of the Realm was the first story in my renewed effort. 

 Do you see writing as a career?

 I’d love to say, yes, I do, but I know how competitive the industry is. I also know myself. If I allow myself to get bogged down by the concept of writing as a business, I’m afraid I’ll eventually burn out. Losing my love of writing would be like losing a part of my soul. So, while I won’t gripe over any financial success I find through my writing, I continue to focus on telling my stories for the simple joy of the process.

 In which genre do you prefer to write and why?

 I prefer to write contemporary romance, as those are the stories I reach for most often when I want to be entertained. However, any genre in romance does it for me, as long as the characters are engaging and the story is an interesting one. While most of my stories are contemporaries, I do have a couple of suspense manuscripts tucked away in a drawer. Gift of the Realm is the only fantasy I’ve attempted. I find it amusing my odd departure gained me my first contract, but satisfying too, since I wrote the story with Dad in mind. He always loved a good fantasy tale.

 Can you give us some details about your upcoming release/s?

 My next release is a light-hearted contemporary romance. THAT DATING THING, available the first week of June, is a love story set against the backdrop of Wall Street greed. Sounds odd, I know, but I love the juxtaposition of financial crimes and heart-warming romance. Add a thirty million dollar inheritance, a rambunctious Great Dane, and a sexy, assistant district attorney with political ambitions, and Rylee Pierce, the only daughter of Wall Street’s most notorious stock swindler, is in for the ride of her life.

 Have you ever travelled to a place and come away with a story unexpectedly?

 All the time. Gift of the Realm came from a visit to our ranch on the side of Mt Graham near the New Mexico border. My husband and I were headed to the ranch one night when I spotted a beam of light off in the distance. Someone must have crested a hill in their vehicle, because suddenly, the twin beams shot up into the sky like a door of light only to disappear a moment later. Just don’t ask me how I went from a door of light to a fairy door within a ring of stones, because even I can’t explain the path of my imagination on that one.

 If you could have any super hero power, what would it be?

 The power to heal. As a breast cancer survivor, I wouldn’t’t wish the treatment necessary to beat the disease on my worst enemy. Wouldn’t’t it be awesome to cure those women facing mastectomies and poisonous treatments before they had to actually experience them?

Tell us something about yourself, Mac

I’m a wife, mother, and grandmother. My husband and I have been blessed with two rambunctious little boys who we managed to raise into wonderful men without any disfiguring mishaps. Dirt bikes and ESPN are the order around our house, and life at the ‘Testosterone Ranch’ more closely resembles one of today’s wacky reality shows, than yesterday’s Leave It To Beaver. I’m one of eight kids, raised just north of Boston. My childhood was blessed with hordes of family and friends and I’m happy to report, that continues to be true today. I moved to Phoenix as an adult because living in the southwest feeds my soul. My love of books, specifically the romance genre, has been a lifelong affair, both as a reader and a writer. A bout with breast cancer sharpened my resolve to see my stories shared with others. As of today, I am a four-year survivor, living my dream.

My friends call me Mac. I hope you will too.

You can find me @ Mackenziecrowne.com

 Twitter & Facebook

Gift of the Realm is available @ The Wild Rose Press& Amazon