Interview with L.L. McKinney, Author of A Blade So Black

L.L. McKinney is a writer, a poet, and an active member of the kidlit community. She’s an advocate for equality and inclusion in publishing, and the creator of the hashtag #WhatWoCWritersHear. She’s spent time in the slush by serving as a reader for agents and participating as a judge in various online writing contests. She’s also a gamer girl and an adamant Hei Hei stan. A Blade So Black is her debut novel. Twitter ◉ Instagram ◉ Facebook ◉ Website

 

 

 

About A Blade So Black:

What if Buffy fell down the rabbit hole instead of Alice?

Swords will shatter.

Hearts will break.

Heads will roll. . .

“A thrilling, timely novel.” — Kirkus

“An explosive, kickass debut!” — Booklist

A BLADE SO BLACK is available for pre-order!

Talk about one thing that’s making you happy right now. Being a writer. Seriously, I get to do what I love most in this world. Doesn’t get much better than that.

When you were a teenager, what did you think you’d be when you grew up? An astronaut. Seriously. I excelled in sciences and mathematics, I went to space camp, I was obsessed! Then, in the eighth grade I started getting headaches. They worsened over the period of a few weeks and when all was said and done, I needed glasses. You can’t be an astronaut if you wear glasses. I was heartbroken. Not about wearing glasses, I loved my glasses, but about the not being an astronaut thing.

What time of day do you love best? Nighttime. I stay up late much easier than I get up early. Even with a full night’s sleep, dragging myself out of bed is an ordeal.

Have you ever tried writing in a different genre? How did that turn out? I tried to write contemporary, I really did. Then a magic sword popped up and that was the end of that funny business. Maybe I’ll try it again, or maybe I’ll try something more science fictiony than fantasy. Who knows!

What three things would you want with you if stranded on a desert island? A gassed motorboat, a jug of water, and a functioning CB radio. I don’t get along with nature at the best of times, I’m not looking to get comfortable.

Author: Kaitlyn Sage Patterson

Kaitlyn Sage Patterson grew up with her nose in a book outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. After completing her M.F.A., she moved to South Korea, where she taught English and started writing her debut novel. THE DIMINISHED will be published by HarlequinTEEN in April 2018, followed by its sequel in 2019. When she's not staring off into space and trying to untangle some particularly troublesome plot point, she can be found in her kitchen, perfecting the most difficult recipe she can find; or at the barn, where she rides and trains dressage horses; or with her husband, spoiling their sweet rescue dogs.