At CCA, we often highlight picture books. However, the category of children’s books spans board books to young adult. (My own YA novel, Inside the Ten-Foot Line releases on September 20^th.) When I met Kelli McKinney, whose debut MG novel Jeff Pennant’s Field Guide to Raising Happy Parents releases October 1^st, I simply had to interview her.

Why does your book appeal to both general and Christian audiences?

When I started writing, my only goal was to tell a story grounded in the importance of family – the good, the not-so-good, and all the in between moments. The readers I envisioned were kids who needed reassurance that they were loved through their struggles. That’s a universal need, which makes the story appealing to readers in both audiences. 

Your book is hilarious. What inspired you? Were any of the events based on real experience? 

This may sound weird, but I wasn’t actually trying to be funny! Any humor was purely accidental. I just tried to think of the most uncomfortable or awkward scenarios to put this poor character in and let him guide me through it. None of the events were based on actual experiences, which is truly a blessing, when I think about it. One minor detail was mildly inspired by real life, though. When I was a kid, my dad went on a work trip to Maine and brought home a live lobster. It was supposed to be for dinner, but my siblings and I asked if we could keep it in the bathtub for a while. 

You use poetry in your book. Why?

Even though this story is in Jeff’s point of view, I wanted to give readers a deeper look at his thought process and feelings as he navigates his problems. Poetry seemed like the perfect avenue for that, and the 5-7-5 pattern of haiku fit Jeff’s personality. 

What challenges did you face on the way to publication? What is the biggest take away you can offer other writers? 

This book has been a joy to write, even when the words didn’t come easily. The most significant struggle I faced was a health issue in the middle of the revision process. I had set deadlines for myself – revisions completed by X date, queries completed by Y date, things like that.  But because of my physical challenges, I had to re-adjust my expectations. All of my self-imposed deadlines went out the window and I had to be okay with that. Because when it comes down to it, all of the timing, all of the results belong to God, and He is good. Small progress is still progress, and all of it is a gift. We writers will always have challenges of some kind, but if we stay faithful and do the best we can, we can trust God will do more than we ever imagined.

How can a reader purchase your book? Do you offer speaking events?

Jeff Pennant’s Field Guide to Raising Happy Parents is available at chickenscratchbooks.com, Amazon.com, or Barnes & Noble. For homeschoolers, Chicken Scratch’s website has an online novel study guide developed by teaching professionals. These are wonderful supplements to language arts curricula. I’m available to speak to young readers/writers or writers groups. If interested, use the Contact Me form on my website at kellimckinney.com.

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By Lori Z. Scott