Author Interview & Giveaway: Kenna McKinnon - author of SpaceHive

There's a buzz in the air—and it's deadly…

After getting kidnapped by giant alien bees, twelve-year-old Jason Anderson is transported to a spaceship called SpaceHive. There, he learns of a horrifying plot to annihilate Earth's human population so that extraterrestrial bees and wasps can migrate to a new world.

As a swarm of spaceships make a beeline toward Earth, Jason must convince three friendly worker bees to help him escape his space prison and find other humans to aid in his mission to stop the invasion. But General Vard, wasp commander of the Black Watch, has other plans.

Can Jason unite the nations of Earth in their common fight to destroy these alien invaders? Or will Earth be lost to the sting of conspiracy and a worldwide massacre?

Errl, an alien Sasquatch teen from Planet X, visits Earth on a MiddleSchool research trip with his classmates and a kind but absentminded alien teacher, who accidentally leaves Errl behind when their airpod crashes on Earth. Errl is not fond of school and has no plans for his future. Errl is rather clumsy and doesn't like water. When his classmates go for a swim Errl leaves for the forest, promising to come back before the rescue ship is due to pick them up. He is confused and doesn't make it back to the ship on time. Errl is left alone to fend for himself on Earth and try to make his way back to the rescue ship when it is scheduled to return in ten Terra days. He becomes lost and disoriented, and frightens a group of Cub Scouts. Errl becomes separated from his classmates and confronts a hostile Cub Scout leader in the woods, who tries to shoot him. The Scout leader fires on him and Errl runs. He runs to a river and tries to swim across to escape. Hungry, exhausted, cold and tired, he is pulled downriver by the current. He is swept over a waterfall and spends the night in a mud cave at the side of the river.  He finds a trapper's cabin in the woods and is discovered by the trapper, whose name is Joe Locke. He runs and stumbles into a small town called Parsnip Creek. The men of the town have formed a posse to hunt him down.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Read the novel…Bigfoot Boy: Lost on Earth, published November 18, 2013 by Mockingbird Lane Press. Author Kenna McKinnon

Kenna McKinnon is the author of SpaceHive, a middle grade sci-fi/fantasy novel traditionally

published by Imajin Books; The Insanity Machine, a self-published memoir with co-author

Austin Mardon, PhD, CM; and DISCOVERY – A Collection of Poetry, all released in 2012.

BIGFOOT BOY: Lost on Earth, was released on October 30, 2013 by Mockingbird Lane Press, a traditional small press. A children's chapter book, Benjamin & Rumblechum, will be published by Mockingbird Lane Press in late 2014. Her books are available in eBook and paperback worldwide on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and in selected bookstores and public libraries. Her interests / hobbies include occasional runner, volunteer, sporadic student of hatha yoga, karate and kickboxing, weightlifting, and frequent walker. She lives in a high-rise bachelor suite in the trendy neighborhood of Oliver in the City of Edmonton. Her most memorable years were spent at the University of Alberta, where she graduated with Distinction with a degree in Anthropology (1975). She has lived successfully with schizophrenia for many years and is a member of the Writers' Guild of Alberta and the Canadian Authors Association. She has three wonderful children and three grandsons.

|Kenna's Author Website|Facebook|Twitter|Goodreads|

FMM: Are any of your traits similar to the ones of your characters?

KM: Yes, I would say Jason is independent and can get along on his own without 

parental supervision, which I often did as a child / youth. He is much braver than I am, 

though, and much more skilled in science and modern technology. The boy Joey in Bigfoot Boy: Lost on Earth faced bullying, which I did also as a child and even into my adult years. I'm going to work with Grade Fives in an elementary school in Alberta, in May, on this topic. Hunny, the female Bigfoot, is a bit obstreperous, which I can be. I'm also a caring person, which I hope shows up in my characters.

FMM: How long did it take you to write SpaceHive? What obstacles did you face?

KM: It took me approximately five years to write SpaceHive, including the editing. 

I originally wrote it as an adult book and it was much longer, but was convinced by 

the publisher of Imajin Books to rewrite it to a young adult/middle grade style. She 

eventually accepted the book to publish it in 2012. The primary obstacle I faced is promotion. I love to write but my promotion skills  need attention. Lack of experience was another obstacle faced while I was doing the original writing and then the edits.

FMM: Do you have a specific writing style?

KM: I would say I've developed a specific writing style. My themes are often universal 

in scope with a subtle moral or lesson to them, and my mood is usually optimistic and 

hopeful. I'll leave it to my readers to discover what it is about my writing style they  recognize and like.

FMM: What is your favorite genre/theme to write?

KM: I think so far my favorite genre has been science fiction or fantasy, with a hint of the  supernatural. My theme is often that of universal salvation and hope.

FMM: How long does it take you to edit and finalize a book into a publishing worthy state?

KM: I now have a professional editor, Morgen Bailey of the UK, and Judith Hansen in 

Michigan. It takes about six months to edit and finalize a book, but it took me longer to  finalize SpaceHive. It was my debut novel and needed a lot of input from my publisher,  Cheryl Tardif, who was extremely helpful.

FMM: What is the best part about being an author?

KM: I love to write and that is the best part. Also the independence it affords. I can write at home and at any hour of the day or night, and do what I love.

FMM: Have you ever despised any of your writing? 

KM: No, I looked at some of my original novels and they needed years of experience, and much of my earlier poetry was naïve, but I loved them at the time and in many ways, I do enjoy my own work.

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