Ask the Author: McKinley Aspen
Answered Questions (14)
McKinley Aspen
Great question! The Spanish version of Praesidium will be available within the next three weeks or so, and then a German version will also be available at some point in the next 8-10 weeks. Tell you friends!
McKinley Aspen
Whoville (you know ... "Picture the tiniest houses
and grocery stores. Tiny umbrellas that drip
on the tiniest floors. The tiniest tunnels and tiniest streets. Miniature buses with miniature seats. Miniature buildings with
miniature windows and doors!
and grocery stores. Tiny umbrellas that drip
on the tiniest floors. The tiniest tunnels and tiniest streets. Miniature buses with miniature seats. Miniature buildings with
miniature windows and doors!
McKinley Aspen
I crept down the stairs, only to find my bowl empty.
The horror of it all.
The horror of it all.
McKinley Aspen
While McKinley tends to like to read things like Nantucket Summer (Phyllis Green), Like Lions (Brian Panowich) and I Wrote This For You (Iain S. Thomas) I am leaning more towards Hardscrabble Road (George Weinstein) and Because of the Night (Rue L'Hommedieu).
McKinley Aspen
Otis says the most important mystery is the case of the missing bone ...
McKinley Aspen
I like to chew in my antler in the screen porch while McKinley is writing. I do, though, take breaks and jump up for petting and snuggling occasionally just to break up the day. When the family watches Cardinal baseball I enjoy Waino when he pitches. I will miss Pujols and Molina because they were fun to watch - their love the game was really inspiring to me! Follow McKinley on Instagram where I post my “Otis book reviews”. Thanks for writing. Otis
McKinley Aspen
Hi John - great question! Yes, this is my first published novel. there is currently a Goodreads giveaway for a free ebook version, and the audio book comes out in two weeks. Book two will be out in July 2023. Have a great day!
McKinley Aspen
Playing with Otis, watching a movie or baseball with my family, cleaning the kitchen - anything that will pre-occupy me and allow me to get out of whatever is blocking me. Sometimes I have found that writers block come because I know what I want to say but I don't want to say it - so maybe a character needs to do XYZ but I am not ready to write that part ... it's the story that sometimes will stop itself and cause the block - until I am ready to allow the character to go through an experience on the page ...
McKinley Aspen
It's something I can do anywhere at any time. It takes courage, and stamina, and oftentimes when you wake up in the middle of the night with an idea in your head you have to just get up and put it on the page so be flexible with yourself and be kind to yourself so you can honor when those creative things happen so you can respond.
McKinley Aspen
Write Write Write. Even if you are writing technical documents, marketing reports, or creating nonprofit ads and event flyers, every little thing you do helps you hone your craft. And, don't let anyone tell you that you are doing it WRONG. There is no right or wrong when it comes to art - and writing is an art. You just have to believe in your story, your characters and your goal and continue to move forward. There will be people who don't like it - because art is highly subjective - but don't let that destroy you. My goal has always been IF ONE PERSON LIKES IT THEN IT IS SUCCESSFUL and so that, in itself, makes my spirit soar.
McKinley Aspen
I am finalizing the editing of Book Two for the Shadows in the Wind series. The book is called COGITATIO (which means REFLECTION in Latin). Remember, Book One is called PRAESIDIUM (which means PROTECTION).
McKinley Aspen
Otis and I will go for a walk and sometimes it just hits me ... inspiration is all around us ... my family can inspire me just by what they say or do ... you never know where inspiration will come from so be ready and on alert!
McKinley Aspen
My ideas come from a variety of places and they all seem to mesh together into one colossal story ... for Praesidium the basic idea came from seeing people in the world who were chaotic, not realizing that hope was still alive no matter what ... that set off a chain of events which created this mystery action-adventure ...
McKinley Aspen
Genovia because I think that it is just magical
I also have an affection for Oz as well as Florin
I also have an affection for Oz as well as Florin
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