WELCOME MY GUEST AUTHOR, KEVIN MCNAMEE

Thanks for stopping by Kevin. You have so many different books ready to be published with Guardian Angel Publishing. We are very excited for your success!

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a writer and poet living in Yonkers, New York and I’ve been writing since I learned the alphabet. The first thing I remember writing is a poem in second grade. I always liked the creative writing assignments in school. As I grew up, I put writing on the back burner while I pursued other interests. But I discovered that the thing that I was getting the most recognition for at work was my writing (memos, proposals, instructions, etc.) Gradually I realized that I really was a writer. Writing has always been a central theme throughout my life.

To find out more about me, you can visit my website at http://www.kevinmcnamee.com or you can visit my blog at http://www,kevinmcnameechildrensauthor.blogspot.com/

What dream fulfilled would make you dance?

Cue the music, I’m already dancing. I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a kid and I’m finally seeing that happen. I am, who I always wanted to be.

How would you describe your style of writing?

Most of my work consists of children’s picture books. Picture books by their very nature need to be short and to the point. Every word needs to move the story along. I do try to incorporate humor into my work whenever possible. I also try to write my children’s stories on multiple levels so there’s something entertaining for the parents to read as well. My goal is to create a story that children and adults would want to read together.

Can you tell us which is the most interesting book that you have
written and why?

I don’t know if I could single out any one of my books as the most interesting. To me, all of my stories were interesting, even the ones that I realized are unfixable. It’s all helped me to hone my craft and to become a better writer.

How do you come up with your characters?

Usually, I come up with a storyline first and then I create characters to fit the story. Being that I write picture books, my characters are action driven. Illustrations will show the characters’ physical characteristics and their surroundings. So I don’t really focus on those aspects. But I am very focused on the character’s behavior.

How do you come up with your stories?

All of my stories answer the question “What if?” Sometimes, I’ll overhear something that will start the ball rolling. Other times, I’ll just let my mind wander and a good idea will pop into it. When I was a child, I was a constant daydreamer and I still am. So, that seems to work in my favor when it comes to writing.

Do you have a favorite character?

I don’t think that I have a favorite. Every story that I’ve written had a character that behaved differently because that’s what the story called for. Some were silly and some were serious and they were meant to make you laugh or cry depending on what the story was about.

What projects are you working on now?

Right now, I’m trying to revise a rhyming picture book that I’ve been working on. I also have two other prose picture books that I brought to the writers’ intensive at the SCBWI Winter Conference. I received some great feedback on these manuscripts and I’m in the process of revising them as well. For the uninitiated, SCBWI stands for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating
your books?

How some stories take on a life of their own. More than once, my stories have taken a path that I didn’t originally choose for them. Sometimes I decide that a character wouldn’t act a certain way or take a certain course of action, and I wind up exploring the unknown along with my characters.

Which of your books is available now? Where can we buy it?

Unfortunately, my books aren’t available yet. I have six picture books under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. I expect my first book, The Sister Exchange, to be released within the next few months, and my next book, If I Could Be Anything, to be released by the end of the year.

Thank you for your contribution to the children's book market. We are all looking forward to the release of your books. Good luck.

KATHY STEMKE'S WEBSITES:
http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com