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The DMS was lucky enough to interview C. Lee Mckenzie, author of the middle grade book The Great Timelock Disaster, sequel to Alligators Overhead. Lizzy recently reviewed this story, and it was great to share our thoughts about it and hear yours! We are excited for a quick Q & A with this author. So, without further ado... take it away, Lee!
Night owl or early bird?
Very early bird here! When I’m writing I’m up at 4AM. Ah, the quiet and cozy darkness of it all. A perfect time to concoct that next scene.
Physical books, ebooks, or audiobooks?
In order of preference: physical, ebooks, audiobooks. I love my ebook more on trips and less when I’m home. The one audio book I loved was Anansi Boys. The voice actor was amazing. That’s the only one I’d recommend, but I do have The Street of a Thousand Blossoms tucked away for a trip to Oregon in June. I’ll let you know how that one goes.
Cat person or alligator person?
Oh, now you’re asking me to make an extremely difficult choice. If I choose Cat, my alligators are going to threaten to boycott me again. If I choose Alligator, those cats are going to start their protest about how unfair I am to put reptiles into the cats' traditional role as familiars. Let me play the diplomat here and say that in my next book I’ll be a cat person for sure. (Give me a minute while I write a note to myself, so I won’t forget this promise.)
If you had a time machine would you go to the past or the future?
I’d be sorely tempted to go back and meet some people who either did great things or rotten things, and tell them what I thought of them and the consequences of what they did. As if my opinion counts, right? But I’d love to experience the past as it really was. I’m never sure we get the straight story in our history books.
Would you follow the rules like your character, Weasel? Or would you break them like Pete?
I’m kind of not a rule follower, but I hate the complications of breaking rules. You know, things like jail and fines take up valuable time and money. Pete knows this, too, but he can’t quite stop being Pete. I guess if maturity does set in, I’ll have to create another mischievous character who breaks rules.
Chocolate or vanilla?
How about vanilla with chocolate fudge on top? I want it all!
Coffee or tea?
Coffee. Tea for when I’m sick.
Cookies, cake, or ice cream?
Cookies. They’re so portable, and I find tiny crumbs on my keyboard for later when the cookies are all gone.
Beach or the mountains?
You drive a hard choice, here. I’ll go for mountains. Love the trees and creeks and caves. They entice me to explore.
Where do you like to write?
I write mostly on my computer at my desk. I edit a lot in the garden or on my deck where I can scream loudly without scaring my family. Editing is always emotional for me.
What are you working on now?
I’m at the beginning of Pete and Weasel’s next adventure. I’m EDITING a YA that is giving me fits (see the part about screaming above) and I’ve written about ten chapters of a new YA. I have no idea where any of these projects will wind up.
Click here to read more about C. Lee Mckenzie...
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