Author Interview: C. Lee McKenzie

For my review of The Princess of Las Pulgas, click here
For a chance to win a copy of the book, click here!

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How did it feel when you first found out that you were going to be published? 

Before or after I fainted? I suppose like anyone first being accepted into the published world, I got very excited, then I pinched myself because I didn’t believe that email could be for real. I think I read that letter a hundred times and kept saying, “Really? They want to publish my book?”

Do you have a favorite character from Princess of Las Pulgas? Who and why? 

That’s hard, kind of like a Sophie’s Choice. They’re all my darlings, but if I had to choose one, I’d take Carlie. She’s a bit of a “princess,” but she’s really just tying to protect herself while she gets used to being in a strange place without friends. Also she’s still trying to recover from the loss of her dad. I like her because even when she makes mistakes, she learns from them and grows up quite a bit during her story.

What would you say is the "secret" of creating believable, realistic characters? 

Listen to them. They’ll tell you when you’re off base. I often read their dialog out loud too. That helps to keep their voices true to their character.

When the reader finishes Princess of Las Pulgas, what do you want them to take away from it?

I’d like for them to recognize the importance of family. When the Edmunds lose everything, they still have each other, and even though they’re at odds and have disagreements, in the end, they come together.