We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mackenzie Knight a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mackenzie , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

The easy answer is I hope people remember my stories. There is a lot more to it than that though. I have multiple pen names and while my thrillers and suspense are my passion, another name focus on making a difference. I speak on subjects like Domestic Violence and PTSD awareness and even did a charity bicycle ride across Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica raising money and awareness for organizations connected to my PTSD book collection. I hope my stories live on after me, but I hope some of them help reach people who understand those topics and know they are not alone.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started writing stories and short poems in elementary school. Like most creatives, I started young because it was simply a part of who I am, and always has been. I kept writing, eventually publishing in 2014 under my first pen name Renee Jean, and have kept going ever since.

I am currently working on my 13th book overall. It is the first in a 4 book thriller series and am about to release book 2 in another suspense thriller series. A big part of what makes me different is my exploration of multiple series and genres / sub-genres simultaneously. I am always willing to try something new and love taking my readers on a journey. The escape is huge to me because writing, and reading before that, have always been a form of therapy to me.

As mentioned in the previous question, I completed a charity bike ride connected to my PTSD book collection. That particular accomplishment was a once in a lifetime adventure, but more importantly, allowed me to share my story. As someone diagnosed at the age of 22, I did my best to hide what I thought was wrong with me. However, through writing those books and being a part of the author community, I have found so many who understand and relate to my story. They have opened up and taken strength from me doing so. their belief and shared experiences have driven me to keep sharing my own pain and working to heal a little every day.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

The biggest resource I have found has been other writers. We all have our own strengths and weaknesses but understanding what it is you struggle with can make it easier to find those who may have mastered that skill. Going to places like writer’s conferences and taking advantage of the ability to meet other professionals and aspiring writers can open doors you didn’t even know existed. My first conference I was blown away by all the things I didn’t know that I didn’t know. People were asking questions based on information I wasn’t aware of and just that had me taking notes all day. Once I identified some new things I wanted to learn and get better at, those paths opened new avenues to keep learning. Eventually I met someone who was where I had been a few years earlier and was given the chance to share my experiences with them. Knowing what you want to learn, as well as the courage to say “I need help with this” has been vital to my growth as an author.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

While I believe the story of my bike ride demonstrates perseverance and dedication, another would relate to the book I am currently working on. The current W.I.P. or Work In Progress is the first of a 4 book thriller series I began almost a decade ago. When I attended my first writer’s conference I was so sure this book was my ticket to a traditional publisher I sent it to one of the attending acquisition editors. I was excited for the feedback and sure an offer of representation would follow. I could not have been more wrong. She tore the provided pages apart. Everything I thought was done well was questioned and there was so much more. She took almost double the allotted time to explain all the things I had done wrong. I nearly left a full day early because I was mortified. I didn’t leave. I stayed and kept networking because I figured I may as well get something out of it.

There were beta readers who had liked the premise of the book but after that encounter I put it away for a long time. However, when the initial hurt of the comments had faded, I looked back at it as constructive criticism. I learned from what she told me and have used that advice to improve my writing overall. I kept pitching the book to agents and publishers anytime I got the chance. I was always told no but given things to work on. Recently I gave it another try. I practiced what to say, made it concise and as appealing as I could, then walked in with confidence and told my tale. The agent, for the first time, was interested. I am now polishing it up to send off with the potential for actual representation and a path toward having some of my work with a traditional publisher. I never gave up even though I took a mental health break. I learned to look at things with a more professional and objective eye and it paid off.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.writingforces.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_mackenzieknight/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091268562813

Image Credits

Victoria Kaer – graphic designer