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Interview with Kate McPhail

Published 2018-01-08.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
I wrote stories for my children when they were learning to read. My first stories were mostly about things we did as a family. Later, I began writing stories about my childhood and a career was born.
How do you approach cover design?
I try to "see" the story setting and find or design my covers with a picture which best depicts the setting or theme of each book.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in a small town. I think this has influenced my writing because most of my settings are small towns. I don't really enjoy big cities and neither do my characters!
When did you first start writing?
I always loved writing while I went to school. I never really thought about being an author until I became a teacher and read many children's books that I felt were poorly written or too preachy. I started writing more seriously after telling many stories to my children.
What's the story behind your latest book?
I wanted to write a book to help a grand daughter overcome her bullies. I wanted to write a strong female character who learns that bullies can be beat, with or without magic!
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
I write for myself and then share my stories with others. I grew up in a family of readers, with a father who was a great story-teller, so being able to see my stories in print brings me a great feeling of satisfaction. I also love to bring the joy of reading to others and share my books with children of all ages.
What are you working on next?
I am planning a third mystery story in my series and will probably add a second or third book to my fantasy book. I also have several children's books waiting for illustrations.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
When I am not writing, I enjoy playing violin in a strings group, or playing guitar. I enjoy spending time in my garden and working on decorating my home. I also spend time reading books, many written by people from my writer's group.
What do you read for pleasure?
I love a variety of genres. I read mysteries, especially the "old" ones like Agatha Christie or Earl Stanley Gardener. I sometimes enjoy fantasy or science fiction and always try to keep up with the latest children's books.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I have a Kindle, but am considering trying other types to see what else is available!
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Books by This Author

Short Shorts by
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 7,760. Language: American English. Published: February 15, 2018 . Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Fiction, Fiction » Educational
Many of these stories were responses to online word prompts or contests. While putting these stories together, I learned many things: a picture can generate a tale with a twist; a setting or mood can generate a sci-fi fantasy; a list of random words can generate random adventures; and childhood memories can turn into fun stories.
Missing Person ~ 911! by
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 12,100. Language: English. Published: March 3, 2018 . Categories: Nonfiction » Sports & outdoor recreation » Hiking, Nonfiction » Sports & outdoor recreation » Equipment & Supplies
The early morning call tells me there is a 12 year old boy lost in the woods! As I jump out of bed, I think of the time when I received a similar message about my own son. Will I be able to help some frantic parents with their fear and pain? Will our well-trained search and rescue teams be able to find this inexperienced child before it is too late?