Hi! I’m C. Lee McKenzie, and
I write fiction and non-fiction
in adult, middle grade and young adult categories.
Yes, I’m published. That’s why I behave the way I do.
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Do you do anything in addition to writing?
I edit a lot of writing. That way I know I’m not the only author who screws up on stuff like punctuation and word choice, and then manages to produce awful writing bits. That soothes my writerly spirit.
I take care of a garden that’s far bigger than I thought it should be, but I got carried away with my machete, so I’m up to half an acre with ponds and stuff.
I do the publicity for our Friends of the Library board and maintain their website.
Otherwise, I do what most people do. I muddle through.
Tell us a little about yourself.
About me and food:
Pasta. I could not live without pasta. Then there’s shrimp. The world would end if shrimp ever ended. I mean apocalypse, Baby. Dill pickles come to mind when I think of love and food together. My grandmother’s influence.
As to what I do, I have a couple of other passions besides eating. Yoga. I never wanted to give up standing on my head because when I was kid, the world made more sense that way. It still does. ergo, Yoga. Hiking. I could not go a week without a good hike. Fortunately, I’ve arranged not to miss one. Then Travel. I have the itchy foot of a nomad. Next month I’m taking off again and returning to Southeast Asia, one of my favorite parts of the world–besides California of course.
I have absolutely no quirks. Ask anyone who knows me. Just don’t ask my husband, okay?
What are you reading right now?
I downloaded Providence by Lisa Colozza Cocca. She visited my blog this week, and I wanted to read her book. I recently indulged in some old classics to revisit books I’d read at a younger age. Malmud still terrified me, and Bradbury kind of disappointed me.
Which authors influenced you the most?
Which authors influenced you the most?
I’m a H.S. Hinton fan and a Margaret Atwood worshipper, with Barbar Kingsolver on her heels. I’ve always loved E.B White’s fiction and essays. He made me think more about important things such as simple life moments. There are so many authors that influenced me, that each time I answer this question I think, “How can I do this?” I was influenced by hundreds of people who wrote brilliantly. I can’t set them all down here.
Where can people connect with you?
I’m HERE, of course.
And you can go through my amazing, brilliant WEBSITE (I’m not modest when it comes to my website, but don’t tell.)
I’m a TWITTER nut. @cleemckenzie is my handle, and I have an ongoing love-hate relationship with facebook and goodreads
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| VIKLIT |
This week I celebrate this new HOP and some new FRIENDS.
Southeast Asia sounds very exciting! I've always wanted to go.
<3
Yum pasta. I'm currently dieting, so don't talk to me about pasta! 😉
Fun getting to know these things about you! I love hiking and yoga. I did a 30 day yoga challenge last month that had me feeling wonderful! And taught me quite a bit so I could sort of self-govern the yoga daily without having to watch a video or attend one.
Time in the woods is essential for the health of my soul as well. Certain parts of my brain only function when I'm surrounded by trees and can't hear any cars. Nice to meet you!
I love that picture! It gave me a good laugh.
Love the outfit-Narwhale chic:) So glad that you have a great amount of interests and I believe only husbands have quirks
Oh my, this was awesome! No quirks you say? Yeah…sure….shrimp apocalypse, lol? Nice on your Friends of the Library work!
The photo of you made me chuckle. Love how your personality comes through your interview. It's so great to connect with you through Follow Fest!
Pasta is most definitely awesome. I wouldn't be able to live without it, either!
I too adore shrimp and pasta…together and separate. Love your books, too.
I also adore shrimp. Yum. 😀
Now I want to be a narwhal for Halloween! And get my hands on a machete. But just for gardening purposes. My grandmother used to edge our flowerbeds with a hatchet. It always got some strange looks from the neighbors. Great to meet you through Follow Fest!
Love your costume. 🙂 Sounds like you stay busy. Enjoy your vacation.
Sweet costume, indeed. Thanks as always Beverly for you comments.
The world makes more sense when we're standing on our head? I may have to try that!
Let me know the results.
Pasta, pickles, and shrimp. Okaaayy. You have such a busy life (what with all that hiking and head-standing) I'm surprised you still have time to edit and write. I hope you have a fab time in Southeast Asia. I expect pictures!
I'm unusual in my family. Most only like the pasta.
Ah! I love to travel too. And I'm a big walker, not sure about calling it an official hike though.
Here's to travel and any kind of walking. Looking forward to your visit on The Write Game next week with your new book!
Also, I forgot to mention the Home Page of your website is FANTASTIC!! The animation and graphics of the books rolling onto the page (which doubles as the page's menu) is superb. Bravo! Very creative.
Thanks so much for visiting my magical books. I do that every once in a while for fun. And to remind me how and why I started writing books.
I love yoga, hiking, pasta, and I too have absolutely no quirks. 🙂 I think you and I may be the only ones in the world without quirks. What are the odds in that? Ha ha
Oh, yes, pasta! Enjoy your travels! 🙂
Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
Thanks, Madeline.
I'm good with the pasta, but not so much the shrimp or the pickles. Thanks for the laughs. Love the costume!
You'll leave the shrimp and pickles for me, then. We'll hit it off.
Pasta! My daughter loves pasta. I tell her she's going to turn into one. lol I have no idea what that costume is. I thought…needle. lol
That costume could be anything, except comfortable, of course.
Hi Lee – good to see a Narwhal – difficult to 'dash about' with your tusky nose? Pasta is good, shrimp is better … sometimes pickles but not with those usually … are you off to SEAsia – lucky woman ..and enjoy .. cheers Hils
I'm calling the trip research. 🙂
You are so much fun to read! Just the type of humor I adore. Thanks for participating!
A fan! I adore you.
Hehe think we have the same taste in fancy dress costumes! Pasta is a staple food in our house. Also with you on the yoga and the walking. Hey we have much in common!
Then we must meet and take a hike before lunch at a pastaria. I'll be the one in the narwhale get up, so you'll spot me in the crowd.
Oh yeahhhh pasta . . . I like shrimp too, but you had me at pasta lol
And hey your website really is awesome! 😉
Now we just have to put pasta with the shrimp and we're set, right?
That's a great costume. Love these glimpses.
So glad you stopped in to see that narwhale costume. Glam or what?
LOL – I want to ask your husband about the quirks now!
He's vowed to say nothing. I'm the cook, so he always does as I ask.
Oh my gosh I love the whale costume! And I couldn't live without pasta either. Made my hungry just to read the word here. 🙂
I think we're close to consensus on pasta!
LOVE the costume! I love pickles and pasta… but not together.
I rather liked the costume, too. Thanks.
You do have the best website ever! You can keep the pickles and pasta. Hope we can still be friends anyway. And that another comment doesn't show up, because it seemed to disappear.
All comments about not liking pasta and pickles are set to self destruct. However, if you don't like either of those foods, that just means you can have the dessert while I fill up with my favorites. 🙂
Pasta is always good! You are quite funny!
I've been accused of being funny.
Is that a "life sentence"? *ducks & runs*
Another pasta lover, Yah!!
It's so basic and delightful.
Luv pasta, too. Enjoy the weekend.
We could eat together, then.
No need to be modest. Your website IS brilliant. 😀
Thanks for participating in Follow Fest. 🙂
I'm always working on the better late than never model. Keeps me sane.
Nice narwhale costume!
I like a good pasta. Not with pickles though.