Writer Wednesdays: Wolves Don’t Knock

Today I had the chance to interview C. A. MacKenzie. She’s a member of the Spot Writers, the group bringing free flash fiction to this blog for the last several years. Her novel, Wolves Don’t Knock, can be purchased at Amazon (click for link) or through her.

Tell us about yourself:

I’m a wife, mother, grandmother. I’m also a writer and published author.

Tell us about your book:

WOLVES DON’T KNOCK is a psychological drama, with elements of thriller, mystery, suspense, romance, and family relationships. (It’s not a werewolf story!) Although it deals with sensitive issues (kidnapping and rape), there are no graphic scenes. The book is suitable for mature teens and up, geared for women of all ages. Despite that, I’ve had six males (that I know of) purchase the book and enjoyed it, which kind of surprised me.

WOLVES is my first novel. It’s told through the POVs of Miranda and her mother, Sharon. Miranda is kidnapped at the age of sixteen after giving birth to Kevin and escapes six years later. The first chapter deals with the kidnapping, but the rest of the book is about the year after she returns home. There are twists and turns. Both Miranda and Sharon have secrets they dare not reveal.  The kidnapper is still on the loose, too, so they’re looking over their shoulders, wondering if and when he’ll reappear.

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

It was never in my plans to be writer. I used to write when I was a teenager but didn’t really take up writing seriously until around 2010. After the births of my first two granddaughters in 2007, I got back into writing poetry. Short stories followed soon after, and I haven’t stopped since.

What is your “day job”?

Other than housework, travelling, and spending time with my grandchildren, I spend most of my day at the computer. I edit and publish other authors, too, so I’m pretty busy.

Who is your favorite character in your book, and why?

Sharon, Miranda’s mother, is my favourite character. As a grandmother myself, I relate to her more than a younger woman. Probably a little bit of me is revealed through Sharon’s words, actions, and thoughts.

Are any elements of your book autobiographical or inspired by elements of your life?

A couple of Miranda’s experiences are from my teen years. No, I’ve never had a child out-of-wedlock, so that isn’t one of them. And Sharon: some of her thoughts are mine. I won’t say which ones, ha ha.

What’s the strangest place you’ve ever been?

I found it eerie and scary. We were there twice, both for short visits, while cruising and travelling nearby. It was an intriguing place, though, very different, but I never felt comfortable there.

What’s your favorite scene or location in the work you’re currently promoting, and why?

I like the scene I wrote where Sharon is at Peggy’s Cove. There’s some deep stuff on those pages, and I also liked the description I portrayed. I hope the readers like it, too.

What book or author has been most inspirational for you, and why?

I enjoy Joyce Carrol Oates and have been told I write like her. I didn’t realize I did until another writer mentioned it; in fact, I hadn’t read any of her works until after he told me that. But that was a compliment, for sure.

If you were to be stranded on a desert island, what non-survival item would you bring along that you couldn’t live without?

My computer.

Are you working on any other projects at the moment?

I’m working on a (sort of) memoir about the death of my son, who died from a rare heart cancer last year. It’s been extremely hard working on it, but I need to finish it so I can move on, as I’m a focused person and find it hard to work on more than one thing at a time. I’m not sure yet whether this book will ever be “published.” It may be for my eyes only.

I also want to write MISTER WOLFE, the story of Paul Wolfe, the kidnapper in WOLVES DON’T KNOCK. I have most of the story played out in my head and if I can get it down on paper as I envision, it’ll be a terrific book (excuse my ego). It’ll be a stand-alone book but could be a prequel or a sequel to WOLVES. There are a couple of subtly-written passages in WOLVES that will be expanded upon that I am positive a reader of WOLVES will be totally blown away by. At least I hope so. This book will be much darker than WOLVES.

Find Cathy: