Abigail McKenna is the winner of The Unicorn Writer’s Second Flash Fiction Contest! As such, I had the honor of interviewing her (Read her winning story here). Abigail resides in the sunny state of Florida. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading and rewatching her favorite TV shows. Recently, she started cross-stitching. A fun fact about Abigail is that she decided at ten years old that she wanted to be a writer. Read our full interview below to learn more about her and her writing!
Q) Why do you write?
A) It sounds cliché, but in a lot of ways, it’s because I just have to. There’s pretty much always been some sort of story brewing in the back of my mind, with characters and worlds that I need to explore. Sharing it is somewhat new for me, but I love the creation and exploration element, seeing what makes characters tick, viewing the world through their eyes.
Q) What are your top 3 favorite books and why?
A) This is a mean question to ask a book-obsessed human, but one I’ve spent years pondering nonetheless, haha! The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis is my favorite book of all time, for reasons I’ve never quite been able to describe. I know that it feels like home, and that Digory Kirke is the character I identify with the most. Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is a masterpiece that gets more brilliant every time I read it. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is one that never fails to give me all the feels. In a lot of ways, all three have inspired my own writing over the years.
Q) Describe yourself in 3 words.
A) Introverted, observant, creative.
Q) What song would be your life’s theme song?
A) “But I Know You” by Jillian Edwards. God has always been my constant, and the only reason I’ve made it this far.
Q) Who is someone that inspires you?
A) There are so many! My family is probably the biggest inspiration, though. They’ve never stopped believing in me, even when I doubt myself. And God is a huge inspiration, of course.
Q) Can you tell us about the books/stories you currently have available?
A) Sure thing! I currently have three short stories available! “Stayin’ Alive”, (which I believe your readers can find right here on your blog, Kayla, haha!) is an adventure comedy with all the humor of Uncharted and Indiana Jones. “West” is currently posted on the Tales of the Lonely Sun website; it’s a historical fantasy retelling of The Wild Swans set on the Oregon Trail, featuring brothers, magic, and a gentle romance. I also have a short story published in the “Whispers From Before” anthology called “The Breakriver Banshee”, which is a historical fantasy take on the Irish myth of the banshee. It’s part murder mystery, part friends-to-more romance, and has all the dusty Old West vibes!
Link to “West”: https://talesofthelonelysun.wordpress.com/short-story-contest/spring-2020-winner-west/
Q) Can you tell us about your current writing project(s)?
A) I’m currently working on a historical fantasy novel about Bonnie and Clyde in 1930s Texas, looking for hidden magic. And while there’s nothing specific on the horizon, I definitely don’t think we’ve seen the last of Sam Cartwright and James Prothero!
Q) What goals do you have for your writing?
A) I want to publish a novel at some point in the hopefully not-too-distant future! I don’t know yet what that will look like, whether pursuing traditional or indie publishing, but that’s the dream!
Q) What advice would you offer aspiring writers?
A) Write what you genuinely enjoy writing about, not necessarily what you think you “should” write. Write for yourself first, your story deserves to be told.
Be sure to follow Abigail on Instagram, Goodreads, and her blog!