Interview with Kat McMann

Author of Liberty Acres and the Terrible Scare

 

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

Kennebunk, Maine
North Waterboro, Maine

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

I was adopted in 1966 by a primary school teacher and a marine biologist. My fathers work in oceanography took us to live in four different states by the time I was four. They would settle back in Kennebunk, Maine, a small, quaint town near the ocean, for ten years. After just entering high school we moved onto a farm on the outskirts of town where our family raised animals and harvested a huge garden. After graduating college and the birth of my first child I moved back to take over the farm while my parents built a new house. I later bought a home in North Waterboro where I still reside.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

My first book, I’m Awful Glad I’m Not A Bug, was created from a poem I had written for a high school English class assignment. Twenty five years later I created a little book using construction paper and crayons to entertain my youngest daughter. She loved it! (over and over again) so I contacted some self publishers and went forward to get it published so other children could enjoy it too. And after it was published, in 2013, I found that all the characters that had been represented in that book wanted to have their own stories and 7 years later they do.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

The Liberty Acres collection of stories is based on a family who has come to take over an old farm where the animals are observed by Vi, a black-capped chickadee, as she imagines what it would be like to be each character as she gets to know them and their stories. Each character shares their own story of personal struggles and how they work to overcome them. The latest book, published in June 2020, was inspired by the Coronavirus pandemic and shares how the characters react to the scary thing that’s happening.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

I believe everyone can connect to my books (young and old). They speak to many of the issues we all face or have dealt with, such as; anxiety, bullying, obesity, insecurities, the desire to belong, etc.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

One surprising thing I discovered throughout the process of writing my Liberty Acres collection was that the characters of the stories were, in fact, representations of different aspects of myself.
Also, working with my teen-age daughter (the illustrator) completing 9 books in 3 weeks gave us unforgettable moments to cherish.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

I would’ve told myself to work on getting published sooner. Instead, I went to a business college and embarked on a 25 year accounting career. But then again… no regrets… my accounting background has helped me structure the layout of my books and greatly impacted the efficiency in which I produced them.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Everyone possible.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Reaching the masses.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

a) My determination to see a vision/project through to completion.
b) The ability to navigate the self publishing waters successfully.
c) Just enough skill to design my own websites, develop social media avenues and some branding. I made tote bags and jewelry for all the books in attempt to take the characters from beyond the pages.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

a) Focusing on one project at a time.
b) The courage to approach a traditional publisher.
c) Having more skills in marketing and the proper channels to be more successful.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I am currently working on my next children’s book series (Mighty Mama Oak and her Little Acorns) and the prequel to my Liberty Acres collection of works.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

Self published