Mackenzie Flohr
By Sean Tuohy
Adventures are meant to pull readers away from their day-to-day lives and introduce them to a world of infinite possibilities.
Mackenzie Flohr does just that in The Rite of Wands, a novel filled with deadly secrets and heart-pounding danger.
Flohr sat down to talk with me recently regarding her writing process, how the book’s plot found her, and why writing is a lot harder than it seems.
Sean Tuohy: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Mackenzie Flohr: I have had interest in writing ever since I was young, but honestly never thought of it as a career. Growing up, my best friend and I would create our own stories and critique each other’s work. In my teen years, I attended the Beck Center for the Cultural Arts in Lakewood, Ohio. There, I studied about the entire process behind a production including the writing, casting, building, lighting, directing, etc. It was then when I started to realize I was meant to be a writer.
ST: Which authors did you worship growing up?
MF: Michael Ende, Gertrude Chandler Warner, and Laura Ingalls Wilder.
ST: What’s your writing process like? Do you outline or just vomit out a first draft?
MF: I actually do a bit of both. Some of my characters require me to write by the seat of my pants so it keeps the writing process intriguing!
ST: Where did the plot for The Rite of Wands originate?
MF: That’s a good question! I wouldn’t say I came up with the plot, it more like came to me! When I’m traveling, I often stare at road signs to see if I will come across any names that just kind of jump out at me, and this one particular sign did more than just that. It helped to create a story!
ST: Can the reader find any of your traits in Mierta McKinnon?
MF: Definitely! I’m eccentric like he is, have a ridiculous lot of energy, and have a bad habit of obsessing over things.
ST: What’s next for you?
MF: I am working on a special hardbound edition of The Rite of Wands and my audiobook narrated by Jake Dudman. Stay tuned!
ST: What advice do you give to young writers?
MF: Writing is a lot harder than it looks. If someone tells you that writing is easy, don’t believe them. It’s one thing to write a story, it’s another thing to actually finish it. There are so many people out there who falsely believe they will write the next best-seller on the first try. But don’t let that discourage you. Don’t give up, keep pressing on, and if someone tells you can’t do something, don’t believe it. As one of my dear friends has said, sometimes in order for something to happen, you have to give to the universe, and the universe in turn, gives back.
ST: Can you tell us one random fact about yourself?
MF: I used to be the Web designer for actress Melody Thomas Scott, who currently plays Nikki Newman on “The Young and the Restless.”
Learn more about Mackenzie Flohr by visiting her official website, liking her Facebook page, or following her on Twitter @MackenzieFlohr. You can also find her on Instagram, Goodreads, and Amazon.