Holly Kennedy
Author Interview - Holly Kennedy
Author of The Sideways Life of Denny Voss
The novel follows a loveable man with diminished mental capacity who's arrested for murder after he sets out to make the world a better place and discovers unexpected truths about himself, his family, and the world along the way.
Author Interview - Holly Kennedy
Author I draw inspiration from:
Fredrik Bachman. I loved BEARTOWN and A MAN CALLED OVE. Both were beautifully written and crafted in a way that tugged at my heart and made me contemplate life in general and how I'm living it. Stylistically, I also believe Fredrik's storytelling instincts align very much with my own. I greatly admire his work.
Author Interview - Holly Kennedy | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
On a beach, with my toes in the sand. I'm intensely private so the idea of the ocean as a backdrop while I slide into a story that I can't put down feels like heaven to me.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
Denny Voss from my current novel THE SIDEWAYS LIFE OF DENNY VOSS. I'm not kidding, he truly has my heart. I miss Denny and would love to be stuck in an elevator with him. The conversation would be fascinating, and I have no doubt that he'd inadvertently teach me something profound without even realizing it. And I'm sure I'd laugh while we talked, too, because you can't not laugh when you spend time with Denny Voss.
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
I was eight and my third grade teacher gave me a copy of Wanda Gag's book MILLIONS OF CATS for my birthday. I cherished it. Matter of fact, I still have it. It was originally published in 1928. Wanda Gag wrote and illustrated it and today it's considered a classic in children's literature. Fun fact: it has never been out of print and is the oldest American picture book still in print today. At eight years old, I was completely swept up in the story, page by page, and when I finished reading it I knew in my heart that I wanted to be an author. I wanted to tell stories that made people feel the way that little book made me feel. I wanted to be a great storyteller.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
There's a certain...prestige and reverence behind a hardback. Many authors, editors, agents love a hardback and the subtle implication that the book, and in turn the story within its pages, was good enough to be given the honor of being published in hardback. I personally prefer a trade paperback over any other format when it comes to reading, though. When I finish reading one, it often looks LOVED TO DEATH with pages folded here and there and notes written in the margins, because my brain is constantly analyzing the structure, story arc, characters, etc. I think e-books are fantastic but because I'm very tactile my preference is a physical book that I can touch and bend and make notes in. I also think audiobooks are a great option for when you're driving or on the go, though if given a choice, I will choose a trade paperback every time!
The last book I read:
I recently finished re-reading THE FIDDLER IN THE SUBWAY by Gene Weingarten. (I have read it three times over the past 15 years). Gene won two Pulitzer prizes for feature writing as a nationally syndicated humor columnist and writer for The Washington Post and this specific collection of stories, published in 2010, is stunning. For me, Gene Weingarten is, hands down, one of the best storytellers of our time.
Author Interview - Holly Kennedy | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
Computer and keyboard, please! I have ADHD and I struggle to stay focused so handwriting anything doesn't work for me - too much erasing required. On the computer, though, I love the speed at which I can throw down a sentence, idea, dialogue piece, and then work at carefully fine-tuning it.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
Lydia Quixano Perez, the protagonist of AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins. I love this book so much. The author has created an intimate and epic story about parental love and human hope, and the main character, Lydia, speaks to me on so many levels. She runs a bookstore, utterly adores her son, Luca, and her instincts to protect him align with my heart at every turn in the novel. It was a riveting read and Lydia is a character I'll never forget.
Author Interview - Holly Kennedy | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
An audio book narrator. I recently recorded the AUTHOR'S NOTE for the audiobook of my new novel THE SIDEWAYS LIFE OF DENNY VOSS and loved the process. I could do that all day long!
Favorite decade in fashion history:
I'm not a fashionista in any way, shape, or form, so I'm not sure how to answer this as I'd just be guessing. I do, however, admire simple, classic looks. Nothing outlandish or gaudy.
Place I’d most like to travel:
The Swiss Alps in Switzerland. I'm a mountain girl. I don't like prairies or wide open, flat terrain. Put me in a cafe, surrounded by mountains, and I'll be smiling for hours.
My signature drink:
I'm not a big drinker, though I do like a glass of red wine now and then. On a daily basis, however, my signature drink is dark roast coffee that I spend half the day sipping from a travel mug. I have a heart condition, so I'm only allowed one a day and because of that I truly and completely enjoy my one cup of dark roast coffee.
Favorite artist:
Just one? Reading this, my heart immediately jumps to authors I admire and would love to meet, including Emma Donoghue (ROOM), Ann Napolitano (DEAR EDWARD), Mark Haddon (THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME), Elizabeth Strout (OLIVE KITTERIDGE), Jeannette Walls (THE GLASS CASTLE), and probably Liz Moore (LONG BRIGHT RIVER). I could go on and on, but I should probably stop there...
Number one on my bucket list:
I'd like to rent a car and spend a month driving through Europe with my husband.
Anything else you'd like to add:
For me, when it comes to reading, it's always story first. I never limit myself to a specific genre. Give me a good story and I'm there for it.
Find more from the author:
https://www.facebook.com/holly.kennedy.370/
https://www.instagram.com/hollykennedy_author/
www.hollykennedy.com
About Holly Kennedy:
Author Interview - Holly Kennedy
Born and raised in Canada, Holly Kennedy currently lives near the Rocky Mountains in Alberta with her family and their Newfoundland dog, Wallace. She is the author of four novels and her books have been translated into multiple languages. When she’s not writing, you’ll typically find her reading, spending time with family, or (her not-so-secret obsession) watching true crime TV shows like Dateline. To find out more visit her website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
