Category Archives: books

Ten years, one regret

Posted on September 16, 2019 by kirstincm

  Time goes amazingly fast, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s just me. My first novel, The Sky Always Hears Me and the Hills Don’t Mind, came out in September 2009. My kid was 11. I’d been at my job for 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, books, emotions, epic-ness, gratitude, live and learn, Original Fake, privilege, readers, SKY ALWAYS HEARS ME, Uncategorized, WRECK, writing community, writing life, yawp | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Sometimes you write the book, sometimes the book writes you.

Posted on November 26, 2018 by kirstincm

  Writing is a funny thing. You’d think you’d be in control of the process, but sometimes you’re not. Sometimes the characters do or say things you’re not expecting. Sometimes the book goes in a direction you don’t expect (the … Continue reading →

Posted in books, emotions, gratitude, Stephen King, WRECK, writing life, yawp | Leave a comment

Hello! This is not a blog post. This is a declaration of no more blog posts. Welcome!

Posted on May 1, 2017 by kirstincm

Nine years ago today (May 1), I found out SKY was going to be a Flux book. Suffice it to say (cheesy but true) my life changed that day. Writing young adult novels has been one of the best, hardest, … Continue reading →

Posted in audience, books, epic-ness, readers, Uncategorized, writing life | Leave a comment

School friends! Back-to-school BOOK GIVEAWAYS!

Posted on September 6, 2016 by kirstincm

  Like it or not, summer is over.  Some school folks are YAAAAAAAAAAAY, some folks are BOOOOOOOOOOO, and some folks are, “Well, my favorite parts of school are students, reading books, and listening to music in my office.” Or maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in audience, BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, books, epic-ness, Nonfiction YA, Original Fake, readers, SKY | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“Success:” a pep talk

Posted on September 29, 2015 by kirstincm

    I really dislike the word “success.”  I am super not interested in having people measure my “success,” but it happens ALL THE TIME–it’s a service society offers for free, bless its heart. Of course, when you’re busting your … Continue reading →

Posted in books, help me, Original Fake, writing life, yawp | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Stories that are More

Posted on January 20, 2014 by kirstincm

When is a story More than itself?  This question intrigues me.  CAN a story be More than itself?  I think so.  A story is always More when someone reads it, since the author and the reader are collaborating to make … Continue reading →

Posted in books, help me, writing life | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Morrissey and graveyards: guest post by Rachael Hanel

Posted on April 1, 2013 by kirstincm

I met Rachael Hanel way back when–like WAY back when–when I was new to Mankato and she was new to my husband’s forensics team.  As soon as I met her, I thought, “This woman is a force to be reckoned … Continue reading →

Posted in books, epic-ness, literary greats, music, readers, writing community | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Dear John Irving–I have questions

Posted on June 26, 2012 by kirstincm

Hi, Mr. Irving: I need to ask you a few things about IN ONE PERSON, your latest novel.  I’m only 40% done, and I know you are a superstar and I am not, but I have issues.  I have a … Continue reading →

Posted in books, characters, cultural competence, details, help me, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Mind geography: doors and mirrors

Posted on April 13, 2012 by kirstincm

Characters have to live somewhere, of course, but the question is always where.  When I first started working (cluelessly) on SKY, I gave Morgan my growing-up house, because 1) it was all I could think to do, since 2) my … Continue reading →

Posted in adolescence, books, SKY, small world, there is no place like Nebraska, writing life | 1 Comment