Fiction

My “Small Batch” Book and the Driftless Market

/ katemckinney79 / Leave a comment

I am thrilled to announce that my book, When to Hold On, can now be purchased at the lovely local corner store, The Driftless Market and Deli, in Platteville, WI! They offer organic produce, a soup deli, other food items, books, art, jewelry, and more!

My kiddo and I love to stop in there whenever we’re in town or even when we’re passing by Platteville on our way to Galena or Dubuque. It’s such a friendly place and perfect for picking up a wholesome snack for the drive.

If the Driftless Market had existed twenty-five years ago, when I was a student at UW-Platteville, I would’ve loved it–it’s just a short walk from where I lived!

On the store’s website, they write, “Our goal is to provide shoppers with one location to buy all of the products they need while maintaining a focus on environentally friendly and sustainable production and consumption. We are passionate about taking care of our planet and want to serve as a resource for those who feel the same way.”

Well, that’s totally me, and that is why I’m so excited to have my book for sale through the store. One of the reasons I chose to self-publish was so that I could do “small batch” book selling. I did not want thousands of books printed only to have them pulped a few months later if they didn’t sell by a certain target date. I wanted to publish my book in the most environmentally-conscious way I could. That means small batches at a time and selecting independent bookstores and shops that share similar sustainability goals.

Making this book is about celebrating the slower and quieter way of life. It’s about connecting deeper with nature and people. It’s an ode to this beautiful corner of our world, the Driftless Region, a geographical area that was left untouched by glaciers and is known for its rolling hills and cold-water streams, rock outcroppings, bluffs, prairies, and oak savannas.

When to Hold On is a girl-meets-girl story that makes space for quiet people, that looks up close at the beauty in the world, that opens a door to feeling grief in order to heal, that celebrates sustainable living, that’s about family relationships, and explores the power of silence.

Read more about the Driftless Market and Deli here and stop in at 95 W Main Street, Platteville, WI.

Join us on Aug. 2!

/ katemckinney79 / 2 Comments

Rose Brookins, with her writing partner Mina Petkova, has written two novels, one romance, The Stand-In, and one coming-of-age story, Portrait of a Stranger.

Alby C. Williams’s debut middle-grade novel, Where There Be Monsters, is a queer normative story featuring a nonbinary character.

I’ll be reading from my verse novel, When to Hold On, a young-adult coming-of-age story that takes place in the Driftless Area.

A Q&A session will be after the readings.

I hope you can join us!

Autumn Reading

/ katemckinney79 / Leave a comment

I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely book club in California via Zoom this autumn.

Here’s what they’re saying about When to Hold On:

“A Young Adult novel for everyone…It is a coming of age novel written in poignant free verse. Addressing young love, grief, the power of silence, family relationships and social anxiety, it has universal themes that engaged everyone in our club. Get this book in your high school library, now!”

Lauren Rice, CA

“The best thing about When to Hold On is how much the form conveys. It’s in free verse and the unspoken urgency and tenderness of youth are mirrored so seamlessly, and so much information is revealed in so few words. The feelings are ageless. Timeless. Uplifting. Heartbreaking. This is one beautiful book. Read it and read it again.”

Sandra L. Christenson, CA

Where Growth Takes Root

/ katemckinney79 / Leave a comment
Poulnabrone, County Clare, Ireland

wind and rain
freeze and thaw
those things in life
that chip away tiny particles of ourselves

leave holes

where growth takes root

-Kate McKinney
Poulnabrone, County Clare, Ireland

What have you lost?

What are you missing?

How might this be an opening for growth?

When to Hold On is a coming-of-age verse novel set in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, a journey that rides the unpredictable hills and valleys of grief toward the healing truths of reconnecting with oneself, those we love, and the natural world.

“One of the best books I have ever read; one that has affected me deeply, giving me greater understanding.” -Amazon review

“We love who we love…Beautifully written, this is a story of finding yourself when everything and everyone around you feels lost.” -Amazon review

Getting Up Close

/ katemckinney79 / 2 Comments

When exactly did these
feathery green leaves
of summer
transform into rainbows?

I could get lost
in their colors
crouching low
breathing in
the mix of autumn’s
changes.

What else do we miss
when we simply walk past?

~ Kate McKinney

Birch leaves collect,
curled edges folding into
one another,
light and shadows turning
scattered shapes
into glorious sculptures.

~ Kate McKinney
Autumn Flame Maple



What would it be like
to climb right into
those branches
with all that red and green
so close?
Would it feel like sitting
in the middle of
an orchestra?
Those complementary
colors
sending out
visual vibrations?

~ Kate McKinney
Asters

A painter’s delight—
purple asters in afternoon
sunlight

Asters

When clouds float past,
they add hues
of dusty gray
and deep blue shadows
below.

Clouds over Blue Mounds

A tiny, tattered
oak seedling can withstand
wind
and takes its time
turning red.
Change can take its toll,
but each year,
this little one
grows.

~ Kate McKinney

My Book

WHEN TO HOLD ON is a girl-meets-girl YA verse novel and draws from its setting in the Driftless Area the way roots draw water from the ground.

YA novel-in-verse

Indie Bound // Barnes&Noble // Amazon

Brynn Bailey, a quiet teen, always preferred the sound of the creek over talking, and that becomes even more true as she struggles to accept the recent death of her mother. Then she meets Zoe who seems to have all the words in the world, and Brynn wishes she knew what to say. As long as it’s not about her grief. But unspoken words have a way of stacking up, like bills on a counter. Soon, she is at risk of losing both love and the only place she calls home. To save them, she’ll need to learn when to listen and when to speak up, when to let go and when to hold on.

A Sneak Peek into the Novel

THE PAINTER

“I like to paint,”
she offers

which is just enough
to transform my silence into a question:

“What do you like to paint?”

Thankfully, it gets her talking instead.

She tucks a frizzy curl behind one ear.
“For me…it’s more about the way
I see whatever I’m painting. I try to
get up close
or pick an unusual angle. Try to see
what others might miss.
I use lots of color because
even grass isn’t just green. It’s also
yellow and brown, blue and purple,
even pink.”

~ Kate McKinney, WHEN TO HOLD ON

I’ll leave you with one last image—a river birch with blue sky peeking between yellow leaves.

Happy Autumn!

River Birch

Something New at Kismet Books!

/ katemckinney79 / Leave a comment
I’m thrilled to announce that my debut YA verse novel is now at Kismet Books in Verona, WI!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of going to one of my favorite local bookstores, Kismet Books in Verona, Wisconsin. They first opened their doors in November 2020, but it wasn’t until the summer of 2021 that I actually discovered them. Walking into their bookstore for the first time felt like fate. Indeed, Kismet, is the perfect name. My heart was craving this kind of bookstore.

I was blown away by the awesome selection of books and the warm and welcoming atmosphere. They offer books for every kind of reader, but I’m especially partial to their children’s, middle grade, and young adult room, which has an amazing collection.

The last time I wrote, I touched on the need for representation, so I’m extra happy in Kismet Books, where there are so many books by and about queer, POC, and Indigenous folks. This place is truly special.

Kismet Books is on the corner of Main Street and E. Verona Avenue.

So, my kiddo and I stepped out of the heat yesterday, not only to enjoy browsing the titles (which we did!), but also to bring in copies of my debut YA verse novel, When to Hold On, and I’m excited to announce that it is now on their bookshelves!

What’s the book about?

In the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, a quiet teen girl struggles to accept her mother’s death while also trying to date the new girl in town, but she’s about to lose both love and the only place she calls home. To save them, she must learn when to listen and when to speak up, when to let go and when to hold on.

You can find this girl-meets-girl story in two different spots in the store.

#1 The Young Adult Section, which is straight ahead from the front door, and on the shelf to the right.

It’s a special honor for When to Hold On to be among all these amazing books!

#2 The Local Authors section, which is just inside the front door and to the left.

It’s so exciting to see my book on the shelf with so many other books by Wisconsin authors.
When to Hold On is set in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, with its native and restored prairies and oak savannas, limestone rock outcroppings, and cold-water streams.

So, go check out Kismet Books!

I always find something new and interesting to read.

What will you find?

It’s Official—My Book is Out!

/ katemckinney79 / Leave a comment

Yesterday was Release Day for my YA coming-of-age verse novel, When to Hold On, a story about two girls falling in love, struggling with grief, and learning when to listen and when to speak up. It’s set in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, a region I’ve called home for the last 30+ years, a place with many hidden geological and ecological treasures.

This book began as a small, quiet idea many years ago, and after much love and attention, and quite a long labor, it has finally come into the world. I feel like a mother of a newborn again. I am eternally grateful to all the people who helped me on my journey so far, and I look forward to the adventure ahead.

Here’s a peek at the cover. To find out more about the story and where to order a copy, click here.