Wisconsin

My “Small Batch” Book and the Driftless Market

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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!

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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!

Election Day–If Only it were a Walk in the Park

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Last week, I took a walk through Owen Park in Madison, WI. Tucked away in a residential area, it’s hard to remember that the city exists just beyond.

Made up of prairie and oak savannah, there was so much beauty that captured my heart.

Now, as I sift through my photos full of sunshine, it rains outside…sometimes suddenly, strong and steady, other times light and misty. It’s a lovely gray November day, so different than these photos, but perfect for sitting inside. The contrast feels wonderful…there are so many different types of beauty in the world.

Things are changing (as they always do). It is November, and so many leaves have already fallen, flowers have turned to seed heads, grass has turned dry–an orchestra of sound in the wind.

Yes, it’s Election Day in the United States of America, and yes, I am trying to redirect my focus as to not go crazy from all the commentary. With so much anxiety riding on this election, there is a sense that whatever I write today, it will be standing on the “before” of whatever happens. And there will be an “after,” regardless of the results. This is a scary thought in itself. So, as I wait, I turn to nature.

I turn to the prairie and the oaks for comfort, wisdom and hope.

I am first reminded to bend

and join myself with the music of life.

To let a lightness fill me, illuminate my insides, and connect to others beside me.

To have courage, to stand out, stand up, be as bright as I know I am.

To also allow myself to be soft, a comfort to myself and others.

To recognize that softness in others can sometimes be guarded by prickles, but it is possible to find.

And that just as amber big blue stem meets big open blue sky,

We, too can meet others different than ourselves and rejoice.

When the time comes, let seeds fall to plant new beginnings.

Let them fly….

We can never go back.

Somethings must fall and drift.

Relish the memories.

Know that the future holds space for new seasons.

This last photo was taken during a very slow walk in Governor Dodge State Park (Dodgeville, WI) in mid-October. This one reminds me…

To Look Up! 🙂

Wishing you well this day and every day.

Where Growth Takes Root

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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

Long Shadows, Winter Light

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I’ve been watching
long shadows stretch across snowdrifts.
Letting my eyes rest
on sunlit peaks and contours,
feeling the warmth just by looking,
then skating my eyes
up those lines.

There is a feeling of
seeking, reaching, wondering…
…what next?

And yet,
it is in this moment,
this treasure of a moment
that I feel so grateful
to be in.
To truly see
and be a part of.

I do love winter.
At least,
in the beginning.
Ask me again in February,
or especially March,
and I might give you a different answer.

It is through the changes
in the seasons that I find joy.
And there are always, always
changes.

If I keep my focus
on this single moment,
this single day…
appreciate what this one day has to offer…
whether it be the strange, sudden
darkness that washes over me like a wave
in November,
or the shocking sunlight
on rare December mornings
that breaks through tree branches,
or the red bark of dogwood shrubs
growing even brighter late in winter.

Each moment is both long and short.

I like this time of year
when I get to focus in
on both
the darkness and the light.

Also, what better time to cozy up with a book?

If you’re in a cold climate like I am (where it’s only just reached a whopping 1°F) and you perhaps need a reminder of summer, here’s a taste of heat from the first page of my YA book, WHEN TO HOLD ON.

GIRL MEETS GIRL

The only sound
in the public library’s vestibule
comes from the pages I turn
as I sort through discarded magazines
until

a girl crashes into the quiet
like a cold splash in the August heat.
I try to step aside

meet turquoise
burnt sienna
the smell of cinnamon
green eyes that sink deep,
like soft rain soaking parched soil.

My heart skips. It’s a moment
or eons
before that girl moves around me,

swings the second door open,
walks through.

~ Kate McKinney, WHEN TO HOLD ON

IndieBound

Bookshop

Amazon

Barnes&Noble

So wrap up warm
and sink deep
as you follow
the curves
of whatever story
you choose.

‘Tis the Season for Snow

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Snow came early this year.

In fact, the morning that I wrote my last post was the day it all started. Exactly a month ago, back when we were still in the middle of November, I had at last pulled together my photos and poems about the beautiful fall foliage. The weeks previous to that, I’d let myself bask in the autumn light, watch as Nature shed its layers, and breathe in the changes both startling and inspiring. But it took a while for my thoughts to steep and my words to settle, like tea leaves sinking to the bottom of a mug.

That day, however, I awoke in the wee hours of the morning and felt the burn to finally release those words and pictures. And good thing I did, because after clicking “Publish,” I went to the window and pulled open the shade. In the blue pre-dawn light, I noticed a snow-covered landscape.

Technically, it wasn’t our first snow of the year, but it was much more substantial.

It was as though Autumn had chosen to masquerade as Winter.

Having released my autumn images that morning, I happily put on my boots, grabbed my camera, and tromped into the snow to find new things to see.

My favorite
were these purple asters
looking bold and determined.

Below, they remind me
of snow cones,
refreshing and cool.
Bunches of sweet ice.

Then the days warmed
…and snow melted.

…And a different cold morning
left a layer of ice fringe.

Where even
something so still
—frozen, in fact—
looked as though it
could
perpetually be moving.

When
—in just-above-freezing temperatures—
both ice and water
clung
like crystals and globes,
a chandelier
whose structure was grass
and the light reflected
came from a gray sky.

And under that purple-hued gray
and misty blue,
a frosted prairie
just two years old
stood around
this Great Mother Tree
where
beginnings and endings
come full circle

And today,
she stands in snow,
a map of white and black lines,
ever crooked
with shades of gray everywhere between.

Happy tromping! Happy writing! Happy finding new things to see!

Getting Up Close

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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

Drink Up the Last of Summer

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Wild Bergamot may be fading soon,

but Bumble Bee insists

there is still nectar to drink.

A swift breeze reminds me

autumn is coming

but not quite yet.

Cicadas still sing in the trees.

Sunlight shines through green leaves

and yellow petals

like stained glass.

Nature’s rain collector,

the leaves of Cup Plant,

invite birds and insects to come

take a sip.

And shadows shift

through the long day

as we all keep changing.

So, let us take these moments

before summer’s end

and drink up!

Did you know you can eat these plants?

Learn how to harvest and eat Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa L.) and Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum), and read the inspiring story of how Alan Bergo, a chef from Minnesota, became a mushroom & wild plant hunter, otherwise known as…a forager. He shares his foraging knowledge and recipes through his books and website at ForagerChef.com.

Foraging has been a relatively new interest for me, and I’m still getting my feet wet. Over the last eight years, my family and I have been transitioning sections of our land from a vast mowed lawn (by the previous owners) to native plants and even sections of prairie. I’ve been excited to learn that many of these native plants (or weeds, as some people still call them) are not only great for the birds and butterflies, but also edible for humans!

You, too, can become a forager. Keep in mind, you shouldn’t go eating just any mushroom or berry you find; some can be poisonous. Do your research, and be sure it’s edible before tasting it. And it’s important to harvest sustainably, so no plant is wiped out. As our plants fill in, I’m enjoying a nibble here and there.

Every time I walk past Bergamot, the aroma begs me to try making a cup of Bergamot Tea! I think this will finally be the year.

As we transition into September, one of my all-time favorite months in Wisconsin, I wish you all the best. However you choose to treasure these last summer moments–look and listen closely, reach out to touch, breathe it all in, and taste the flavors.

Drink up, my friends!

Something New at Kismet Books!

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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!

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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.