Double Negative by C. Lee McKenzie
Published by: Evernight Teen
Publication date: July 25th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Publication date: July 25th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
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“My life was going, going, gone, and I hadn’t been laid yet. I couldn’t go into the slammer before that happened.” Hutch McQueen.
Sixteen-year-old Hutchinson McQueen is trapped between an abusive mother and an absentee father. Shackled by poor vision and poor reading skills, he squeaks through classes with his talent for eavesdropping and memorizing what he hears. After another suspension from school and suffering through one of his mother’s violent attacks, he escapes to a friend’s house that turns out to be a meth lab. The lab is raided and Hutch lands in juvenile detention. When the court sentences him to six months in a new juvenile program, he meets a teacher with Alzheimer’s who will change his life and hers.
In my other life--the one before I began writing for teens and younger readers--I was a teacher and administrator at California State University, San Jose. My field of Linguistics and Inter-cultural Communication has carried me to a lot of places in the world to explore different cultures and languages. I can say, “Where’s the toilet?” and “I’m lost!” in at least five languages and two dialects. Go ahead. Pat me on the back.
My idea of a perfect day is one or all of the following: starting a new novel, finishing writing a blockbuster novel, hiking on a misty morning trail in the Santa Cruz Mountains, saying Namaste after a great yoga practice, sipping a cappuccino topped at a bustling café, reading in front of a fire with snow outside, swimming in an ocean someplace.
I've just set out my perfect life. Day after day after day.
Author links:
Sixteen-year-old Hutchinson McQueen is trapped between an abusive mother and an absentee father. Shackled by poor vision and poor reading skills, he squeaks through classes with his talent for eavesdropping and memorizing what he hears. After another suspension from school and suffering through one of his mother’s violent attacks, he escapes to a friend’s house that turns out to be a meth lab. The lab is raided and Hutch lands in juvenile detention. When the court sentences him to six months in a new juvenile program, he meets a teacher with Alzheimer’s who will change his life and hers.
Picture
Interview
1.
What were you like as a kid?
I
was kind of a tomboy, in spite of all that my mom and gram did to make me
girly. There were mostly boys my age on our block, so that may have been what
influenced my behavior.
I
was playing three flies up, tripped and fractured my kneecap. Ouch. I look
happy, but that cast was an itch a minute.
2.
What was your first published book?
The
title was Sliding on the Edge. Like Double Negative, it was an
edgy YA. That book came out in 2009 and dealt with cutting.
These
are some avid fans. No, not really—two friends who were kidding around.
3.
Where did you write most of Double Negative?
A
lot was written in the winter and spring before I could go outside, so I worked
at my desk. But I also did a lot of the story in summer, and that’s when I like
to sit by my pond to write.
This
is a perfect place for writing and thinking about writing, especially when I
can’t cough up the story I want.
4.
What’s your favorite holiday?
Halloween.
I go all out for All Hallows Eve. It’s fun. It’s macabre enough to give me
chills. It inspires ghostly tales, and I like to write those once in a while. I
have a lot of short stories about ghosts.
Here
I am getting ready to make a chocolate graveyard cake. Yummm.
Quick
This or That
Coffee
or Tea?
Coffee
is my mainstay drink in the morning. I seldom drink tea, but once in a while I
love green tea or the kind that smells like cinnamon.
Cats
or Dogs?
Cats.
They help me write without slobbering on the keyboard.
Cake
or Pie?
Pie
as long as it's fresh fruit, preferably apple.
Summer
or winter?
Summer
because there are tomatoes.
Vampires
or Shifters?
Shifters.
Vampires have been done to death. Well, so have shifters, but these are the
choices, right? :-)
Hamburgers
or Hotdogs?
Hamburgers.
I'm a big eater when I'm hungry. One hot dog doesn't cut it.
Last sport event you attended?
A
college Lacrosse tournament. Fabulous. Our team won.
Last
book you read?
I
hate to say this, but it was mine. I had to read it before sending it out to
readers! Now I feel very self-centered.
Parting
Thoughts On Writing?
Yes.
Oh,
that’s not what you meant. Here’s a parting thought: Don’t let a bad review get
you down. Here’s why. From the Musical Courier, 1887
“Brahams
evidently lacks the breadth and peer of invention eminently necessary for the
production of truly great symphonic works.”
Everyone
sees, hears and thinks differently.
Thank
you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule and stopping by the
blog!
I
really liked your questions. They made me think! Hope your readers enjoy the
interview.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
In my other life--the one before I began writing for teens and younger readers--I was a teacher and administrator at California State University, San Jose. My field of Linguistics and Inter-cultural Communication has carried me to a lot of places in the world to explore different cultures and languages. I can say, “Where’s the toilet?” and “I’m lost!” in at least five languages and two dialects. Go ahead. Pat me on the back.My idea of a perfect day is one or all of the following: starting a new novel, finishing writing a blockbuster novel, hiking on a misty morning trail in the Santa Cruz Mountains, saying Namaste after a great yoga practice, sipping a cappuccino topped at a bustling café, reading in front of a fire with snow outside, swimming in an ocean someplace.
I've just set out my perfect life. Day after day after day.
Author links:
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