Author Spotlight: Kathy McKinsey
Today we are starting a new feature, the author spotlight. I will be featuring some of my author friends. It’s my privilege to introduce you to Kathy McKinsey today.
Share with us an interesting tidbit about your story
Millie’s Christmas started as an exercise to prod myself to write every day.
I normally write women’s fiction, but I remembered writing a story about a puppy which my kids liked when they were little. I thought I’d try a children’s story again.
I didn’t have the whole story in mind when I started, but soon, God gave me this beautiful Christmas gift.
What is your greatest struggle as a writer?
I have always struggled with finding time to write along with work and other duties. I started a new job this year, and writing is again taking a back seat.
I am slowly working on a memoir of stories from when our children were small, and I continue to edit and critique for other authors. Writing remains an important part of my life.
What inspired you to start writing? Have you always written?
I told myself stories before I could write. I started writing stories down when I could no longer see well enough to read them myself and pestered friends and family to read them to me.
What common themes do you write about? Why?
I write the kind of stories I like to read myself. I like to show Christians who have failed, then come back to God’s grace again and again.
Do you have a hobby or interest that would surprise us?
My mother is an artist, and although I’m blind, I believe I inherited this trait from her. I love to use patterns to draw pictures with braille—people, animals, boats and trucks, nature, famous characters, holiday delights.
What is your favorite song or hymn? Why?
“It is well with my soul.” I believe I loved this song earlier, but once during college, my roommate Pam and I had a weekend alone. She spent time to teach me to play this hymn on the piano.
Pam died a couple years later, and that memory with her only added to how special this song is to me.
What is your favorite Bible verse?
Oh, so many favorites. One: John 3:17: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Kathy’s been married to Murray for thirty-six years, and they have five adult children. She had two careers before writing—stay-at-home-Mom and rehabilitation teacher for the blind.
She lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with her husband and two of their children. Besides writing, she enjoys activities with her church, editing for other writers, braille drawing and grading braille manuscripts, crocheting, knitting, and playing with their rambunctious cats.
For more information you can find her at https://www.kathymckinsey.com or follow her on social media at
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