Introducing......Kevin McNamee

Kevin McNamee

How appropriate with the spooky holiday of the year just around the corner that I'd be introducing you to Kevin McNamee! Not that he's spooky or anything :) His latest writings are though!


Who is he you ask?


Kevin McNamee is a writer and poet. Kevin’s poetry has recently appeared in a poetry collection, An Eyeball in My Garden.

He also has several children’s picture books published including, If I Could Be Anything, The Sister Exchange, Lightning Strikes, and The Soggy Town of Hilltop.




Other book titles coming soon by Kevin include Papa’s Suns, What Is That Thing?, My Brother, the Frog, and more.


Kevin, please tell us about the poetry collection you are involved with.


I have two poems included in, An Eyeball in My Garden: And Other Spine-Tingling Poems. It is a collection of forty four spookalicious poems written by fourteen terrifyingly talented poets. It has everything from the humorous, to the creepy, to the absolutely sinister, this collection is designed to tickle your funny bone and then perhaps, gnaw right through it.




What is your favorite poem from the collection?


I would have to say that I’m partial to the Winking Wot. It’s a fun poem about a completely new monster and Johann Olander really did an excellent job creating the look for this creature.


Where did your inspiration come from for your particular poems?


“Our Neighborhood” comes from my own memories of trick-or-treating. We would go around knocking on the doors of various oddball neighbors and receive some questionably edible or otherwise bogus treats. To this day, I still shudder at the memories of hard butterscotch candies left over from the Civil War being thrown into my bag along with some loose, fossilized candy corn.


For “The Gargoyle”, my day job frequently takes me into New York City. There’s no shortage of interesting architecture there including buildings with gargoyles perched on the ledges. But this poem is written from the gargoyle’s point of view as he looks down at the city.


How long have you been a poet?


I guess I’ve been a poet since the 1st grade. I remember writing a poem about the Easter Bunny that was displayed on a bulletin board outside the class room. I liked seeing my poem on display, where it could be read by everyone in the school. It was something I was proud of. I think maybe that’s what led to me to pursue publication after I became serious about writing. A book can reach a much wider audience than a bulletin board. And, I still like to see my work on display.


Do you write varied forms of poetry for children?


Although, I have dabbled with haiku and other non-rhyming formats, rhyming poetry seems to hold my interest the most. I also write both prose and rhyming picture books. I have four picture books published so far and three of them rhyme. So I guess that’s why I lean towards rhyming work, I enjoy it and I’ve had some success at it.


How are you personally promoting this book?


I’m doing a lot of online promotion right now. I’ve written about the book on my blog and have been promoting it on Facebook. I will be doing a book reading and charity auction of my books in Tuckahoe, NY on October 22. The details are on my Facebook page.


I also have a background in technology, so I developed an interest in creating online games that are based on my books. I created a game inspired by An Eyeball in My Garden. It doesn’t use any of the book’s graphics, but I think it’s a fun little game just the same.


Where can people find you?


I can always be found online at http://www.kevinmcnamee.com/ and I’ve launched a website with games and activities based on my books at http://www.kevschildrensbooks.com/ where you can see some of my online game handiwork including the Eyeball in My Garden game.




I also have a blog at http://www.kevinmcnameechildrensauthor.blogspot.com/ and will post additional author events there.




Anything else that you would like to share?


Just that, An Eyeball in My Garden: And Other Spine-Tingling Poems, is available from Marshall Cavendish, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, or your local book store. This would be a great book for your favorite trick or treater.




Be sure to check out my poems, Our Neighborhood and The Gargoyle.


If you want to learn more about another interesting writer, visit Kari Wolfe at  http://imperfectclarity.net  tomorrow (10/21). Kari will be spotlighting author Darcia Helle.