The Quick Six Interview with Nean McKenzie

Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Nean McKenzie!

It is a delight to welcome children’s author, Nean McKenzie here today, talking about her exciting debut novel for 8 to 12 year olds; a mystery adventure tale – Cryptosight! Welcome, Nean! 🙂

About the Author

Nean McKenzie is a children’s writer and optometrist who lives in western Melbourne with her husband and two teenage children. Originally from Bendigo, Nean lived in New Zealand, Europe and North East Africa before returning to Victoria.

Nean has a Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing from RMIT. In 2012 she was shortlisted for a Penguin Varuna Scholarship. In 2016 she was awarded a Maurice Saxby Mentorship for Cryptosight, which is her first published novel.

When not writing or testing people’s eyes, Nean enjoys running and travelling to interesting places. She also likes bush walking and reading books.

Contact links:

www.neanmckenzie.com

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WHO

Who wrote, illustrated and published this book?

Cryptosight is written by Nean McKenzie and published by MidnightSun Publishing. It is not illustrated but the cover art is by Jenna Vincent.

WHAT

What is it called and what is it about?

Cryptosight is about Rafferty Kaminski, a 13-year-old who believes in facts. Not like his Cryptozoologist father, who searches for creatures not proven to exist.

When their father disappears in the Flinders Ranges, strange things start happening to Raff and his younger sister Zara. They learn that their father belongs to a secret organisation and they are suddenly being pursued by bunyip hunters.

Raff is drawn into the weird world of Cryptozoology, as he and Zara follow ‘sightings’ of creatures around country Victoria. Will they find their father? And what is the ancient voice that only Raff hears, as they approach the Wombat State Forest?

WHEN

Cryptosight was released on October 1st 2019

WHERE

Where did the inspiration for this book come from?

There have been a couple of occasions in my life when I have seen an animal and not known what it was – before I found out. But that got me wondering, what if no one knew what it was? And I often think when bushwalking, that there could be all sorts of things hiding amongst the trees, that we never even know about. So I decided to write about these mysterious creatures, in between fantasy and reality.

WHY

Why is this book meaningful to you and why would its message resonate with readers?

It was important to me to set this in real Australian places. I grew up near Bendigo and lived on a farm near a river and often imagined stories about this environment. I hope readers will also enjoy adventure and mystery in a familiar setting.

HOW

How have you promoted this book and how can we find it?

Cryptosight is available online and at all good bookshops and libraries.

My website is www.neanmckenzie.com

Reviews for Cryptosight include:

http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2019/08/review-cryptosight.html

https://alphabetsoup.net.au/2019/09/17/book-review-cryptosight/

http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com/search?q=cryptosight

#cryptosight #neanmckenzie #middlegrade #mystery #adventure