Join author Hannah Mary McKinnon as we dive into her two sides of writing, gripping thrillers and charming romances. These two genres are on opposite sides of the spectrum, but she keeps their distinction without confusing her readers. Whether she’s keeping readers guessing with twisty suspense or making them swoon with a sweet love story, McKinnon/Cassidy is a master of capturing emotions and weaving unforgettable tales.
About Hannah Mary McKinnon/Holly Cassidy
Hannah Mary McKinnon’s journey from a cutthroat IT Recruitment background to author is as dynamic as her stories. Born in the UK and raised in Switzerland, she spent years climbing the corporate ladder before following her true passion — writing. After moving to Canada in 2010, she penned her first romantic comedy but soon shifted to suspense, captivating readers with dark twists and gripping plots. In 2023, she embraced her softer side with The Christmas Wager, a heartwarming holiday rom-com under the pen name Holly Cassidy.
A Glimpse Into the Interview Questions
As someone who writes in two very different genres, what does your creative process look like?
“When I write in two different genres, my process is essentially the same. I am a detailed outliner, that means I plot my books from start to finish.”
Authors may have many different types of procedures they take to write their books. Even though Hannah Mary McKinnon focuses on two distinct genres, each genre is written using the same process. Her first steps include outlining the plot and interviewing her characters before she starts writing chapter one.
If you could only write either Thrillers or Romantic Comedies for the rest of your life, which would you choose and why?
“That’s like asking me which one is my favorite child. And the answer is, I love them all the same.”
A hard question to ask such a dynamic author, but we couldn’t resist. And not surprisingly, Hannah Mary McKinnon loves thrillers as much as romances. She enjoys creating mind-boggling characters for intense mysteries and fun and lighthearted love stories that balance out the darkness.
Thriller: Only One Survives
Follow along the spine-tingling suspenseful side of Hannah Mary McKinnon with her latest thriller release, Only One Survives. This gripping mystery follows Vienna Taylor, a drummer whose dreams of stardom quickly spiral into a nightmare. Vienna and her best friend Madison, the lead singer, are on the verge of breakout success with their all-female pop rock band, Bittersweet. But tragedy strikes when their van crashes during a blizzard, leaving one band member dead and another gravely injured.
As the survivors take refuge in an abandoned cabin, the night descends into horror, with each member meeting a gruesome fate. In the chaos, Madison mysteriously vanishes, leaving Vienna to question everything she thought she knew. Did her best friend betray the band to claim the spotlight for herself, or is something far darker at play? With McKinnon’s suspense and shocking twists, Only One Survives promises to keep readers on edge as the truth behind the fateful night unravels.
Rom-Com: The Christmas Countdown
Holly Cassidy is back with a joy-filled holiday rom-com, The Christmas Countdown, and soon, readers will be treated to her latest festive tale. In this upcoming release, Cassidy spins the story of Callie, a recently heartbroken woman who wants nothing more than to avoid Christmas altogether. Still recovering from a painful breakup, she’s dreading the holidays — especially since her ex and his new partner are right next door.
But Callie’s sister, Anita, refuses to let her wallow. Enter the Advent calendar challenge, a series of tasks designed to pull Callie out of her funk and help her rediscover the season’s joy. Reluctantly, Callie agrees, and along the way, she meets a charming local baker. As they tackle the Advent activities together, Callie questions her rules on love and Christmas. Could this holiday season open more than just the doors of an Advent calendar?
This upcoming rom-com is set to be released on October 22nd, just in time to order, receive, and read this heartwarming and sugar-filled book before the holiday season arrives. This sweet, festive journey reignites Cassidy’s lighter side as she balances humor, heart, and a sprinkle of holiday magic. You can preorder The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy on Bookshop.org for a discounted price!
A tremendous thank you to Hannah Mary McKinnon for sharing an insight into her creative writing process and her love for thrillers and romances with us at Bookstr. The unique idea behind the two names is to not confuse authors with two dramatically different genres. Readers don’t have to stress whether Holly Cassidy’s books would be anything more than romantic comedies to get their hearts flowing, and the same goes for Hannah Mary McKinnon’s thriller mysteries. With two distinct genres, she offers the best of both worlds to her devoted readers.
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