Author Q&A with Houstonian Theresa McKenna

Theresa McKenna’s book, Life in Christmas Letters, published recently. Theresa’s holiday story captures the highs and lows in life, emphasizing the importance of family, faith, and relationships through the inclusion of her family’s Christmas letters. But Life in Christmas Letters is more than just a collection of Christmas letters. It offers a story that reminds us of what truly matters in a world full of distractions.
 
Theresa McKenna, a retired marketing professional, lives in Houston with her husband. She earned her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Notre Dame and her Master of Business Administration at Case Western Reserve University. Her two sons are college students at Notre Dame.

Author Theresa McKenna recently published her first novel, Life in Christmas Letters. 

Theresa answers some questions that I posed to her about Life in Christmas Letters:

What inspired you to start writing Life in Christmas Letters?

I always wanted my husband to write a book using our more than 20-year collection of Christmas letters of which he was the primary author. When I retired after a 30-year marketing career, he challenged me to write the story. I took up the challenge as I have always loved to read novels, and I had the time to pursue such ventures. It took nearly two and a half years to make this dream I never knew I had to come true.

What kind of research did you have to do?

The story is semiautobiographical so there was very little research as I wrote about a fictionalized me and family. However, the plot took a lot of thought and reflection about other books and plots. The challenge was to create a plot where our actual Christmas letters helped tell the story but were not the focus of the story. I wanted this to be much more than a collection of letters. 

The McKenna family - Carter, Dan, Theresa, and Kevin (pictured, from left) - has strong ties to University of Notre Dame. Both Theresa and Dan went to Notre Dame and their two sons are now college students there; Kevin is a senior and Carter is a sophomore. The university plays a large part in all the characters’ lives in her book. 

Can you share something with me about your book that is not in the blurb?

My husband and I both went to the University of Notre Dame. We, however, did not meet there. The university plays a large part in all the characters’ lives. 

What do you hope your readers take away from your book?

I hope readers “feel all the feels” when reading. There are funny moments and sad moments. The major takeaway from the rollercoaster of emotion that this story provides is that life is in the little moments, the little memories that are cherished in your heart. 

What surprised you the most when writing this book?

I was surprised at how once I landed on a plot that would achieve my goals, how easy it was for me to spill words onto the page. Having said that, the editing process is where a story becomes good, and working with a developmental editor, which I did not even know existed prior to this endeavor, was critical. 

Do you have any say in what your book cover looks like?

The cover, which captures the look and feel of a Christmas letter, is exactly what I wanted. I did receive feedback during the publishing process that it was not right for the women’s fiction holiday romance genre. However, I did not want a typical romance look of a couple embracing or the typical cutesy gingerbread holiday book style because the story is much deeper than that. These factors also drove the use of a subtitle to signal the depth of the story.

What is the most difficult part about writing for you?

As a first-time author, the entire process was a challenge. In my marketing profession I was a business writer, not a fiction writer. Specifically, editing for grammar is not my strength nor do I enjoy its tedious nature. Thankfully, I had help in that area. Otherwise, the book would have been fodder for a “grammar don’t” example. 

What was your favorite part and least favorite part of the publishing journey?

Although self-publishing seems straightforward, there were lots of technical bumps along the way. Being a first-time author, it was difficult to navigate because you don’t know what you don’t know, so you don’t even know what to ask at times. 

Are you working on anything at the present that you would like to share with me?

I have a sequel to the story that I have started. The ending is kind of a new beginning, so I am interested in telling part two of the story and taking the teenage characters further into adulthood. 

Share something your readers wouldn’t know about you.

I am a “get things done” person and love marking things off my checklist. Completing a multiyear goal like Life in Christmas Letters really stretched me from a behavioral standpoint, as it took a while to reach the finish line.

What are you reading now and what have you read recently that you loved?

The best book I’ve read in a very long time was Demon Copperhead, which I finally read this summer. I was late to the game on that one. I just reread Remarkably Bright Creatures for a national shared read book club where I am a discussion leader on Facebook through the women’s alumni group for the University of Notre Dame. That was a wonderful book to read a second time and discuss with a group. Lastly, I just started The Guncle as I read The Celebrants last year, so I want to try this work by the same author [Steven Rowley]. 

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