In The Sideways Life of Denny Voss, Holly Kennedy brings humor & heart to a neurodivergent hero, sharing how Lake Union Publishing shaped her journey.

What happens when good intentions collide with messy realities? In The Sideways Life of Denny Voss, Holly Kennedy introduces us to Denny, an unforgettable, neurodivergent character whose big heart and distinct voice make him a narrator you'll want to follow anywhere… even into a goose-napping, an accidental bank robbery, and now a murder trial.

In this conversation, Holly and I talk about the long road it took to trust her voice enough to bring Denny's story into the world, the challenges of writing authentically from a neurodivergent perspective, and the unique publishing journey she's experienced with Lake Union.

And yes, we dig into how timely themes like gun violence filter through Denny's television obsessions and what it means to write a novel that feels both tender and topical today.

In our warm conversation, Holly and I discussed:

📚 Creating Denny's Voice – Why stepping into first person unlocked the looping, offbeat, parenthetical style that makes Denny on a page so unforgettable.

📚 Publishing with Lake Union – Holly offers the most fascinating details on the unexpected perks of working with Amazon's literary imprint and how their editorial/marketing approach shaped her novel's success. From focus groups to algorithm pivots, she candidly shares why this was the publishing house for her book.

📚 Writing Through Timely Themes – How Denny's fixation on TV gun violence mirrors today's anxieties, and why Kennedy leaned into that reality even though it made it difficult to find a publishing house for her novel.

📚 FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: This week, I'm sharing 51 funny books to add levity and laughter to your stacks because, in light of the headlines, we all need a little more joy in this burning world. Patrons can also grab the printable checklist of all 52 titles for their next library day as a thank-you for your support.

Meet Holly Kennedy

Born and raised in Canada, Holly Kennedy currently lives near the Rocky Mountains in Alberta with her family and their Newfoundland dog, Wallace. She is the author of four novels, and her books have been translated into multiple languages. When she's not writing, you'll typically find her reading, spending time with family, or indulging her not-so-secret obsession: watching true crime TV shows like Dateline. To learn more, visit her website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Mentioned in this episode:

Download Today's Show Transcript

NEW BOOK LIST: 51 Funny Books to Read Because We Need Them More Than Ever

Join the September Book Club Chat (Rust & Stardust by T. Greenwood)

The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy 

Logan Center

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

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