1--What is the title of your latest release?
THE SIDEWAYS LIFE OF DENNY VOSS
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
The novel follows a loveable man with diminished mental capacity who is arrested for murder after he sets out to make the world a better place and discovers unexpected truths about himself, his family, and the world along the way.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I’m Canadian, but I decided to set the novel in Minnesota because of the gun violence that plagues the US, which is the underlying issue that drives Denny’s story forward. Beyond that, I’ve been to Minnesota many times, have distant relatives there, and am quite comfortable with the people who live there as they’re a lot like Canadians!
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
Absolutely! Denny Voss is a kind, sweet and enigmatic guy. I’d hang out with him in a heartbeat. So far, when getting feedback from readers, before giving me any other comments, they often say, “First of all, I love Denny Voss!”
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Stubborn, Funny, Loyal.
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
As I wrote, I came to realize two things: The first is that Denny approaches every situation with kindness, which I love. And the second is how much a ‘sense of community’ is missing in many people’s lives today and I wish that weren’t the case.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I have a wildly short attention span, and my mind often jumps around, so I find that I’m constantly editing as I write. Of course, that doesn’t negate the need for other edits when each draft is completed, though.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
These days, it would probably be chicken satay soup.
9--Describe your writing space/office!
Our home is currently in a state of calamity with our grown kids moving in and then moving out again based on a variety of challenges they’re each facing. In addition, my husband works from home and is constantly on calls in our basement office. Because of that, I recently moved my office upstairs into a corner of my bedroom, which is, thankfully, very quiet and large enough to accommodate me comfortably. I wasn’t happy about it at first, but now I love it and have zero plans to move back to my basement office when things settle down again. I have a large corner desk, a window with a great view, and, most importantly, it’s quiet so I can concentrate while I write.
10--Who is an author you admire?
Fredrik Backman
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
Only one? Darn…I have a list of them, but one would definitely be The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, a stunning memoir, told in a raw and evocative manner. I’ve read it twice and both times I found myself filled with envy for her storytelling abilities.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
This book is my fourth novel and it had been out on submission for months, then my agent, who loves THE SIDEWAYS LIFE OF DENNY VOSS, emailed me late at night with the news. We’d been waiting for the right editor to fall in love with Denny Voss, someone who’d see the book’s potential and match our enthusiasm, and thankfully that’s what happened!
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
I never limit myself to one genre. I read non-fiction. I also enjoy thrillers, mysteries, romance, family dramas. You name it, I’ll read it, as long as it’s a good story. For me, the story is everything.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
I would have to say it’s a tie between The Shawshank Redemption and Forrest Gump.
15--What is your favorite season?
Fall. Lock me into the month of September on repeat and I’d be in heaven!
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Quietly and privately, no fuss. I’m not a crowd person and I hate parties. My happiest birthday would be dinner out with my husband (Thai food), a glass of red wine (cabernet sauvignon), followed by a movie at home or a good Dateline episode.
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I’m currently watching HACKS, a series with Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, and I love it. The writing is fantastic and the story is so unique. I also love White Lotus (every season) and The Bear with Jeremy Allen White is exceptionally well done. Oh, and another book that I constantly recommend is AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins (can I sneak that in here?) I’ve read it three times, it’s so good!)
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Probably Thai food.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
I’m a Gemini and although I could talk about writing and publishing all day long, there is a part of me that’s intensely private, so when I have free time I enjoy (boring as this might sound) reading, or watching a good TV series or a movie. Beyond that, I love travelling and spending time with my family and close friends.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
I’ve started a new novel and although the opening scene may change, it currently begins with this statement: “Ankle monitors are a pain the ass.” That’s all I’ll say for now. However, like The Sideways Life of Denny Voss, it will also be a story that isn’t genre specific. It will be part mystery, part family drama, and part coming-of-age tale. Hopefully readers will embrace it!
In this poignant and funny novel, a man who is defined by his limitations sets out to fight a murder charge—and discovers unexpected truths about himself, his family, and the world at large.
On the surface, Denny Voss’s life in rural Minnesota is a quiet one. At thirty years old, he lives at home with his elderly mother and his beloved blind and deaf Saint Bernard, George. He cleans up roadkill to help pay the bills. Though his prospects are limited by a developmental delay—the result of an accident at birth—Denny has always felt that he has “a good life.”
So how did he wind up being charged with the murder of a mayoral candidate—after crashing a sled full of guns into a tree?
As Denny awaits trial, his court-appointed therapist walks him through the events of the past year. Denny’s had other scuffles with the law, the first for kidnapping a neighbor’s cantankerous goose. And then there was the time he accidentally assisted in a bank robbery. It seems like whenever Denny tries to do the right thing, chaos ensues.
Untangling the events around the murder reveals even more painful truths about his family’s past. He’s always been surrounded by people who love him, but now it’s up to Denny to set his life on a new course.
Mystery [Lake Union Publishing, On Sale: April 8, 2025, Trade Paperback / e-Book , ISBN: 9781662525926 / ]
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 (her not-so-secret obsession) watching true crime TV shows like Dateline. To find out more visit her website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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