Meet Mackenzi Lee | Author and Bookseller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mackenzi Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mackenzi, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
Moving to LA was a difficult decision – at the time, I was living in my hometown, working a great job at a local independent bookstore, seeing my family a lot. It was great and fine! …But I knew my career had grown as much as it could where I was. If I wanted to go to the next level as a writer, I had to leave behind a comfortable life that I had outgrown. It’s hard to walk away from something nice and comfortable and that’s making you happy for something unknown that you might fail at–but also has the potential to make you enormously happy. It’s also hard to bet on yourself and believe in your own talent.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a novelist! I write fiction and some non fiction that focuses on promoting and elevating minority narratives in history, particularly women and LGBTQ people. I am the author of ten books, including THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE, which was a New York Times Bestseller, an ABA bestseller, a Stonewall Honor Book, and won the New England Book Award; and a series of books for Marvel about anti heroes in their young adult years.

Writing books is hard work. Writing books professionally is harder! Talent is such a small part of it. So much of making it as an author is just persistence. Rejection will dog you throughout your career, no matter whether or not you’ve “made it.” There will always be people who don’t like your books. Opportunities you don’t get. Other books that are more popular than yours. And commodifying your work–putting a price tag on your art–can do a number on you. I’ve learned along the way to distance myself from rejection and negative critiques, and protect my state of mind. I’ve surrounded myself by people who understand what I’m trying to do and help me do it better. And I’ve learned to listen to my own internal compass. Almost always, if I write what I love and care passionately about and write the kind of books I want to read, there are other people out there who want to read them too. Stay true to yourself and your vision and your voice – your people will find you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Breakfast — pastries at Republique, but we must get up early to beat the crowds. We’ll be sure to pick up a baguette, cheese before we head to Pasadena and spend a full day at the Huntington Library and Garden. I never considered myself a plant person until I moved to Los Angeles, but there are so many things that grow here! They’re beautiful and weird and wild and thrive in this climate and I’m now obsessed with plants. Huntington is such a beautiful place to see a huge variety of plant life. The grounds are so beautiful but still welcoming and accessible. We’ll eat our picnic lunch of bread and cheese on my favorite bench in the rose garden before we do my favorite route – Japanese Garden, Chinese Garden, Desert and Succulents, Jungles.

Back in the city, we head to Larchmont Blvd. for Levain Bakery cookies and Salt and Straw ice cream, then some window shopping (don’t miss Chevalier’s Books!) In the evening, a show – I love going to live events, especially theater. And there’s always so much going on in Los Angeles! I love seeing comedy at Largo, classical music at the Disney Concert Hall, Broadway shows at the Pantages – we’ll find something great to listen to!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shout out to independent bookstores and the American Bookseller Association! I got my first job as a bookseller in graduate school and thought it would be the terrible retail job I worked to pay my way through college. Instead, bookselling set me on a career path. Even now, as a full time writer, I still work two days a week in my local independent bookstore. Bookselling has given me a community of people who are passionate about books, reading, literacy, and getting good books to good people. It’s taught me about small businesses and their importance in the community. The community of indie booksellers has also been hugely supportive of my career as a novelist. Seeing so many stores place extra orders, host me for events, promote my books, and recommend it to their customers has made so much difference in my career–both personally, as it made me feel so loved and welcomed and part of a community, but also statistically–indie bookstores have moved my books! Their sales support helped take my career to the next level and get me noticed by publishers.

Website: www.mackenzilee.com

Instagram: themackenzilee

Image Credits
All me or my parents!