Author Spotlight: Introducing Hank Kellner

I'm pleased to welcome author Hank Kellner today to promote his YA novel, I Don't Want to be an Orange Anymore!

Growing up in the fictional town of Meadowview, young Willie Watson objects to being required to play the part of an orange in the school play when he is nine and in the fourth grade. But that's just the beginning of his problems. As he continues through elementary school and into junior high school, Willie has to deal with Brucie Schultz, the town bully; Christmas with his relatives; the death of a schoolmate; the loss of his girlfriend; the theft of a fountain pen, and his broken eyeglasses.

But that’s not all. Willie doesn’t want to eat his peas; take the garbage out; deal with his troublesome kid sister; try to climb the ropes in gym class while his gym teacher harasses him, or have to stay after school until he’s “…old enough to grow a beard.”

Readers will discover how Willy becomes a member of Brucie’s gang; what happens in the old movie house on Main Street; how feisty old Grandma inspires Willie, and much, much more.

I Don’t Wanna Be an Orange Anymore contains a wealth of humorous and often touching descriptions of a young boy's fantasies and life experiences as he grows up in a small town many years ago. Written from the point of view of an adult, this coming of age book is suitable not only for young adults, but also for readers of all ages

                   Find it on Smashwords                                               

Hello Hank, thank you for being with us. Please do tell, what inspired you to write this book?

I  felt that many people would be interested in reading about the coming of age experiences of a young boy from the time of World War II until the Korean War.

If you could host a diner party with two writers who would you pick and what would you serve?

If I were to host a dinner party, I would invite Ernest Hemingway and George Orwell to dine with me. I've always admired Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea and Orwell's 1984.

Any advice for aspiring writers?

If you are an aspiring writer, you should read everything you can get your hands on regardless of genre. Wide reading is one of the keys to successful writing. You should also master the rules of grammar, study your market, and zero in on your audience. Be sure to set aside a time to write a few hundred words each and every day. And above all, never give up no matter how often editors reject your writing.

What are you working on now -- or would you rather surprise us?

I am working on a satirical novel that will poke fun at all levels of society.

You can find Hank Kellner:

Website




Thank you for being with us Hank, and good luck on all your future projects.