Grant McKenzie

Male

Victoria, BC

Canada

Profile Information:

Hometown:: East Kilbride, Scotland; Calgary, Alberta; Victoria, British Columbia
About Me:: Born in Scotland, living in Canada and writing exciting, fast-paced fiction, I like to wear a toque and kilt with my six-guns. My debut novel, SWITCH, earned fantastic reviews internationally when it was published by Bantam TransWorld UK in 2009, in translation in Germany by Heyne, and in Canada by Penguin in 2010. In 2011, it was translated into Complex Chinese for Spring International Publishers of Taiwan and into Russian for AST - the largest publisher in Russia.

My second novel, No Cry For Help, was published in the UK by Bantam TransWorld in 2010. It was translated and released in Germany by Heyne in 2011.

My short stories have been featured in the First Thrills anthology edited by Lee Child from Tor/Forge, plus Out of the Gutter and Spinetingler magazines, and my first screenplay won a fellowship at the Praxis Centre for Screenwriting in Vancouver, B.C.

As a journalist, I have worked in virtually every area of the newspaper business from the late-night “Dead Body Beat” at a feisty daily tabloid to senior copy/design editor at two of Canada’s largest broadsheets. In between regular newspaper gigs, I have also contributed technology/humour columns to various magazines around the world. I currently reside in Victoria, British Columbia, where I am Editor-in-Chief of Monday Magazine.
I Am A:: Reader, Writer
Website:: http://grantmckenzie.net/
Books And Authors I Like:: Too many to list, but Robert McCammon's Boy's Life captures everything I would love to create in a novel.

Comment Wall:

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Stewart P Evans

Hi Grant, All the best with your work and thanks for the invite. Stewart

Jan 31, 2008
eve seymour

Hi Grant,

Can you spread some of that belief in my direction?! E.V.

Jan 31, 2008
Penny Rudolph

Hi Grant, nice to meet you. Sorry to be so long responding, I've just been too damn busy. Wow, what a coup to land a summer workshop slot for your screenplay. And a thriller coming novel out this year, too! You must've been storing up a whole lot of wonderful luck! Isn't it interesting how often it happens like that. I landed an agent and a publisher for 2 different mystery/thrillers in the same week a few years ago. Tell me a little more about KARMA. Did you write it in a screenplay workshop? Best of luck to you!

Feb 11, 2008
Penny Rudolph

Hi Grant, KARMA sounds like a great experience. Good for you! I'll keep fingers crossed for you. You are so right that a deal is not a deal until it's signed. Especially in the film world. Maybe it's not as bad in Canada as in the U.S. I learned a great deal when my agent asked for a treatment of my novel Eye of the Mountain God. That's my 4th novel and there's an offer from a NY publishing house and interest from others. So please keep fingers crossed for me as well. Did your workshop include doing treatments?

Feb 16, 2008
Bertram Gibbs

Hey Grant - the pic is from my Alex Ross collection. If you have yeet to see his paintings (again, 'paintings' - all photo realistic and done by hand, without computers), drop by his site, www.alexrossart.com.

We are a lover of words, my friend. We can only do them justice if we let them live.

Feb 16, 2008
L.J. Sellers

Hello and Congratulations!
Good luck with your screenplay. I hope to watch the movie someday.

Feb 17, 2008
L.J. Sellers

I wondered if your story was set in Portland, OR (or Portland, Maine). It would be great to meet you. If you have a signing in Portland (Powell's Books or Murder by the Book are you best bets), let me know, and I'll come up.
The update on the slow-moving agent: I sent her the first few chapters of my next novel, and she wants to see the whole thing. Unfortunately, I'm still writing it. I used to get excited when an agent contacted me. Now I know how little it really means.

Feb 17, 2008
Chris Ewan

Hey Grant. I don't think I have, but it's a small place, so anything's possible. Is he a relation of yours?
Nice to meet you, by the way.
Cheers
Chris

Feb 28, 2008
Nicole Lascelle

Thanks Grant, eh! I'm really pleased to have found this! I'm really looking forwarrd to sinking my teeth in!

Feb 29, 2008
Karen from AustCrime

Hi Grant - thanks for the invite. Name's Scottish, but the connection goes back a few generations now

Feb 29, 2008
Phillipa Martin (PD Martin)

Hi Grant,
Thanks for the invite and good luck with your debut! It's so hard to get published so congrats!!! Do you know if Switch will be available down under?

Feb 29, 2008
Phillipa Martin (PD Martin)

Yeah, it can take a while. My first novel was published in Australia in May 2005, North America in January 2007 and the UK/Ireland in September 2007. Good luck at the book fair for Aussie (and other) rights sales!

Feb 29, 2008
Loreth Anne White

Thanks for the add, Grant. Your book looks awesome. It's on my list for Nov.

Mar 3, 2008
Tina

That is very funny about the Ebay find. Yes you most definitely had to buy it! My protagonist in my latest book has McKenzie as his last name - hmm - did you know that somewhere deep in your psyche? Congrats again on your 'overnight' success. Hopefully starting when I'm older will mean not struggle for 20 years - right? Let me know when you do a book launch since I'm a local sort of. Take care

Mar 11, 2008
Jennie Msangi

Hi Grant! I wish I had as much experience as you. As far as writing, I can brag that I have a natural talent, but where to go with my writing is the challenge that I face!
Jen*
P.S. Visting Canada is one of my goals this year. I love to travel but I've never made it to Canada yet.

Mar 13, 2008
Rich "Cody" Conaway

Grant, I promised one of me smiling, so here it is. Nice to meet you.

Mar 14, 2008
Bill Cameron

Very cool, Grant. When will it be available in the US?

Mar 14, 2008
Bill Cameron

Good luck! I might have to order it import in the meantime!

Mar 14, 2008
Lisa

Hi back, Grant, thanks so much for friending. Good luck wiht SWITCH. It sounds like an awesome read.
All the best, Lisa

Mar 19, 2008
Sean Chercover

Thanks for the congrats, Grant. And best of luck with SWITCH!

Mar 21, 2008
Ailene Yasmin

Btw, I spent a little (very little) time in BC and I think it's one of the most beautiful places on Earth. You are lucky to live there. =) When can I expect to see SWITCH on this side of the pond? I'll be looking for it.

Mar 26, 2008
Ailene Yasmin

That must be a good feeling, to see it up for sale... you'll knock the line edits out with no prob. The hard work is done! Kudos to you. *claps* I will see if I can get it shipped here, etc.

Mar 26, 2008
Gerrie

Thanks for the invite, Grant. I've been busy lately moving 500 miles downstate. What fun. BC is fabulous. G

Mar 26, 2008
Tony Black

Grant, cheers for the post! I knew I spent all those years hanging in Aussie bars for a reason....
Thanks, man.
Tony.

Apr 2, 2008
carole gill

Hi Grant,thanks for the invite!

Apr 11, 2008
Colin Galbraith

Hey Grant! Thanks for the welcome :-)

Apr 12, 2008
Lia

Hi Grant

Thanks for the welcome .
Sunny EK ? I know it well , im just down the road in Motherwell .
Bring on November , i'm def going to keep an eye out for your book as it sounds great !
Good luck with the launch .

Lia

Apr 12, 2008
James R. Tate

Hi Grant
I send out a warm Texas howdie. It's a sunny 75 today and it looks like a great day to get a few queries out. Look forward to chatting with you in the coming days.

Apr 13, 2008
Janet Ortegon

Hi Grant
OK, I won't feed any squirrels, but are the grizzley bears fair game? Thanks for the welcome.

Apr 15, 2008
Rosanne

Hi Grant!
Your book looks very exciting! Will it also be available in the US in November? I'd love to read it!
Thanks,
Rosanne

Apr 28, 2008
Rosanne

I'm sure you will let us know when that happens!

Apr 28, 2008
Out of the Gutter Magazine

Hey, Grant! "White Volcano" is still killing 'em in issue 2! If you have time, give us a look for #5, the Revenge issue. It's due out around the time of your novel; we could net you a couple dozen new fans.

May 6, 2008
Martin Roberts

Congratulations Grant, good luck with the book I'll keep an eye out for it in November and thanks for the greeting...

May 13, 2008
Lee Weeks

Hi Grant
big congrats. thanks for inviting me to be your friend.

May 26, 2008
carole gill

Just wanted to say that I think your replies to discussions are always the most helpful!
I mean the discussion about Agent approaching and synopsis--MAKE THEM WANT IT. what could be better advice than that?
10 out of 10, Grant, as far as I'm concerned!

Jun 23, 2008
carole gill

AND best of luck on your debut novel!

Jun 23, 2008
Donna Moore

Hi Grant - thanks for your comment. I shall give a wave in your rough direction as I pass :o)

Oct 6, 2008
Carole Parker

Thanks for the add. Your books sounds great. Is it available in the States?

Dec 7, 2008
Carole Parker

Hmmm. Maybe I'll look on Ebay ...

Dec 7, 2008
Ann Reillet

Hi Grant,
Congrats on your novel, Switch, it sounds very interesting!
Ann Reillet
Author of Violet Cove

Dec 14, 2008
Sheila English

Hi Grant!

Congratulations on your novel! Very exciting!
If you could please contact me about a month prior to the release date I would love to interview you!
You can contact me at- sheila.english@thrillerwriters.org

Cheers!

Apr 3, 2009
Seth Harwood

Thanks!!

Apr 20, 2009
Adrian Magson

Hi, Grant,
Thanks for the invite and for letting me know about the launch date of SWITCH here in the UK. 2nd July - I shall watch out for it. Best of luck and enjoy the whole buzz. Adrian

May 20, 2009
Col Bury

Hiya, Grant,
It sounds like my kinda book. Well done and good luck with it!
Spookily, I recently reviewed William Bayer's SWITCH (from the 80s) over on The Rap Sheet's forgotten books series!
Regards,
Col

May 20, 2009
Donna Carrick

Wow, Switch sounds terrific! Congrats on your work with Penguin. I'll watch for it to come out! Best in writing, Grant,
Donna

Sep 20, 2009
Sue Harding

Hi, Grant! Is your next book likely to be out in the UK anytime soon? Really enjoyed 'Switch' - and so have all the folks I told to read it.....!

Jan 23, 2010
Sue Harding

Hello, Grant.

Any progress on the follow up to 'Switch' ?

May 1, 2010
Sue Harding

Thanks, Grant - good to know! Several friends I got reading Switch keep asking me when the next one is out. Will keep an eye open for your short story too - keep up the good work!

May 1, 2010
Sue Harding

Hi Grant - Is 'No Cry for Help' still due for release in the UK 11/Nov?

Sep 18, 2010
Sue Harding

Good-oh! Will be on the look out, then!

Sep 18, 2010