Six Questions with Kristi Mahoney

Kristi Mahoney is the author of Alpacas Make Terrible Librarians and Owls Make Terrible Teachers (illustrated by Chantelle and Burgen Thorne/published by Gnome Road) – a series of books that combine humor, animal facts, and an appreciation for all “human” librarians and teachers. She lives in Massachusetts with her family and seven fur-family members.

Website: www.kristimahoneybooks.com 

Instagram: @kristimahoneybooks

Bluesky: @ kristimahoney.bsky.social

X: @Kristi_Mahoney

Facebook: @kristi.mahoney.author

TikTok: @kristimahoneybooks

Threads: @kristimahoneybooks/

1. How do you know your idea will make a good book? 

Usually, it’s the ideas that attach onto me and don’t let go that I move ahead with. Then I see if hooks can be added to the idea. For example, with Owls Make Terrible Teachers, I started with two opposite things that aren’t usually together which is often a good starting point for humor. Then I added a STEM factor with lots of owl facts, packed in familiar classroom kid activities, and ended with both an “Aww” (heart) and “Aha!” (funny twist) moment. Combined, all these elements make a stronger book. Then comes the real test…my critique partners. Over the years, I have been extremely fortunate to have found twelve invaluable critique partners who give me extremely honest feedback. After hearing their thoughts, I always have a solid understanding which ideas and stories are working best.

2. What piece of advice would you like to give to aspiring kidlit authors? 

I would say to surround yourself with a community of other kidlit writers that inspire you, that you can grow with, and learn from. Read. Learn about craft. Give back through critiques and reviews. Cheer on others when they have good news because your good news is coming! When it does, you’ll have an entire kidlit family to celebrate your success.

3. What are you working on? What’s next for you? 

All of my earlier picture books focused on STEM animal elements. I love animals, they make me happy, and I find them extremely interesting so every idea naturally involved them. I also enjoy reading and writing humor and didn’t attempt anything else for quite a while. However, over the past couple of years, I’ve challenged myself to go out of my comfort zone. New ideas have sparked and I think some of my best work will be in my future. I’m an optimist so I’m confident the world will get to see it some today. In the words of Ted Lasso, “Believe!”

4. If you could tell readers one secret about this new book, what would it be? 

The interesting thing about this sequel is that it was actually written as the first book in my “Terrible Animal” series.

Each book was completely stand-alone, and at the time, each ending didn’t hint at the next book. It was through the brilliant guidance of my editor, Sandra Sutter, at Gnome Road, that the endings were revised to naturally lead the main character to a new interesting animal that was “terrible” at their job.

5.. What was the process or timeline for Owls Make Terrible Teachers, from idea to publishing? 

• First draft of Owls Make Terrible Teachers April 2017

• 8 Critique Partners and 30+ revisions

• First draft of Alpacas Make Terrible Librarians 2018

• Took time off to focus on craft/writing

• Alpacas Make Terrible Librarians acquired by Gnome Road in 2022

• Worked with my editor to change ending of Alpacas to hint at a potential Owls sequel

• Owls Make Terrible Teachers acquired by Gnome Road in 2023

• Alpacas Make Terrible Librarians launched in 2024

• Owls Make Terrible Teachers launched in 2026

6. If you read Owls Make Terrible Teachers to a room filled with kids, what message would you want them to leave with? 

Owls are super interesting.

Laughing makes learning more fun.

Human teachers are amazing!

Six Questions shines a spotlight on traditionally published middle-grade and picture book authors and illustrators. If that's you and you'd like to be featured, send an email to mary@boonewrites.com asking how you can be added to the schedule.