She’s a fan of Swan Dive pizza, Olivia Rodrigo’s music, and the Oxford comma. Plus, this born-and-raised Rochesterian is a former (585) magazine intern. Say hello to the author of the young adult mysteries The Rosewood Hunt and The Wilde Trials, Mackenzie Reed.
Can you start by telling us a little about your history with (585) magazine?
When I was a junior at Nazareth University in 2019, I interned under Jane Milliman as an editorial assistant. It was awesome! Some days I would format the magazine, sometimes I did a preliminary edit on articles that came in from writers, and my favorite days were attending events like launch parties and photo shoots—especially the restaurant ones because I got to take home delicious food. I remember flipping through the magazine and thinking, “I hope I get to be in here someday.” So, this is quite full circle!
During the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020, did you find yourself writing more or less?
I was writing more for sure. Quarantine happened during the last half of my senior year of college, and, like a lot of people at that time, I was going on many walks. I lived in the Park Avenue area and walked past the garden behind the Rochester Museum and Science Center every day. The roses in that garden planted the first seeds of the setting for The Rosewood Hunt. It was still hard to write because just existing felt so hard in those days, but fixating on this new story gave me a much-needed escape that turned into a dream career.
What was your biggest happy surprise about publishing your debut?
The number of people who were paying attention to my writing journey long before the book came out. On social media, it’s really easy to feel like you’re shouting into the void. But once the book came out, I got so many messages from readers who were like, I remember when you were talking about The Rosewood Hunt before you had a book deal, and I’ve followed you since!
Speaking of social media, it can be a great place to learn about upcoming or hot titles—but it can also be full of drama. What are your thoughts on navigating these online spaces?
Any type of conflict stresses me out, but I also really enjoy being present online. I do think it’s positively impacted my career and connected me with readers, which is my intention. Sometimes I see a book [social media post] and have some thoughts, but at the end of the day, it’s important to remember it’s a space for readers, and I try not to cross that line unless I’m invited. If I start feeling a little heavy from it all, I usually just need to remind myself to literally go touch grass and put my phone down. Overall, I’ve found most online communities to be incredibly supportive and positive, and I’m really grateful for the book influencers who use their platforms to spread the word about books. That continues to be one of the best ways to support authors.
What is something you learned about the publishing industry from the release of your debut?
In traditional publishing, there’s a lot that goes into a book’s success behind the scenes that authors actually have very little control over. Some authors are very fortunate to get pitched or chosen for certain events and promotions that can give their book more exposure, leading to more book sales. Others aren’t so lucky. It can feel a little roulette-y at times to be an author, never being quite sure if you’ll get that vital boost or viral social media post that can change the game.
Is novel writing your bread and butter or side hustle? And if you have a second job, does it involve writing?
I consider novel writing my bread and butter, though I do have a full-time day job I’m very grateful for. I work as a senior content specialist, and thankfully it’s a little more editing than writing. Plus, the content is for real estate, so I feel like I’m mostly using a different part of my brain. Despite that, writing has too much of my heart (and frankly, time!) to be anything less than my bread and butter, so I’ve been trying to get more comfortable leading with that as my main career when I introduce myself. It’s definitely an adjustment, though!
What is your biggest writing and publishing dream?
I would love to see one of my books adapted for the screen, whether as a film or TV show. And while we’re at it, getting chosen as a Reese’s Book Club Pick.
Can you share what you are working on next?
Yes! I’m working on another YA thriller. It’s about a girl who gets invited to a party at a rumored haunted hotel only to discover she’s trapped there with five other teens—and tasked to solve clues about their intertwined pasts to determine which one is a murderer. If she doesn’t succeed by dawn, none of them make it out alive. It has big And Then There Were None energy and is the most challenging book I’ve ever written, but I’m so excited for it. I can’t wait to reveal more about it soon!
If someone was debating whether or not to move to Rochester, what would you say to get them here?
Rochester has everything, in my opinion. My dad always says something like: “Where can you go where you get all four seasons, have a Great Lake with sandy beaches to the north, plenty of local restaurants and small businesses, and a supportive creative community?” And he’s so right about that. All within a twenty-to-thirty-minute drive, no less!
You can find Reed’s novels at your favorite bookstore (Reed suggests Another Chapter Bookstore in Fairport) or local library (she’s a regular at Pittsford Community Library). Learn more about Reed, her upcoming books, and her writing and publishing tips at mackenziemreed.com.
The Rosewood Hunt
HarperCollins, 2024, paperback, $15.99
Lily’s father is dead, and her mother is gone, so she moves in with her wealthy grandmother, poised to take over the family fashion business. But when Gram drops dead and leaves behinds clues about her fortune, Lily must join three other teens to find it—and the truth—if they can survive the hunt.
The Wilde Trials
HarperCollins, 2025, hardcover, $19.99
Chloe is determined to win her boarding school’s Wilde Trials and its $500,000 prize, money she needs to help her sister. The twelve competitors and seven tests are hard enough, so when blackmail is thrown in the mix, Chloe is forced to partner with an ex-boyfriend as the competition turns deadly.
This article originally appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of (585).
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