Behind The Page: Brian D. Kennedy
- Amanda Hayes
- Feb 23, 2024
- 3 min read
As we read A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy, it is impossible not to find a smile creeping onto your face. While this post is dedicated to our Author of the Month and not their book, I find it impossible not to mention how much of the author's personality shines through in the book. Kennedy writes as if he is sitting beside you and telling you the story himself and embraces the true meaning of ro-com at its core.
A Lyrical Launch
Our February Busy Bee Book Club Book of the Month, A Little Bit Country, is also Kennedy's debut novel and a love letter to one of his greatest idols: Dolly Parton.
Emmett Maguire wants to be country music’s biggest gay superstar – a far reach when you’re seventeen and living in Illinois. But for now, he’s happy to do the next best thing: Stay with his aunt in Jackson Hollow, Tennessee, for the summer and perform at the amusement park owned by his idol, country legend Wanda Jean Stubbs. Luke Barnes hates country music. As the grandson of Verna Rose, the disgraced singer who had a famous falling out with Wanda Jean, Luke knows how much pain country music has brought his family. But when his mom’s medical bills start piling up, he takes a job at the last place he wants: a restaurant at Wanda World. Neither boy is looking for romance, but sparks fly when they meet – and soon they’re inseparable. Until a long-lost secret about Verna and Wanda comes to light, threatening to unravel everything. Will Emmett and Luke be able get past the truths they discover…or will their relationship go down in history as just another Sad Country Love Song? |
Released in right at the start of Pride Month in June of 2022, Kennedy's debut shines through as a true orm-com through and through. Emmett and Luke bring the theory of "opposite's attract" to a whole new level as a country music lover and a man who's family has been scorned by the genre come head-to-head in what can only be describes as the country music destination of the world: Wanda World. Funnily enough, despite the core of the story residing firmly in the musical sphere and having written his own lyrics for the book, Kennedy himself has been very clear that he is not a singer. Of course, he does have his roots having been a theatre major, but what truly shines through this novel is his energetic and fervent love and admiration for Country Music and the musical legends and idols that have shaped the genre.
Sticking To His Roots
The literary industry can be an intimidating place, especially for a self-proclaimed planner as Kennedy has made note of in various interviews. His process is very much methodical as he plots out how his story will progress, fleshes out his scenes and characters, and then distracts himself to clear his head and think through how each scene will progress all before finally getting down to the work of writing it down. It's interesting how authors can all have their own way of putting pen to paper, but at the end of the day, it usually comes down to two types of authors: the ones who just write and the ones who plot. It's funny how our background can also shape our work habits as Kennedy is a theatre major and therefore used to the very planned world of theatre. There's blocking, and scripts, and rehearsals, and timing, and time-keeping, and wardrobe, makup, auditions, and so much more. It is very much the scene for someone who is attracted to order and structure, and Kennedy definately fits that bill.
While A Little Bit Country is an homage to his love for country music and Dolly Parton, Kenendy has taken a much more personal approach to his sophomore novel: My Fair Brady. Theatre enthusiasts may already guess the inspirtation behind the book as the title is an play on My Fair Lady, the highly popular musical. And with this new directon Kennedy takes readers on a trip from the thrill-ride that is the Dollywood-inspired Wanda World setting of A Little Bit Country to the stage, where tow boys find themselves drawn together beneath the blinding spotlights and will find their lives both on and off stage barrelling towards each other. It seems that regardless of which novel you choose, music is sure to be a large part of Kennedy's story and speak ot his love of it.
Time to Rest
Having concluded his two-book deal with the release of My Fair Brady just last month, we can be sure to expect a lot more from the author as he continued the promotion of his new story. However, as of yet, there is no talk of when Kennedy's third book might be coming to us or when or where the book will be set. Most, importantly, and what we are most looking forward to is finding out which genre of music Kenendy will have us embracing next.
Connect With the Author
To learn more about Brian D. kennedy or his novels, you can visit his website briandkennedybooks.com.
You an also follow the author on his various social media platforms to keep up to date and be the first to hear about his next book when more information comes to light.
Instagram: @bdkennedybooks
Gooodreads: Brian D. Kennedy
X (formerly Twitter): @bdkennedybooks
REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE BOOK HIVE AND COME BACK THIS UPCOMING WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2024 FOR OUR OFFICIAL REVIEW OF A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY.
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