About

Andrew R. McKinley was born and raised in Nevada City California. He now lives in South Eastern Wyoming, which serves as a base of operations for his many interests and adventures. He spent most of his school days bouncing between home schooling and the public system. It was clear that as early as the second grade, McKinley showed an instinctual niche for storytelling. Creating elaborate tales of animals or people in strange and sometimes complex situations. Though storytelling came somewhat natural, his interest in reading did not develop until later. He joined the United States Army Reserves when he turned 17 and he contributes this decision to the awakening of his passion for reading. It developed from the many hours of silence and the all to often ‘Hurry up and wait mentality’ that he experienced in the first part of his career in the Army. Time that he learned to fill with reading and writing, which continues today. In 2011 McKinley made the decision to begin College and enrolled in a Military History Bachelors program at American Military University. In 2018 he transferred to Eastern Wyoming College and in Fall of 2018 received his Associates degree in World History and a minor in World Geography. “Though I enjoyed the study of cause and effect which Military History offered me. It was time I became serious with my writing or stopped bothering with it all together.” Then in 2019 he began a Bachelors program in English with a concentration in Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University – where he will graduate Spring of 2021 with plans to begin an MFA, Fall of the same year. In 2016 McKinley married is wife Brandi who has been a major support and cause for many adventures and at times “she can be really harsh, pushy and motivating with me and about my writing. She knows what’s in my heart and the passion I have for sharing a story.” To this date he has published three poems, one short story, and numerous articles. McKinley has no intention of stopping and is pushing for more of his works to gain publication. Currently he is working on three main projects: The Light Outside Your Window a full length novel set in 2018 America and is a Psychological Thriller; Strider a Post-Apocalyptic graphic novel set a few centuries into the future; and a Untitled collaboration with another writer whom wishes to remain anonymous at this time. Unsure what or where this story is headed McKinley says “ I’m along for the ride just like any other story. It’s a journey and an adventure, one that I am excited to share with everyone.”.