 Dr. Elizabeth McKinnon is a medical examiner who brings the precision, gravity, and unexpected humanity of death investigation into her mystery novels. She blends forensic intrigue with comedic romance and dark humor, illuminating a vital yet often misunderstood profession while exploring its emotional complexities. In this conversation, McKinnon speaks about the quiet costs of the writing life, the tension between medicine and art, and what it takes to keep creating while holding a full and demanding life.  What do you grieve about the writing life that most people don’t see or talk about? I wrote my first novel in my senior year of college. I was finally done with my pre-medicine coursework and medical school applications, and my isolated academic world never felt more open with possibilities. Every day after classes I would go to my favourite coffee shop, set up my laptop with a tea latte and a chocolate chip muffin, and write for hours. After years of burning the midnight oil in the library with large science textbooks and energy drinks, slowing down to write something artistic was exactly what my heart needed. It was an invigorating experience, and as an adult with a long list of responsibilities, I now realize that I will never feel quite that free again! I mourn the passing of those years, but I’m grateful to have had the forethought to frontload my college coursework so I could spend time exercising that neglected, imaginative part of my brain. What rituals or tools help you stay productive without burning out? I have a playlist of songs I listen to before long writing sessions. I pick songs that my characters would be listening to if they were real. I also take breaks for walking, cleaning, or doing crossword puzzles to resharpen my vocabulary. Also, I like white noise when I write, so I turn on familiar TV shows and keep the volume low. What’s one way this manuscript has forced you to face something painful about yourself or your past? Among many challenges in this story, my protagonist wrestles with the idea that going into medicine was a mistake. She laments that she has book smarts that could fill a library, but lacks life experience and basic practical skills, such as cooking for herself and dressing like an adult rather than a broke postgrad. Doctors, especially women doctors, deal with this a lot. We trade countless hours of studying, hundreds of thousands of dollars in student debt, and our twenties for a career we hope to have for life. Coming out the other side can result in an existential crisis if the reality of the job doesn’t match one’s expectations. Was it all worth it? Most days I can answer this question with a resounding yes – I love what I do, I wouldn’t change the path I took. But some days are truly the pits, and every step is re-examined. I empathize with my character completely. How do you tackle writer’s block when you’re stuck mid-plot or with a flat character? My best advice for beating writer’s block is to change up your writing location. I’ve had some of my greatest writing sessions in hotel rooms in neighbouring cities, flying over the continental North America, and even during my incredible Icelandic cruise! I guarantee you’ll find something inventive for your character to do when your physical surroundings shift.  Learn secrets and proven paths to finding an agent with the book GET A LITERARY AGENT. The guide explains query letter writing, submission dos and don'ts, how to craft engaging opening pages, synopsis FAQs, nonfiction proposal tips, literary agent pet peeves, and much more. How has this long writing journey affected your closest relationships (for better or for worse)? I’m fortunate to live with my extremely supportive husband who is unafraid to be my alpha reader. He may not be solidly in my target audience, but he’ll give me honest feedback if the work isn’t engaging. He and I have always been very comfortable being “busy together” – we can occupy the same room doing different things and be at peace with one another. I typically write while he watches TV or works on his own patient charts. On the opposing side, I have given up a lot to have more time to write. I do less with friends and visit family less often. I do most of my writing at home, and therefore my impressionable 5-year old daughter sees me on my computer far too much. I don’t want her to think I spend all my free time using electronics. My biggest hurdle is balancing how I spend non-work hours, so I try to be more present and considerate around my family. Do you have a go-to technique that’s saved a manuscript? After EVERY writing session, I email myself a copy of my work-in-progress. No matter if I’ve changed one word or written 10,000 more, I save the file and email myself a copy immediately – no exceptions! This means that regardless of changes made, I will always have the most up-to-date version of the story in my inbox with a dated time stamp. When it’s finished, I also send a copy to my work email, my mother, and save a copy on a flash drive. You’ll never have to worry about losing drafts again. What’s a mistake you’ve made in this writing process that you’ve since forgiven yourself for? I’m an obsessive people-pleaser. Early in the process, if a query led to rejection, my first thought would be to change my WIP to fit the agent’s desires and specifications. I could never just accept that the story was “not for them”. Now that I’m farther along in the process, I understand this concept with better clarity. A book can be objectively excellent, well-reviewed, and beloved, and still not be “for you”. Readers develop their own tastes for books, and agents are no different. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Humanity would be very boring if we all liked the same things. I’ve forgiven myself for having those initial thoughts to mould myself to someone else’s standards. Now I take a pause whenever a rejection comes my way and remind myself that there is a goose for every gander.  Need an expert critique of your query letter, synopsis, novel/manuscript, or nonfiction book proposal? We have you covered. Check out our critique options and many success stories who found literary agents after working with us. What advice would you give new writers chasing their first big break? Be careful what you post online. Don’t write anything you’d be ashamed to show your grandmother or your priest. Show virtual compassion and encouragement to others, always. Being unkind is immoral, unproductive, and it will come back to bite. How do you reconcile the tension between writing what you love and writing what the market demands? Have you ever regretted following (or ignoring) trends? As a full-time working parent, I don’t have enough time in my day to pursue someone else’s dream. Art without passion will be lost on your audience. If you don’t write the books you’d want to read, there are plenty of other ways to spend your precious time! After years in the industry, what keeps you excited about fiction writing? My work as a medical examiner profoundly inspires my fiction writing. I strive to blend the intrigue of forensic investigation with humanity, humour, and realism. Through my stories, I not only aim to shed light on the essential yet often misunderstood nature of this work but also delve into its emotional complexities. I’m also deeply passionate about education, and I hope to spark interest in forensic science through storytelling. Inspired by so many literary greats, I feel both honoured and compelled to inspire the next generation of mystery enthusiasts.  Dr. Elizabeth McKinnon is originally from New Jersey and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She has degrees from University of Florida, St. George’s University, and Duke University School of Medicine. She completed subspecialty training in Forensic Pathology and currently works for the British Columbia Coroners Service. She proudly holds board certifications in both the United States and Canada. Elizabeth’s path to writing began in adolescence when she wrote plays and short stories as a way to beat the heat during humid Florida summers. She continued to write into adulthood, penning three literary fiction novels over a decade before her career as a Forensic Pathologist inspired her to write grounded, innovative mysteries brimming with comedic romance and dark humour. Elizabeth is an active member of International Thriller Writers, London Writers’ Salon, and the Manuscript Academy. She is passionate about helping writers with medical accuracy in their writing and bringing clarity about death investigation systems to the masses. She’s also looking forward to completing a two-week writing residency in Crime Fiction at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Alberta this fall. Outside of work and writing, she’s a US-Canadian dual citizen living in the Vancouver suburbs with her husband, daughter, and three cuddly pets. She enjoys Pilates, crossword puzzles, and reading good books in comfy chairs.  This post was compiled by Brandy Vallance, a literary agent with Barbara Bova Literary Agency, an award-winning author, and Executive Aide for Writing Day Workshops. Brandy is the winner of two national writing awards, one of which included a $20,000 prize. Her novel, THE COVERED DEEP, has been featured in USA Today & Writer’s Digest. WITHIN THE VEIL has been called “passionate and riveting” and Publisher’s Weekly encourages those who like sweeping Scottish sagas to dive in because “the journey is wonderful.” Brandy loves helping writers break the chains of fear and self-doubt. You can find out more at brandyvallance.com.  Pitch Agents at a Writers Conference in 2026:
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