Draft:Mckenzy Dominy

McKenzy Dominy (born 13th May 2007) is a Welsh author and social media influencer known for his successful debut as a teenage thriller writer. At just 16 years old, Dominy turned personal tragedy into creative expression, with his first novel quickly becoming an Amazon bestseller.

Early Life and Inspiration

McKenzy Dominy was born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales in May 2007. From a young age, he exhibited a passion for creative writing and character development, often imagining elaborate backstories for strangers he observed. This whimsical habit foreshadowed his future career as a novelist.

In 2021, when Dominy was only 13, his mother Kelsey Dominy passed away unexpectedly. Devastated by this profound loss he struggled with grief and isolation for months afterwards. It was a return to his cherished childhood writing hobby that ultimately helped him process the trauma and “rebuild” his sense of self.

Literary Career

Debut Novel: On October 5, 2023, at the age of 16, Dominy published his debut novel “Why the Good Die Young” through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform. The supernatural thriller, which explores themes of life after death, drew inspiration from Dominy’s own experiences with grief.

One of the central characters, the nurturing and community-focused hotel owner Kelly Starling, was directly based on Dominy’s late mother. He explained, “She’s very much relied upon - I feel like everyone in the town goes to her and at times when she isn’t there, they struggle, and I feel like that’s part of my own story with grief.”

The book was a runaway success, skyrocketing to #11 on Amazon’s Paranormal Best Sellers list within just 24 hours of its release. Buoyed by this early achievement, Dominy treated his family to a celebratory Chinese takeaway meal using the earnings from pre-orders.

Continued Success

Dominy’s second novel “Blood Brides: A Vampire Story” was published on February 14, 2024 to widespread interest from readers in the United States.

Then in May 2024, he secured a major distribution deal to have the book stocked in Waterstones bookstores across the UK and USA, marking another major milestone for the young author.

On April 20, 2024, Dominy participated in the Abergavenny Writing Festival, engaging in a live conversation about his work with celebrated children’s author Claire Fayers.

Media Appearances

Dominy’s inspiring story of overcoming grief through creative expression has captured international media attention. On November 18, 2023, the BBC published a feature article highlighting his remarkable debut success with “Why the good Die Young.”

The article provided insight into Dominy’s writing process and paid tribute to how he channelled his anguish in a constructive way, stating “Mckenzy said his love for writing began as a young child when he used to look at people in the street and think they could be good characters in a book.”

In addition to his literary accomplishments, Dominy has cultivated an active presence on social media, allowing him to connect directly with his growing fanbase.

Personal Life

Despite his professional successes at a young age, Dominy remains grounded in his Welsh roots and committed to honouring his late mother’s memory through his writing. As his career continues to flourish, readers and literary fans alike are eager to witness what imaginative worlds he will create next.