Quick Bio
Rachel Mans McKenny is a writer and humorist from the Midwest, recently published in McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Elle Magazine, Electric Lit, The Rumpus, and The New York Times. She also co-hosts the literary matchmaking podcast Blind Date with a Book. The Butterfly Effect is her first novel.
For more info on her publications, click here
Selected Media Coverage and Recorded Past Events
Discussion Videos and Interviews on BookClub for The Butterfly Effect
In Conversation with Premee Mohamed (Beneath the Rising) about Bugs and Nerd-stuff @ Mysterious Galaxy, San Diego, California (virtual)
Rachel Mans McKenny’s Launch Party at The Ripped Bodice! With Jen DeLuca (Well Met, Well Played), and Jesse Sutanto (The Obsession, Dial A for Aunties) on Books, Love, and their paths to Publication @ Ripped Bodice (virtual)
Rachel Mans McKenny on the Talk of Iowa program on Iowa Public Radio
Rachel Mans McKenny in Conversation with J. Ryan Stradal for The Bookworm Omaha
In Conversation with Libby Hubscher (Meet Me in Paradise) for her “Meet Me in Pajamas” series
Appearance on the Bloom Room for Tall Poppy Writers!
Interview on Iowa Public Radio’s Talk of Iowa
Interview on Fierce Womxn Writing
Piece by author about Midwest “Not-Nice” Novels
Featured on list for Book Trib
Interview on Submission Hell: It’s True
Interview on Global Girls Book Club
Coverage in Off The Beaten Shelf
Interview on Wine, Women, Words
A Man Called Ove meets The Rosie Project in this “delightfully off-kilter” (Rachel Yoder, Nightbitch) tale of a grumpy introvert, her astonishing lack of social skills and empirical data-driven approach to people and relationships. It was selected as the All-Iowa Read for Adults in 2022.
More about The Butterfly Effect
The Butterfly Effect was selected as the 2022 All-Iowa Reads by the Iowa Center for the Book
Praise for The Butterfly Effect
“A warm, winning debut from a talented new Midwestern voice.” –J. Ryan Stradal, New York Times bestselling author of Kitchens of the Great Midwest
“Delightfully off-kilter…[Lovably-flawed] Greta’s comically critical point of view interrogates Midwestern norms and gendered stereotypes in a story that explores the legacy of familial dysfunction. Come for the butterflies, and stay for Mans McKenny’s acerbic authorial eye which examines the complexities of the Midwest and its quiet dramas.”
—Rachel Yoder, award-winning author of Nightbitch
“A lovably grumpy and unfiltered heroine. As a reader, you’ll undergo your own metamorphosis and realize how much you needed this story.”
—Faith Salie, Emmy-winning contributor to CBS News Sunday Morning and author of Approval Junkie
“Satisfying, engrossing, interesting.” – KJ Dell’Antonia, author of The Chicken Sisters
“A page-turner.” -Charity Nebbe, Iowa Public Radio
Rachel Mans McKenny 
