You’ve probably resolved a ‘hangry’ afternoon with a snack vending machine…but have you ever heard of a book vending machine? Hunni Hound Books vending machines deliver stories on demand to ravenous readers at cafes and wine bars in North Carolina, and Mixed Up Files contributor, Megan Hunnicutt is behind the magic! Let’s hear more from this children’s writer about her brave books and her relentless commitment to bring books and people together.
Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Megan. As a mom-entrepreneur myself, I’m inspired to learn about your online bookstore venture. How did Hunni Hound Books come to be for a busy mom like yourself?
Hunni Hound Books was supposed to be a storefront. My husband and I found the perfect spot and hoped to buy the building. Unfortunately, our financing fell through and I was heartbroken. So I pivoted and decided to just start small and open up a little online storefront via Bookshop.com. Other local friends, families, and teachers knew about it and so I set up a little business where I would create online shelves for parents and teachers hunting for books that engage their kids. That expanded into pop-up shelves at coffee shops.
What inspired the expansion into book vending?
I had been seeing these book vending machines on Instagram and thought they were adorable. Such a great way to have a micro source de facto bookshop, no rent and relatively low inventory. So we took the leap, found the right machine, had it wrapped and placed in my friend’s wine café in Fletcher, North Carolina.
In addition to Hunni Hound Books, I heard you’ve had some recent career developments into the publishing world. Tell us more!
I’ve always wanted to be in publishing. Working with Bookshop, I spent a lot of time curating books and thought I had a knack for connecting books and readers. I felt like I was getting better at knowing what makes a book great. I’ve been applying for lots of publishing gigs, but being a mom that’s 49, it’s not an easy thing to do. I came across a post on LinkedIn from Jackie Garcia Morales. She was just starting out as an agent at Storm Literary and was looking for a very part-time assistant so I immediately messaged her. She told me later she felt like I had the most authentic message and as soon as we talked, we completely clicked. So now I am assisting with marketing her upcoming middle grade novel! I’m actually going to be interviewing her for MixedUpFiles to talk more about it. She’s been amazing and incredibly supportive.
Seeing both sides of the publishing world now, what kind of unique insight can you share with other writers that has made your (and might make their) journey easier?
Jackie is so incredibly down to earth. It’s been fun being able to sit and talk to her. She’s also a writer herself and went through the same thing all of us are going through. She writes, she queries, she’s had rejections. She finally landed her dream agent and now she’s going through the next step in the process. I think learning to be patient and know that agents are just people like us. They want the best for us. They’ve been there. I also think I’ve become more connected with just writing. Of course I wanna get an agent. I want to be published, but Jackie helped me remember why I love it and why it’s so important for all of us to keep going. Besides that, we had lunch the other day and it’s fun chatting with her about the publishing industry and the ins and outs of what we’re writing and things that seem to be striking a cord with editors.
You spent 15 years as a teacher. In what ways does that experience influence your writing and publishing career?
Organization! I’m learning that organization is incredibly important. Part of my work with Jackie has been developing a database with all of the various blogs and magazines and podcasts to help her promote her book. I’ve had a lot of fun digging through that and learning the ins and outs of Google sheets. It sounds so ridiculous but it’s helping me with order and structure in my writing. Also time management. I’m having to make sure I have time for Jackie, which in turn forces me to really make sure I have time daily to write.
Let’s talk about your 2025 middle grade novel, The Sorrows of Hattie Springs. Give readers a quick pitch.
When twelve-year-old Maggie is forced into a grief support group after the death of her mother, the last thing she expects is to discover a hidden portal to Effugium—a magical realm where talking animals, fairies, witches, and the spirits of storytellers have long sought refuge from heartbreak.
But Effugium is in danger.
To save both Effugium and their own world, they’ll have to face their deepest losses—and help Maggie finally let her mother go.
What a powerful story! I love meeting other writers who touch on tougher yet very real subjects, like loss. What inspired you to write about grief and why do you think these stories are important for kids to read?
I started writing the book when my mother had dementia. As I was writing it, she passed away. So, it was a very personal book. I thought about my own kids and what I wanted to give them in the process. I wanted to teach them that it was important that they faced the hard things. In the middle of all of that, I had to have open-heart surgery so I was facing not only the death of my mom, but my own mortality, and this book was the way that I was able to speak to my kids and tell them that everything was going to be OK.
Wow! That’s an intense experience to write through. What did you want readers to walk away with after reading The Sorrows of Hattie Springs?
Life is hard. We have to face our battles head on. We can be afraid but we can be brave. And once we take that first step, things start to get better.
Well you definitely embodied that bravery while writing your novel. I wonder, the characters in your story discover strength in one another, who in your life do you find strength with?
My husband, Rob. He’s an absolute saint. He carried me through that heart surgery. He’s helping me raise four kids, two of them toddlers. He’s a special ed teacher who has a way with kids. They call him the kid whisperer. There’s no way I would survive this life without him.
Just for fun, since Hunni Hound vending machines have found homes in coffee shops– do you have a favorite cafe drink you enjoy?
Absolutely! I’ve become obsessed with S’mores lattes and when they’re out of season, they have a special way to still make them just for me.
Oh, I’ll have to snag your secret recipe! Okay, last one. What is lighting you up creatively right now? What’s next for you?
My kids are completely my inspiration. I have two toddlers 18 months apart named Daisy and Walden. I have a 13-year-old daughter who’s vastly cooler than I was at that age named Charlie Hill and a son who I’m so proud of who’s starting at Fashion Institute of Technology this fall. They are the bravest, most creative kids I’ve ever met! I’m currently working on a YA horror and a romance book. Romance is everywhere these days and I absolutely have an inspiring romance with Rob so I figured I should probably write about it.
Thank you Megan. It was lovely getting to know you.
Learn more about Megan Hunnicutt on her website or follow her and Hunni Hound Books on Instagram at @meganmhunnicutt and @hunnihoundbooks. Read a sample chapter of The Sorrows of Hattie Springs (2025) and purchase this brave tale on Amazon today!
