Picture a Texas-born storyteller who traded sports journalism for soul-stirring fiction—meet Kelsey McKinney! With her debut novel, God Spare the Girls, McKinney weaves tales of faith, family, and the messy beauty of questioning everything. Her knack for capturing the heart of evangelical culture with wit and warmth has made her a fresh voice in contemporary American literature.
Born and raised in North Texas, McKinney’s roots in evangelical Christianity shape her storytelling. Now based in Philadelphia, she’s not just a novelist but a co-owner of Defector.com and the host of the wildly popular Normal Gossip podcast. Her journey from reporter to fiction writer is as captivating as the stories she tells.
The Making of Kelsey McKinney
Growing up in the heart of the Bible Belt, McKinney was a voracious reader, maxing out her library card weekly. Her evangelical upbringing, complete with church three times a week and daily Bible readings, gave her a front-row seat to the complexities of faith and community. After graduating from UT-Austin’s Plan II honors program in 2014, she dove into journalism, writing for outlets like Vox, Deadspin, and the New York Times. But fiction was calling. Inspired by her therapist’s advice to write for herself, McKinney began crafting stories that reflected her own journey of questioning faith.
Kelsey McKinney’s Unforgettable Stories
McKinney’s debut novel, God Spare the Girls (2021), is a mesmerizing coming-of-age tale set in North Texas. It follows sisters Abigail and Caroline Nolan, daughters of a megachurch pastor, as they uncover their father’s infidelity and grapple with their evangelical upbringing. McKinney’s prose is tender yet sharp, blending humor with heartache to explore themes of family, identity, and the delicate line between faith and deception. Critics, like those at Texas Monthly, praised its ‘astonishingly assured’ voice.
Beyond fiction, McKinney’s non-fiction work shines in You Didn’t Hear This From Me: (Mostly) True Notes on Gossip (2025). This book, born from her Normal Gossip podcast, dives into the cultural role of gossip with wit and insight. Her journalism, from bull riding to megachurches, showcases her ability to find the human heart in any story. Whether fiction or non-fiction, McKinney’s style is intimate, evocative, and unflinchingly honest.
Her podcast, Normal Gossip, has millions of listeners hooked on its juicy, anonymized tales. It’s a testament to McKinney’s storytelling prowess—she makes the mundane feel magical, whether in print or audio.
Why Kelsey McKinney Matters
McKinney’s work resonates because it’s deeply personal yet universally relatable. Her exploration of evangelical culture doesn’t just criticize—it humanizes, showing both its warmth and its wounds. For readers, especially those who’ve wrestled with faith or family, her stories offer catharsis and clarity. As a co-founder of Defector.com, she’s also reshaping media, prioritizing worker-owned models and authentic storytelling.
Her influence extends beyond books. Normal Gossip has sparked a cultural conversation about why we love to share stories, making McKinney a voice for a generation craving connection. She’s proof that you can leave one world behind and build another, one story at a time.
- Born: North Texas
- Key Works: God Spare the Girls (2021), You Didn’t Hear This From Me (2025)
- Podcast: Normal Gossip
- Notable For: Co-owning Defector.com
Snag God Spare the Girls or tune into Normal Gossip to dive into Kelsey McKinney’s vibrant world of faith, gossip, and unforgettable stories!