Hello!
Jeffery J. McKenna is a lawyer by day, but don’t let that fool you—his true passions involve adventure, history, and inspiring young minds. It took him twenty years (yes, two whole decades!) to craft a book that teenagers would actually enjoy. Why so long? Because writing a story that’s both exciting and meaningful isn’t easy—just ask anyone who’s ever stared at a blank page hoping for a genius idea.
When he’s not in his office doing lawyer stuff, you’ll find Jeff tearing up mountain biking trails, diving deep into American history, or traveling across the country to speak with students about patriotism, courage, and the power of their own voices. His goal? To make history feel less like a textbook and more like an adventure—because let’s be honest, history is wild!
Jeffery believes young people have the power to change the world, and his writing reflects that. If you love stories about courage, determination, and discovering who you really are, then you’re in the right place.
Want to connect? Drop him a message—he loves hearing from readers! Just don’t ask him how long it’ll take to write his next book… he’s still recovering from the first one.
BEHIND THE SCENES!
Meet some of the inspiration for different parts of the book, and some of the real life faces of different characters!
The real-life Lee Warren, known around town as "The Flag Man," truly lived up to his name! A Pearl Harbor veteran, he was famous for handing out flags and spreading patriotism wherever he went.
Sadly, the original Green Dragon Tavern is long gone—but that didn’t stop me from stepping back in time! While researching my novel, I had the chance to visit this version of the tavern. No secret revolutionary meetings were happening (as far as I know), but it was still an incredible way to soak up the history and imagine what it might have been like when the Sons of Liberty were plotting their next bold move over pints of ale.
Meet the real-life Mimi Brazieal—better known in the novel as Needham High’s ultimate “It Girl.” There’s no doubt about it—she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. These days, she goes by Mimi McKenna, and for the past 36 years, I’ve been lucky enough to call her my wife. As a teenage boy I couldn't have imagined ending up with a more incredible woman. Talk about a plot twist in my favor!
In my hand (while wearing the required gloves, of course) is the musket ball that allegedly took the life of Dr. Joseph Warren. Holding it was a surreal moment—like reaching across time and touching the past. If you look at the computer behind me, and the color of my hair in this photo, you'll note that this photo was taken in the EARLY stages of the 20 year writing and research process!
Everyone always asks me who inspired my beloved character, Grace. Surprisingly, she wasn’t based on a person—but on a four-legged friend with a heart of gold: Gracie Lou. Gracie was loyal, loving, and had the warmest brown eyes you could ever imagine. Sadly, she became very ill and passed away just as I was finishing the novel, but her kindness and unwavering love for others live on in Grace’s character. She may have been small, but her impact was anything but.
I'd LOVE to hear from you!
I'm always excited to hear from readers about what there experience was like reading Saving Dr. Warren... "A True Patriot," questions they might have, or any insights they can share with me about things they know!