Please welcome Marc Macdonald to This Writer’s Life. This is one stop on his book tour to support his novel Between Two Seasons.
TWL-Why and when did you decide to become an author?
I was one of many writers how finally sat down to write the novel living in their heads during the COVID-19 pandemic. I figured that if I didn’t find time when there was literally nothing else to do, then I would never find or make time. At first, it was about writing the book, that’s it. Not publishing, not marketing, just writing a story to see if I could. There was a time I was content that it would just live in a drawer, no one but me having ever read the words on the page. But the more I thought about it, the more time passed, the more I knew that this was a story that might touch people in a way they needed. And at that point, I made the decision to become an author, publishing the book however I could.
TWL-What’s a typical writing session like for you?
Jagged and intermittent. With a career, family with young kids, and the regular hustle and bustle of life, there is no set writing time, no routine. I write during my lunch breaks, quiet hours at night when everyone has gone to asleep and I’m somehow still awake. But, when I’m writing, I’m in the zone and I usually fly through some chapters. Are they good? Rarely, but the words are down and they can be fixed later.
TWL-What have you learned most from being a writer?
That it takes dogged determination long after typing ‘the end’ to realize even an ounce of success. And, on the topic of success, redefining that means in such a unique marketplace.
TWL-What’s been the biggest struggle and how did you overcome it?
The biggest struggle has juts been finding time; to market, to write, to engage. I don’t think it’s necessarily something to overcome, but to manage and prioritize appropriately.
TWL-What’s been your biggest victory?
Having best-selling authors read and blurb my book. When I reached out with this ask, I expected polite declines. However, what I received in return was anything but and to have such praise from other writers is the singular greatest victory.
TWL-If you could give advice to your pre-author self, what would it be?
Start writing NOW. If I could go back and start earlier, I would. It may not have resulted in Between Two Seasons (in fact I guarantee it wouldn’t), but it would given me an outlet I now realize I very much need.
TWL-What writing tip would you offer to a new author?
Start writing NOW. For all the same reasons as above, but also for the fact that if you have a story in your head, it needs to be told. It will resonate with someone; they will need that story in the lives more than you’ll ever know.
GENRE: Literary Fiction
BLURB:
Haunted by regret and stalled by guilt, Alex Chambers arrives at Silver Springs Health and Rehabilitation Centre searching for redemption. What he finds instead is Mae Seasons—a sharp-tongued, fiercely independent resident with no interest in being anyone’s project.
Alex came hoping to make amends for the mistakes of his youth, especially to the woman he once hurt. But when that hope slips away, he’s drawn into an unexpected role: caregiver and reluctant confidant to Mae, whose irreverence hides a lifetime of buried truths.
As days at Silver Springs unfold in their strange, often absurd rhythm, Alex is forced to confront the tangled grief of his past. Through awkward silences, reluctant confessions, and moments of startling vulnerability, he and Mae forge an unlikely friendship—one stitched together by shared loneliness, reluctant compassion, and the possibility of healing.
At once poignant and quietly humorous, Between Two Seasons is a story about the lives we try to outrun, the people who challenge us to face ourselves, and the surprising ways connection takes root.
Excerpt
Walking back to my room after Mae had been escorted to her doctor’s appointment, Susanne lobbied my attention from near the elevator, requesting a word that, although promised, I knew wouldn’t be quick.
Great, I thought. What fresh hell does she have in store for me now? Was she coming, with her corporate language, to add salt to my very fresh shin wound?
Susanne was dressed in her self-styled uniform. Nearly everything was exactly the same as the day before, but instead of a navy-blue ensemble, it was charcoal grey. Even her hair looked the exact same. If her tone indicated she was operated by levers, her attire confirmed it.
“Mr. Chambers, how are you this fine afternoon?” she asked cheerily. Fake, but cheerily.
“I’m good, Susanne.” Thanks for asking. I guess.
“I heard you had a little mishap with Ms. Seasons this morning. I do hope you will try not to rile her up like that in the future.”
Stunned at where she could have possibly received such misguided information as to the morning’s events, my mouth opened to respond, but no words formed.
“Very well then. I just wanted to check in on you and remind you that our older guests here at Silver Spring can be very sensitive. Many of them have lived a life you and I could never dream of enduring. We need to be mindful of that at all times. I do hope you will remember and conduct yourself accordingly.”
I felt my jaw inching closer to the floor.
“Yes, very good. If you need anything, please let Mr. Abner at the front know. He can assist you with whatever you require. Though, in the future, do try to be a little kinder to him as well. We want to make sure we treat everyone here at Silver Springs, whether staff or resident, with the utmost respect, care, and love.”
Jaw met floor.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Marc MacDonald is an author who believes every great story starts with a spark—whether it’s a single sentence, an unforgettable character, or an idea that won’t let go. As the writer behind Between Two Seasons, a novel that celebrates the beauty of human connection, Marc weaves heartfelt narratives that linger long after the last page is turned.
When he’s not crafting compelling fiction, Marc applies his storytelling skills as a seasoned communications professional, proving that every message—whether in a book or a press release—deserves to be engaging. He’s also a fierce defender of the Oxford comma, an unapologetic pun enthusiast, and someone who firmly believes that coffee is the most essential writing tool.
Find him deep in his next manuscript, chasing inspiration, or justifying “research” as an excuse to buy more books. Catch up with Marc on his personal website: https://marcmacdonald.ca/ or @MarcMacWrites on Instagram.
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Marc Macdonald will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.