BETWEEN TWO SEASONS
by Marc Macdonald
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GENRE: Literary Fiction
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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.
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Excerpt:
I spent the rest of the night in my room. I zoned out. I read a book—well, part of one anyway. I watched TV—if you classify mindlessly channel surfing as watching.
Mostly, I stared out the window, gazing upon the trees and seeing an ominous curtain before me. My emotions were tempestuous and indistinguishable. I was looking forward to having the night to process whatever this cornucopia of anxiety, unease, guilt, and excitement was all about.
It had been sixteen years. Sixteen years.
I know life is as full of regrets as it is anything else, and sometimes the regrets stand a little taller, push back a little stronger, and thrust their way into memories, overtaking what once was good and turning it into a heaping pile of shame.
Just as my dinnertime zone out had been interrupted, so too was my Zen moment of deeply inhaling the fresh forest air and summoning the memories of someone I used to love. Still loved. Will forever love.
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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.
What is the most memorable book you have read?
The most memorable book I have read is the Five Times I Met Myself by James L Rubart.
If you could travel through time but could only go one way, would you choose the past or the future and Why?
The future. I’ve spent too much time living in the past and dwelling on things that cannot be changed.
If won a trip to a fantasy destination, where would you go?
I don’t think I have a place in mind, but I can tell you what it would need: mountains, tall, stately trees, a lake, and a whole lot of silence outside of that sounds of nature. It’s not very glamorous, but it’s what would bring my soul the most peace.
What did you want to be when you grew up, if you wanted to be a writer what inspired that desire?
I wanted to be a professional baseball player. I loved baseball more than anything growing up and had a decent trajectory but injuries put an end to that. Writing, however, was always in my DNA, it just showed up later in the game.
What do you do to relax especially when writing is giving you a bit of trouble?
I like to get outside, especially in the cooler weather. The fresh air, quiet, and nature allow me to reset, especially when writer’s block hits.
If a Djinn granted you one wish free and clear, what would you wish for?
If more wishes were off the table, I think I would go with being able to heal people of any and all ailments.
What do you find is the most challenging part of writing?
Finding time to write. When I sit down to write, I usually have a pretty clear vision of where I’m going in the moment. I often write in spurts, so getting a chunk out here and there is relatively simple (from an out-of-the-brain-and-onto-the-page perspective). Getting it polished up and ready to go, that’s another issue altogether.
If you could invite any famous person over for dinner, who would that be and why?
Aaron Sorkin. I love his shows and its due to the writing. I would love to pick his brain on his process, his style, what drives him, and much more.
If you could invite any fictional character over for dinner, who would it be and why?
Volya Rinpoche, a fictional Tibetan Buddhist teacher and monk. This character is in Roland Merullo’s Breakfast with Buddha. I think the wisdom and clarity he would bring to the conversation would be exceptional. And, if you’ve read his stories, you know he brings a good time too.
And last but not least a couple of favorite questions –
Favorite food – Steak/Sushi
Favorite drink – Raspberry Iced Tea/Old Fashioned
Favorite desert – Apple Pie
Favorite place – Rocky Mountains
Favorite genre – Literary Fiction
Favorite season - Fall
Favorite holiday - Thanksgiving
Favorite TV show – The West Wing
Favorite movie – Bull Durham
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