BETWEEN TWO SEASONS
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 exited the food line like a camper in the mess hall, tray in hand and desperately seeking a friend or two to sit with. I, however, scanned the room for the opposite: an empty table. I didn’t have any friends here and wasn’t intent on making any. I wanted to eat and get back to my room. A budding headache and body ache were on the precipice of significantly derailing my first hours at Silver Springs. And these were crucial hours. I was banking on a good night’s rest to alleviate these symptoms but feared the anxious excitement of finally arriving here would preclude any such endeavour.
“Hey, new guy, over here,” came a voice and welcoming wave from the person sitting at a table to my left.
Shit. There goes anonymity.
I had a split decision to make: be polite and kindly dismiss the invitation or accept and possibly be pulled into the labyrinth of Silver Springs politicking. My therapist would not be pleased with this thought. I was creating an outcome, a negative outcome, to a situation I had not yet experienced. But still, I mean, how was this place unlike high school? I’d already relived several moments from my burgeoning youth, and I’d only been on the premises a very short time.
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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.
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Marc Macdonald will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
Enter to win a $20 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Q & A With …
Tell us about you as a person.
I live in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada with my wife, two boys, and family dog, Ozzie. By day I’m the Chief Communications & Engagement Officer for a city nearby and I’m fortunate to work with words in all aspects of my personal and professional life.
I’m a die-hard baseball fan (Atlanta Braves) and love being out in nature, especially in the fall months. I’ve lived across Canada and even spent a few years living in New Jersey when I was in high school.
As I reach this new stage of life, I’m excited to really dive into my novel writing and bring the world stories that resonate and land with emotion and humour.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
Such a tough question. But I think I would choose Aaron Sorkin. I love his television shows mostly because of the way they’re written. I would love to understand how he views language and writing and storytelling.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
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.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their latest book?
Do anything and everything you can to make it happen. Make connections, be relentless, and certainly don’t be afraid or hesitant to fight for yourself or make the tough asks. The more you talk about your book the more others will as well.
List 5 things on your bucket list.
1. Visit all Major League Baseball stadiums
2. Have my book turned into a movie/tv show
3. Write a best-seller
4. See every corner of Canada
5. Go to Scotland
Any final thoughts?
Thank you for the chance to talk about myself and Between Two Seasons. My last thought is about indie authors.
The shelves in big bookstores are full of shiny covers and bold-font names we’ve all seen a hundred times. And sure, some of those books are worth the hype. But here’s the thing: not every story worth reading comes with a million-dollar marketing budget or a spot on the bestseller list. A lot of the good stuff—maybe even the best stuff—is being written by indie authors who are telling the stories only they could tell.
Indie writers don’t have a boardroom full of people asking if their book is “relatable to the 18–34 demographic.” They’re not being told to trim a chapter to keep things neat for a holiday release schedule. What they do have is the freedom to let a story breathe, or wander, or hit you sideways with an idea you didn’t see coming. That freedom leads to books that feel alive—sometimes rough around the edges, sometimes brilliantly polished—but always honest.
These are the voices you won’t always find on the front table of a chain store. They might be self-published, or working with a tiny press, or selling directly from their website. But in those places, you’ll find stories that challenge, surprise, or comfort in ways the “safe bets” from major publishers sometimes can’t. Stories from people writing outside the usual bubbles—queer writers, immigrant voices, working-class perspectives, folks from towns you’ve never heard of but who know something about life you don’t.
And when you pick up an indie book, you’re not just buying paper and ink—you’re backing someone who probably did their own editing, their own cover design, their own late-night marketing hustle. Every read, every review, every recommendation helps that writer keep going.
So if literature is about discovering new ways of seeing the world, indie authors are the mapmakers we shouldn’t overlook. Their stories may not come wrapped in gold foil or front-of-store displays, but they’re real, they’re daring, and they’re waiting for readers willing to look beyond the obvious shelves.
