THE BROKEN TRAIL - Christa MacDonald - One Free Book

Welcome, Christa. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Sometimes my sense of humor comes through, but most of the time my characters are a combination of people I’ve known over the years or wholly drawn from the ether.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Oh my, I’m not quirky at all. I do wear my hair in pigtails sometimes so that qualifies…I think.

When did you first discover you were a writer?

Not long after I started reading I knew I wanted to write the sort of stories that create a world you can fall right into.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Cozy mysteries, fantasy, and romance are the genres I read most often. I love the classics, and consider myself a Holmesian.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I don’t watch broadcast TV. We canceled cable to save a few pennies, but found an unintended side effect was that we have more peaceful evenings and weekends. We consciously choose whatever content we want so it’s a different pace.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I have a baby names book and use the internet for last names. Sometimes I poll readers for suggestions.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Tough one. I’m so tough on myself I honestly rarely have “yay me” moments when I accomplish something. I’m probably proudest of my kids, but they aren’t accomplishments.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A hawk. I’d love the ability to fly while also being a wee bit fearsome.

What is your favorite food?

Any combination of cheese, tomatoes, and bread; pizza, bruschetta, you name it.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Self-doubt. I sought out critique partners who were honest about my work, and it helped me distinguish between the passages in my writing that truly needed work and my internal doubt.

Tell us about the featured book.

The Broken Trail is the story of a woman who has everything, but peace. She takes on a job in a small town and ends up butting heads with the local police captain who can’t seem to leave her alone. Katherine lets her heart harden after some pretty significant trauma.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Katherine Grant glanced out at the pine trees whipping past on the far side of the highway and then out the passenger window at the wall of rock on the other side. “This is looking downright uncivilized, Henry,” she said, half-expecting her 9-year-old red BMW to answer. She knew that Sweet River, Maine, was a remote hill-town, but it was starting to look more desolate than remote. The last sign of life had been ‘Mike’s Bait ‘N’ Ammo’, and that was over an hour ago. She hit the call button on the steering wheel, the ring of the phone sounding only once over the car speakers before her assistant answered.

 “You rang?”

“Heather, remind me again. Why am I doing this?”

“Because Helena, the Washington kingmaker, asked you to consider it, and nobody says no to Helena?”

“Nope. Try again.”

“Because you take contracts in school districts where you can do the most good, not where you can get the most notoriety.”

“Makes me sound noble, but I don’t think that’s it.”

“Because you need a vacation, and a tiny Christian school in a resort town in the middle of the woods sounded restful?”

“That’s the one, but I’m seriously concerned about how remote this is. I’ve lost cell service twice, and the last thing I passed was a roadside shack advertising bait and ammo.” She paused then added, “Bait and ammo, Heather.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My web site: http://www.christamacdonald.com

Thank you, Christa, for sharing this book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Broken Trail (Sweet River Redemption) (Volume 1) - paperback
The Broken Trail (Sweet River Redemption Book 1) - Kindle

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