The Sand Dollar
by Maggie Christensen
What a delight to have Maggie back to talk about her next book!
2 - The Dreamcatcher is the second book in the series. When can we expect the release of that book?
The Dreamcatcher tells the story of Ellen, who the reader meets in The Sand Dollar. She’s a Native American who owns a bookshop in Florence. The book is currently with my editor and will be released in mid-May.
3 - What are you currently working on?
I’m working on a sequel to Band of Gold. I hadn’t intended to write a sequel to this one, but have been asked by many readers if there will be another. In Band of Gold, readers met Jan, Anna’s sister. This is her story.
1 - The Sand Dollar is the first book
in the Oregon Coast Series. I fell in love with Oregon when we travelled there
two years ago. What's your fascination with the US State?
My mother-in-law moved from California
to Florence, Oregon in her mid-eighties. Sadly she passed away last year a few
months after celebrating her 100th birthday. Over the years we
visited her many times and I fell in love with Florence and the Oregon Coast,
leading me to set this series there.
2 - The Dreamcatcher is the second book in the series. When can we expect the release of that book?
The Dreamcatcher tells the story of Ellen, who the reader meets in The Sand Dollar. She’s a Native American who owns a bookshop in Florence. The book is currently with my editor and will be released in mid-May.
3 - What are you currently working on?
I’m working on a sequel to Band of Gold. I hadn’t intended to write a sequel to this one, but have been asked by many readers if there will be another. In Band of Gold, readers met Jan, Anna’s sister. This is her story.
Blurb
What if you discover everything you believed to be true
about yourself has been a lie?
Stunned by news of an impending redundancy, and impelled by
the magic of a long-forgotten sand dollar, Jenny retreats to her godmother in
Oregon to consider her future.
What she doesn’t bargain for is to uncover the secret of her
adoption at birth and her Native American heritage. This revelation sees her embark on a journey of
self-discovery such as she’d never envisaged.
Moving between Australia’s Sunshine Coast and the Oregon Coast, The Sand Dollar is a story of new
beginnings, of a woman whose life is suddenly turned upside down, and the
reclusive man who helps her solve the puzzle of her past.
Bio
Born and brought up in Scotland, and attracted by
advertisements to ‘Come and Teach in the Sun’, Maggie Christensen emigrated to
Australia in her twenties to teach in primary schools in Sydney. She now lives
with her husband of almost thirty years near Peregian Beach on the Sunshine
Coast of Queensland. She loves walking on the deserted beach in the early
mornings and having coffee by the Noosa River on weekends. After spending many
years in teaching, lecturing and education management, where she wrote course
materials and reports, Maggie began writing the sort of books she enjoys
reading, books about women in their prime, their issues and relationships. Now
her days are spent surrounded by books, either reading or writing them – her
idea of heaven! She continues her love of books as a volunteer with Friends of
Noosaville Library where she helps organise author talks and selects and
delivers books to the housebound.
Author links
Twitter: @MaggieChriste33
Buy links
Amazon US http://amzn.to/1wsZDi3
Kobo bit.ly/1sojOY9
Nook bit.ly/1rurZlM
Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/483699
Excerpt
“We definitely need that drink now.” He put the letter down
on the coffee table and went to the drinks trolley where he poured two large
measures. “Get that down you,” he said, handing one to Jenny.
“What is it?” she asked, sniffing the glass.
“Jack Daniels. The answer to the shock you’ve sustained.
It’ll burn going down, but it’ll help.”
Jenny took a sip.
“Don’t sip it. Take a gulp. Put some fire in your belly.”
Giving him a glare, Jenny emptied the glass, almost choking.
“There, are you happy now?”
“When did you last have something to eat? You should have
something now or that’ll go straight to your head.”
“I don’t need being told what to do.” Jenny’s tone was
abrupt. “Look,” she said more gently, pushing her hands through her hair. “I’m
grateful to you and all that. I needed someone to talk to, to share this with,
but…”
“But now it’s me, you’re thinking better of it?”
“No, not at all. Actually I’m glad it’s you. You won’t…”
“Won’t what?” Mike raised his eyebrows.
“Won’t make a big thing of it, I guess is what I mean. But
I’d rather be alone now, if you don’t mind. I will have something to eat,” she
added, seeing he was about to say something else.
“That wasn’t what I was going to say. I wondered…” he
paused. “I wondered what you were going to do about this. I mean, it’s a bit of
a bummer being thrown this one. How do you intend to deal with it?”
“I really don’t know. The whole thing’s come from left
field. It’s… it’s not anything I expected. Mum and Dad…” Jenny dragged her
fingers through her hair again and started to walk with Mike to the door.
“You’ve been great. I know I have to handle it. I guess I should bring it up
with Maddy, but I can’t do that right now. When she’s better. I’ll need some
answers.”
“I sure would if I were you. Okay. I’ll be off. Umm, if… or…
I’m just a bit up the track if you want an ear.” Mike sounded awkward.
Jenny’s eyes opened wide in surprise. An offer like this was
the last thing she’d expected from this reticent man. “Thanks, I’ll remember
that.” Her voice shook a little as she said goodbye and closed the door behind
him.
