Welcome to STYLE Canada‘s Boreal Book Club: a monthly meeting narrated by Girl Well Read, for bookworms who’re looking to scour new pages. Since we aim to shine a spotlight on all things Canadian in life and style, beauty, and health and wellness, it goes without saying that every instalment of the Boreal Book Club will feature a Canadian author and their latest title. Be sure to use the hashtag #BorealBookClub to share with us on social!
Photo credit: @girlwellread via Instagram
Sometimes unexpected paths lead to the best destinations.
Highly sought after conflict photographer, relationship-averse Marley Cunningham thrives on adrenaline and the chaos of her nomadic life. But when the passion for her career starts to wane, she decides a hike far from the noise of life is the best way to shake the doubts from her mind and focus on what she wants. Spraining her ankle and being rescued by a handsome stranger and his pack of dogs is not part of the plan.
Big-hearted, reclusive Bennett Morgan has spent his life with two main goals: play professional football for a few years and then pursue medicine. Shortly after his football career begins, a catastrophic diagnosis shatters both goals in one fell swoop. Feeling lost for the first time, he packs up his life and two dogs and returns to the home he couldn’t wait to leave. It’s in the shadow of his past that he finds joy in starting a dog sanctuary.
After a rainstorm washes away the road to Bennett’s home, he is shocked to find Marley injured and alone on the secluded trail where he walks the dogs. From the moment she is hoisted onto his back, Marley is drawn in by Bennett’s kindness, strength, and calm nature. Bennett quickly realizes that a bit more human connection in his life might not be such a bad thing, especially when that human is beautiful, courageous, complicated Marley.
Through the patience and care of Bennett, Marley begins to explore her feelings for not just her career but to her shock, the man who rescued her. Bennett, on the other hand, must decide if embracing the present with Marley is worth it, even if the future is uncertain.
Photo: Megan McSpadden (Jenn Kavanagh Photography)
Told in alternating perspectives, this is a novel about embracing the unexpected, learning to love, and finding your own path.
Marley and Bennett are well-developed characters with incredible depth; Marley is complicated, fiercely independent, and deflects with sarcasm and humour while Bennett is kind, compassionate, and humble. Their chemistry is instant and undeniable. Equally satisfying—and hilarious—are the supporting characters. And be warned, there is a scene-stealing dog…
The novel takes a more serious turn when Marley goes back to her everyday life—her career as a conflict photographer is fascinating and harrowing. This is some of McSpadden’s best and beautiful work.
An Unexpected Path is filled with witty banter, dogs, and all the feels.
MEGAN MCSPADDEN enjoys writing romance that will make you laugh one minute only to cry the next. When not writing she can usually be found photographing families, yelling at her beloved Toronto Maple Leafs, dreaming of travelling somewhere else, or cooking something her husband will ask her to make again but knows she won’t because Megan doesn’t do recipes.
McSpadden lives in Hamilton, Ontario with her husband, two dogs, two cats and unruly garden.
Scroll to read Girl Well Read’s exclusive interview with debut author, Megan McSpadden, about An Unexpected Path.
Photo credit: @authormegmcspadden via Instagram
GWR: What was the inspiration for An Unexpected Path?
MM: I’ve always wanted to write a book featuring a photographer. But Bennett’s world came to me first after seeing a story on The Dodo’s YouTube channel about a guy who runs a dog sanctuary in the U.S., I thought hmmm that would be a good starting point! This giant guy alone on this big property with all these dogs. Things sort of flowed from there.
GWR: What came to you first—the overall idea or the characters?
MM: I went in with a basic idea of what I wanted and then I just started to write. I typed Marley and Bennett as I went and that was that. I wish I could say I had things all planned out but I literally had no plan from one page to the next. It just happened.
GWR: Do you have more fun with, character development or plot?
MM: Characters for sure. The first draft was decent but as I reworked things the characters were my favourite part to build up more. Developing their back stories and reasons for the way they are both apart and together. The secondary characters in particular were a blast to write which surprised me. Plot is stressful.
Photo credit: @authormegmcspadden via Instagram
GWR: You and Marley are both photographers although Marley’s profession differs from yours. Can you explain what a conflict photographer is/does?
MM: Conflict photography or war photography is a field of photojournalism that takes place in areas of unrest and upheaval. So warzones, riots, places where violence is likely. They often put their lives and sanity at risk to capture important world events. It’s not a career for the faint of heart. At one point it was a career path I thought I wanted—I studied international relations in university so between my interest in the world and my love of photography it made sense. But I’ve come to realize that I likely would not have lasted long. I have spent years reading articles and books about conflict photographers as well as watching documentaries. It’s the only field of photography I find myself endlessly intrigued by. I just hope I did it justice through Marley.
GWR: Do you have a favourite character, and why is it Yogurt?
MM: Yogurt is certainly a favourite but for me it’s Marley. She’s basically my alter ego and I loved exploring a different path from my own through her.We share a sense of humour, PTSD, a chemical burn scar and inner monologue style although not family life, thankfully. While chatting with my editor I actually realized I wrote Bennett with a lot of the same characteristics as my husband, so she’s probably more me than I realized.
GWR: What made you decide to write the book from a dual point of view? Was it easier or more challenging to explore the parallel storyline?
MM: Marley’s voice was incredibly easy, as I mentioned, she’s very me. Bennett was more challenging but I wanted to balance Marley’s arc with a character that was a bit more settled. Bennett’s path had been altered before the book began while Marley’s started to change just before she met Bennett and then took a hard right the minute she looked up and saw him. The most challenging part was giving the reader enough Bennett even when his voice wasn’t as loud in my head, which sounds a bit odd perhaps. But just as he is in the book he seemed fine with me taking things at my own pace. Marley, on the other hand, wouldn’t shut up!
Photo credit: @authormegmcspadden via Instagram
GWR: What were the most important characteristics and dynamic that you wanted Bennett and Marley’s relationship to have?
MM: It was important to me that both characters saw the other perhaps better than they saw themselves. Even knowing one another for such a short time they really see each other. They are each so supportive of the other and I think when you have two people who are constantly caring about others, it’s important for them each to have that person that cares for them with the same intensity. There is very much a sense of “If you love something let it go” in the book.
GWR: What do you hope readers will take away from An Unexpected Path?
MM: That not all photographers want to take pictures at every social function they are a guest at. I’m kidding, sort of. I’d love for readers to finish with a sense of hope and the realization that not every path we plan to travel down ends up where we expect it to, and that’s not always a bad thing.
GWR: If your book was a beverage, what would it be?
MM: Something warm and spiced like a hot apple cider.
GWR: What are you working on now?
MM: Books 2 & 3! Nellie and Teddy’s story and Sophie and Foster. I’ve introduced everyone except Foster so far, but he may be my favourite.
