Interview With a Hero: Jack McKenzie

Jack McKenzie is a hard guy to catch up with! But we finally found time to talk–albeit at the local ice hockey rink.

Pam:   Can I get you a towel? You’re dripping.

Jack:   I have one here. Thanks. So what’s this for? A blog?

Pam:   Yeah. You are my hero of the week.

Jack: (drying off face) I’m flattered! Wow. Brad Pitt wasn’t around?

Pam:   Brad isn’t a character in one of my books. So, did you win?

Jack:   Hockey? Oh, no. This was just a pick-up practice. I’m a little out of shape. I’ve been up north, working with a buddy on a big project.

Pam:   Case McKenna.  His after-school club for kids.

Jack:   Yeah! How’d you know?

Pam:    I wrote his book, too. About Point Surrender.

Jack:   Oh. Of course. So you know about the lighthouses.

Pam:    I should hope so. But let’s talk about you. You are married?

Jack: (grins) Maddie. (Shakes head in reflection) She’s the best. And since you’re going to ask, we have four kids. Hers, Todd, who’s a challenging teen but a good guy; Duncan, mine, from before, you know, and then Davey and Mae. Mae’s in preschool.

Pam:    You’ve known Maddie a long time?

Jack:   We went to high school together. Then we met again one day in the park, just a fluke, I was taking Dunc for a walk. I couldn’t believe how much she’d changed. I mean, she grew up. Into this very hot, sensitive woman. She needed help. With Todd, with her ex, all kinds of stuff. Todd’s dad had disappeared. I took her to Paris to try to sort things out. I can’t even tell you… well… it was weird.

Pam:   What was weird? Paris?

Jack:   What we found when we got there. It just about ended everything between us. I almost packed it in. But you know, I was… I was in too deep by that time. I just couldn’t let her go.

Pam:   I’m sure our mutual fans are glad. What’s up next for you?

Jack:   Don’t laugh. I’m thinking of buying my own lighthouse.

Pam: (rolls eyes) Don’t do this to me. You do realize, I’m the one who has to write this stuff.

Jack:   (broad, gleaming teeth smile) Yes, I do realize that. Wanna get some coffee?

Jack McKenzie and Maddie Cross are both characters in IN TOO DEEP by Anne Carter, from Wings ePress, Amazon and available for your Kindle, iPhone or other ereader from Fictionwise.