Sanctified! by Maggie Blackbird

Promote Me Please After Dark welcomes Maggie Blackbird to talk about her new book SANCTIFIED

Where’d those characters come from?

Coming up with the concept and characters for Sanctified was quite easy.  It’s the third book in the Matawapit Family Series.  Each book can be read as a standalone, but there is an underlying series arc since the Kabatay family is the Matawapit family’s main antagonist.  Especially big brother Clayton who is every inch the culturally traditional Ojibway.  Although the Kabatays aren’t quite as prominent in Redeemed, book two, they do make a few appearances, and they do fuel the underlying series arc.

When it came time to write eldest son Jude’s story, having him fall in love with the youngest Kabatay, Raven, was a no-brainer.  Raven makes a brief appearance in Blessed, book one, but she doesn’t have a speaking roll until book two, Redeemed, since Raven and the hero for book two, Adam, have a history.  No, not that kind of history LOL.  But they, at one time, shared the same neighbourhood in Winnipeg, and she dated one of Adam’s gangbanging buddies.

The plot came quickly to me, because Jude and Raven stand on opposing sides.  Newly-divorced, Jude bolts for Ottertail Lake to serve as the new principal of the school, and he arrives during the death of the reserve’s chief, and the upcoming leadership election.  Raven has been clean from drugs for two and a half years, having moved back home after living in Winnipeg from the age of sixteen.  She’s the black sheep of clan Kabatay, and she’s willing to do anything to finally win her family’s love, trust, and respect, and also the respect of the community.

Conflict came easy.  Jude is the campaign manager for his brother-in-law Darryl Keejik (hero one from Blessed) and Raven is big brother Clayton’s campaign manager.

This book was a lot of fun to develop.  And I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.