Check out our interview with Shanna Hatfield, the author of "The Bridge."
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
The idea for this story sparked a few years ago when my husband — affectionately known as Captain Cavedweller — and I were driving from Seattle to Portland. We were on our way to a cousin’s house for dinner and thought we had plenty of time to get there.
About an hour outside Portland, though, traffic on the freeway suddenly came to a complete standstill. Was it a wreck? Construction? Something else entirely?
Of course, I did what most of us would do — I grabbed my phone and started searching for answers. Eventually, I discovered the reason: a carjacking on one of the main bridges into Portland, that ended with a loss of life. The bridge was closed, traffic was blocked in both directions, and we were stuck in the middle of it.
For nearly two hours, we inched along at the breakneck speed of about fifteen miles an hour before finally reaching an alternate bridge and, at long last, my cousin’s home.
As we sat in that sea of vehicles, surrounded by frustrated drivers who just wanted to reach their destinations, I couldn’t help but think about how one person’s single, terrible choice had rippled out to impact thousands of people that day.
And that’s when my imagination took flight.
What if someone in that traffic jam had been racing to a dream job interview? What if someone was heading to a long-awaited reunion with loved ones? Or what if — a thought that stuck with me most — there was a woman about to have a baby, stranded in all that chaos?
By the time we returned home, the seed for this story had been planted in my heart, and I knew it was one I needed to write.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
Reading books by culturally diverse authors provides an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and triumphs others experience. The stories they write hold the power to inspire, or offer glimpses into lives and perspectives different from our own. Exploring new ideas and viewpoints develops our understanding of the world — and that’s something worth celebrating.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
Stories are powerful. Books have the opportunity to reflect, like a mirror, and allow a reader to see themselves on the page. But books can also be a window that offers a look at a landscape far different from what is familiar to the reader. It’s important for books to include a wide variety of people from all walks of life. Only then do we honor the richness of the world we live in.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
"The Bridge" is emotional, high-stakes, and uplifting with an unanticipated heartwarming ending. At its heart, it is a story of crisis, connection, and hope. The world needs more hope, and that was one of the reasons I wanted to write this story.
Once the idea for the book took up residence in my thoughts, I kept coming back to the word connection.
Because of an incident on a bridge that creates chaos and derails the holiday, there are so many opportunities for connection. Between a police officer and the man with a mental illness he is trying to help. Between a woman who goes into premature labor and the nurse who steps out of her own plans to provide assistance and encouragement. Between a tow truck driver and the employee he thinks of as a son. Between a young man chasing his dreams and the rideshare driver who unexpectedly captures his heart.
The connections made by the characters provide the foundation for the hope that is woven through the story.
What can fans expect from your book?
I’d like to think they’ll get an entertaining read that makes them think, reminds them of the kindness of strangers, and leaves them with a heart full of warmth and happiness.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
I have a new book releasing in my Summer Creek series. These books are contemporary Rom-Coms set in the tiny town of Summer Creek (population barely over 500) where a goat named Ethel is the town mascot, and the quirky cast of secondary characters add a lot of fun to each story. Watch for Favoring the Farmer coming October 30.
I love writing Christmas romances, and have a new multi-generational series releasing this holiday season called Silver Bell Sweethearts. The first book takes place in a growing silver mining town named Lovely in Eastern Oregon in the late 1800s and the last of the four books is a contemporary story set in the almost-deserted town. The Birke family are at the heart of these stories and I love writing about the connection between generations. A Joyful Ring is the first book in the series.
