Bernard J. MacDonald spent more than three decades in classrooms before publishing his first novel, but his career in education has quietly shaped a body of work that is now reaching new readers. In 2026, his backlist is experiencing a resurgence: Writers Way Solutions has released updated editions of Infidel: Kafir and Zion, the latter retitled Zion: End of Trail. Additionally, Infidel: Kafir was named a finalist in the 2026 Eric Hoffer Book Award, and MacDonald recently discussed the novel on the Writers Way Podcast.
MacDonald's journey to authorship began after a long career in special education, first in Gresham, Oregon, and later as a trainer for educators across Florida. That experience, he says, taught him about helping people navigate difficult circumstances—a theme that runs through all four of his novels. His first book, Missing You (2010), is a love story set against the fog of Alzheimer's disease. Meet Me In Sedona (2011) follows a heartbroken man into the red-rock country of the American Southwest. Infidel: Kafir (2012) explores a cross-cultural romance that tests family honor against forbidden love. And Zion: Trails End (2020), now reissued as Zion: End of Trail, tells the story of a terminally ill retired firefighter who interrupts his own end to rescue a stranger, finding an unexpected second chance at life.
The reissues and award recognition signal a growing interest in MacDonald's work, which consistently returns to themes of grief, illness, and cultural pressure, set against the wide-open landscapes of the American West. MacDonald's own hiking and camping experiences inform these settings, lending authenticity to his descriptions. His fiction, shaped by decades of helping others, offers readers stories of resilience and healing.
The importance of this news lies in the renewed attention to a novelist whose work resonates with universal human experiences. In an industry often focused on debut authors and blockbuster releases, MacDonald's quiet backlist demonstrates that meaningful stories can find audiences over time. The Eric Hoffer Book Award finalist honor, in particular, highlights the quality of Infidel: Kafir and may introduce his novels to readers who appreciate literary fiction that tackles real-world issues.
MacDonald now lives in Saint Augustine, Florida, where he continues to write. His catalog—spanning love, loss, and the search for meaning—offers a testament to the power of second acts, both for his characters and for himself as a writer who started publishing later in life. As his books reach new editions and new readers, his work stands as an example of how personal experience and empathy can shape compelling fiction.
