Born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, MacDonald was raised in the fishing village of Arisaig, on the coast of the Northumberland Strait where six generations of his Scottish ancestors lived and worked. MacDonald’s experiences working in the lobster industry and his love of the Northumberland coast figure prominently in his writings.

He attended St. Francis Xavier University, receiving an honours degree in business administration and economics, and went on to study law at the University of New Brunswick, receiving his degree in 1998. He was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1999.

With adequate fallback position firmly in place, he began his writing career, penning several books, short stories, poems and screenplays. The White Iris is his first novel.

MacDonald continues to reside where his ancestors landed ashore in Arisaig, next to the silver Northumberland.