Book Title: 70 NORTH
Character Name: Tracie Hunter
How would you describe your family or your childhood?
My family is incredible. I’m so thankful for them. My dad was in the Army – so we traveled all over the world when I was young. Getting to see some of the wonderful sights and museums and cultures was one of my favorite things about being an “Army Brat.” It fed my natural curiosity, and my parents were very supportive of that. But my family is situated in D.C. now. I don’t get to see them as much as when I lived at home, but we talk all the time. I won’t lie though, I miss a good Mom hug and watching the Army/Navy football game with my dad. Go Army!
What was your greatest talent?
Asking questions. LOL. Remember what I said about natural curiosity? That meant constant questions. I am fascinated by how things work – specifically the human body. That’s why I went into medicine—first as a medical examiner and then a surgeon. Seeing how God made the human body, what happens when it breaks down, and being able to help put it back together is… well it’s something I take very seriously. But I don’t think I would be here, able to do my job with exceptional skill, if my parents had stifled my curious nature.
Significant other?
No one on the horizon. Don’t get me wrong, a relationship with the right person would be amazing. But my job is also very stressful and demanding on my time. And my mind.
Biggest challenge in relationships?
Time. Brain capacity. Hahaha. I’m awkward. And I’ve been told I’m too direct at times. It’s difficult to remember that I’m not always in theater (that’s the operating room). I have a tendency to be a bit… well… bossy. And I wasn’t lying about brain capacity. After a long surgery, it’s like my brain becomes applesauce. I have trouble remembering to eat lunch! So trying to keep up with a boyfriend seems challenging.
Where do you live?
I have the privilege of living in the best state in the Union: Alaska. I’m just outside of Fairbanks in a little cabin that is remote, but close enough for the essentials. It’s a small slice of heavenly silence and I’m really grateful to God for it.
Do you have any enemies?
Not that I know of. Like I said earlier, I am the leader of my operating room and take charge in that way. That tends to put people off every now and then. But when we work to save lives, sometimes their literal beating heart in our hands, and a family waiting to hear that their loved one is all right… well that’s not time to be worried about feelings. I have gone through a few OR nurses – but it’s imperative to have someone I can trust to support me when in surgery.
How do you feel about the place where you are now? Is there something you are particularly attached to, or particularly repelled by, in this place?
I think I am content where I am. I love my job. The thrill of it. Being able to help people and care about them in a very tangible way. It gets a bit lonely at times, but I can’t imagine doing anything else. I need to make more time for church – that is something I definitely need to get on. But other than that, I’m happy with my life.
Do you have children, pets, both, or neither?
No children or pets. With the hours I work, having a pet is too much work. I would feel guilty leaving them alone for so long. But sometimes I think a dog would be nice. Many friends have pets and they seem to enjoy the companionship.
What do you do for a living?
I am a general surgeon for Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. But I am also able to do other, more complicated surgeries. I also help in remote villages, performing emergency surgeries where there is no access to hospitals.
Greatest disappointment?
I had an incident early in my career. Well, my former career. I was a medical examiner in D.C. years ago and had a case that went sideways. I wasn’t able to help the victim’s family get resolution, to help the police find the killer. That kind of grief and disappointment is difficult to get over.
Greatest source of joy?
My job. My relationship with the Lord. When the case went south in D.C., I decided I wanted to be on the lifesaving side of things rather than always looking at cadavers and trying to figure out how they died. Knowing that God has gifted me to help people back to health is something I treasure.
What do you do to entertain yourself or have fun?
I love to run. Running is thrilling, especially where I live. There is so much nature to observe, the glory of God in creation. And it’s the best way to destress after a long workday. I also love to watch baking shows. I’m terrible at baking LOL but I love to watch other people make yummy treats. And I love to eat them.
What is your greatest personal failing, in your view?
I have a tendency to get a little obsessed about things. But in my defense, it’s because I care. About my family, my patients, my job, my reputation. I’m a stickler for things, but I know at times that can be overwhelming for others and I need to have some grace. It’s a work in progress.
What keeps you awake at night?
Many things. Wondering if I’ve made the right choices when it comes to a patient. I admit, that case in DC still bothers me at times. I really thought we had the bad guy and to realize we didn’t felt like someone punched me in the gut. But it was the fact that I told the family we would solve it. To leave them without closure… well it breaks my heart. I’ll say that.
What is the most pressing problem you have at the moment?
Does it break patient/doctor confidentiality to say a patient? LOL. This man is quite possibly the most irritating man I have met in my life. And the most stubborn. I’ve never met anyone so determined to isolate himself from everyone in my life. And boy oh boy is he a grouch. But I’m hopeful his life is about to change for the better. He seems to have people around him who really care about him. A strong community invested in seeing him get better. That’s a special thing to have.
Is there something that you need or want that you don’t have? For yourself or for someone important to you?
Right now, I’d love some sleep. After a double shift and another surgery in thirty-six hours, sleep would be amazing. Or the ability to turn off my brain. Though it’s mush post-surgery, when I get home, it can be difficult to turn off all the thoughts about the day. Decompressing is hard when I can’t run when I get home late.
Why don’t you have it? What is in the way?
Right now, my overactive imagination. And the feeling that I am failing my patients. But God is able to help me. I know that. I just pray that I’ve done enough to help the people given over to my care.
The Cyber Solutions team has managed to stay one step ahead of the madman who has killed so many. From the original 26 Below cyberattack in Fairbanks to the 8 DOWN serial murders in Anchorage and beyond, they matched wits with the killer and stopped him from reaching his ultimate goals.
But final judgment is coming. And this time, there may be no defeating him.
David "Mac" McPherson has a personal stake in making sure this predator stays down for good. His family died in the cyberattack. Mac knows that God says "vengeance is mine"—but surely an exception can be made.
Surgeon Tracie Hunter is determined to stay sober and keep saving lives in Fairbanks, Alaska—even if it means being a little obsessive. After all, that same kind of determination is how she kept Mac alive after the murderer targeted him. And she won't let Mac run himself into the grave looking for payback; he's come to mean too much to her.
Then someone hacks into the system at Tracie's previous job as a medical examiner and frames her in a murder cover-up. There's no one else skilled enough to create a digital trail this incriminating—the killer is back in action, exploiting cybersecurity weaknesses to destroy lives. Can Mac stay focused and stop the next attack when his own vulnerability is exposed? Or will his need to make someone pay for his pain allow the maniac to pull ahead and win at last?
Thriller [Kregel Publications, On Sale: October 15, 2024, e-Book, ISBN: 9780825447747 / ]
Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than thirty books. A lover of history and research, she often gets sucked into the past and then her husband has to lure her out with chocolate and the promise of eighteen holes on the golf course. Kimberley and her family were introduced to 15 million people when they were featured on ABC's hit program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Since the ABC show aired, they have been featured on The Discovery Channel's Mystery ER, the Montel Williams Show, American Family Radio, The Harvest Show, and hundreds of other national TV and radio programs.
With 1 million books sold, she loves meeting new readers around the world and can't wait to dive into her next novel.
She loves music, kayaking, and her family. Married to the love of her life for more than three decades, she lives and writes in Coloraodo where she's traded in her hat of "Craziest Mom" for "Nana the Great."
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