Natalie MacMaster played her first fiddle at nine and by 16 had already released her first recording. Since then, she has won two Junos, earned a Grammy nomination and become one of Canada’s most beloved musicians. Originally from Cape Breton, N.S., she now lives in Lakefield, Ont., with her husband, fellow fiddler Donnell Leahy, and their seven children, where she continues to share a life richly immersed in music. In her new memoir, I Have a Love Story — now being developed as a touring symphony — MacMaster writes with disarming candour about the ways her music, Catholic faith, and family life intertwine. She spoke with Julie McGonegal about the spiritual currents and enduring love that pulse through her remarkable story.

Julie McGonegal: As someone from a large Catholic family with a deep love of fiddle music, I really resonated with your memoir. The parts about your musical career are fascinating, but I’d love to know how faith and family shaped the story you wanted to tell?

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Natalie MacMaster: The publisher categorized it as a memoir, but that’s not what it is. The book is really a love story.

I wrote it in response to all the terrible events going on in the world that leave us feeling hopeless. I realized, “We’ve got to talk about love. We’ve got to go back to love.”

I wanted to share my faith, parts of my upbringing and different circumstances in my life that show there are still people in the world who believe in love — that it has great value and that we can apply it in everyday life.

JM: It seems like your parents were amazing influences. How did their love help shape you?

NM: My parents weren’t always perfect, but they cared more for our wellbeing than anything. They embodied love, but in simple ways. It was about taking care of our community. They were always doing something for someone else: making biscuits for neighbours, giving........

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