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PR Isfeld

That back-to-school feeling
That back-to-school feeling
  • PR Isfeld
  • Writing

“For as long as she could remember, she had thought that autumn air went well with books, that the two both somehow belonged with blankets, comfortable armchairs, and big cups of coffee or tea.”

— Katarina Bival

Even though the temperature here in Ottawa is in the high 20s, the signs of fall are unmistakable: sunset coming earlier, an underlying crispness in the morning air,  a golden cast to the light. And, of course, the reappearance of school buses and kids walking home, laden down with backpacks. Even though I’ve been out of school for, er, some time, fall always brings me a renewed sense of creativity, focus, and sense of purpose. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only writer who has that back-to-school feeling.

For those of us in the northern hemisphere anyway, autumn brings the idea of a fresh start, maybe even more so than January. It feels like a good time to revisit your goals and start new projects, or maybe take a course. For me, it’s also a good time to evaluate where I am in my current WIP and set some fresh targets. When everyone around is doing the same thing, it’s almost like the Universe is telling you to revamp your routine and focus on your objectives. The momentum is built-in.

Of course, it helps that it’s such a dramatic season, rich with sensory detail. Brightly coloured leaves, cool mornings, the smell of logs burning in fireplaces everywhere– all of these things can spark anybody’s imagination. It’s like the world becomes more vibrant even as the noise level dies down. Autumn’s is a more introspective and reflexive energy and slowing down and taking things in is always good for creativity.

Now, enough procrastinating and yammering on about leaves, time to get back to that homework, er I mean WIP…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writer who has that back-to-school feeling

Captives
A psychological mystery that explores the aftermath of a brutal abduction and the secrets that haunt the survivors.

Three years ago, Samantha Gilchrist and her friends Amanda, Kaylee and Maria forged an unbreakable bond when they survived a brutal kidnapping in Kandahar. Sam wrote a best-selling memoir about their ordeal and moved on to a great new career as a journalist and a happy relationship with Dave, a handsome intelligence officer she met in Afghanistan. Still, she can’t help wondering about the reasons behind their capture.

On their way to Maria’s remote Gatineau cottage to commemorate the anniversary of their escape and rescue, Sam and Kaylee hear news reports about a missing Afghan diplomat. Then, they think they see Ali, their former interpreter and the mastermind behind the hostage-taking, who was supposed to have died during their rescue. When Amanda’s lifeless body is found the next morning, the friends’ suspicions lead them down a dangerous path that uncovers dark secrets and hidden motives.

The narrative alternates between the present day and the version of events presented in Sam’s memoir, as she and her friends struggle with their grief over the loss of Amanda and lingering trauma and jealousy over their differing fortunes in the aftermath of the kidnapping. As tensions rise and secrets are revealed, Sam starts to question everything she thought she knew about her friends, her lover, and herself, not just in the past, but in the here and now. 

Full of suspense, complex characters, and unexpected twists, Captives will cause fans of mystery and psychological thrillers to make irresponsible decisions about their sleep. 

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