The Summer Before The Storm
The first of "The Muskoka Novels"

Muskoka, 1914. It's the Age of Elegance in the summer playground of the affluent and powerful. Amid the pristine, island-dotted lakes, the granite cliffs, and pine-scented forests of the Canadian wilderness, the young and carefree amuse themselves with glittering balls, lavish picnics, and friendly competitions. But this summer promises to be different when the charming, ambitious, and destitute son of a disowned heir joins his wealthy family at their cottage on Wyndwood Island.

Through Jack's introduction into the privileged life of the aristocratic Wyndhams and their social circle - including captains of industry and financial titans - he seeks opportunities and alliances to better himself, including in his schemes, his beautiful, headstrong, and audacious cousin, Victoria.

A cast of engaging characters vividly brings to life the idyllic lifestyle of endless summers on tranquil lakes. But their charmed lives begin to unravel with the onset of the Great War, in which many are destined to become part of the "lost generation".

This richly textured tale takes the reader on an unforgettable journey from romantic moonlight cruises to the horrific sinking of the Lusitania, genteel Muskoka to wartime Britain, regattas on the water to combat in the skies over France, extravagant mansions to deadly trenches - from innocence to nationhood.

The Summer Before The Storm, the first of "The Muskoka Novels", evokes a gracious, bygone era that still resonates in this legendary land of lakes.

AUTHOR

Born in Germany, Gabriele emigrated to Canada as a young child. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto, with an honours B.Sc. and a B.Ed. in the social sciences and English. As an educator with librarianship qualifications, she has taught in secondary, elementary, and private schools, and worked as a literacy coordinator for two newspapers. She has produced brochures, newsletters, copy, ads, reports, and numerous newspaper articles for many organizations and businesses. For 10 years she operated a part-time website design business.

Gabriele's real love is writing fiction. She is currently working on her fifth novel, which is Book 3 in "The Muskoka Novels" series.

Her first short story, "Mrs. Beresford's Disgrace", won an Honourable Mention in the Canadian Authors Association short story contest, and appears in the Winners' Circle 5 Anthology. In the fall of 2001, she produced a feature, nominated for an award, on CBC Radio's ""Outfront"".

Gabriele has been an active volunteer in her community, particularly in helping to preserve its heritage. She is a founding member and VP of the Independent Authors & Illustrators of Canada (IAIC), and has created and maintains a website for the association.

Gabriele shares some of her research on the The Great War (for the first two "Muskoka Novels") on the website 4 Years of WW1.

DETAILS

Publisher: Mindshadows, 2006
Category: Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-9732780-2-6
Price: $21.95 CDN/USA paperback
Format: 548 pages 5.5 x 8.5 in