NEWS RELEASE
LORI KNOWLES
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The debut novel of the coming summer season is Summers with Miss Elizabeth, literary fiction set in a classic lakeside cottage in Muskoka, described by fans as “summer in a book” and “a gripping dockside read.” Author Lori Knowles is a Canadian journalist, former Toronto Sun columnist and current co-editor of Ski Canada magazine.
Publishing in trade paperback and e-book on May 1, 2024, Summers with Miss Elizabeth is the emotionally charged story of the Wynward family, Pittsburgh industrialists with a century-old cottage on a Muskoka lake.
It’s 1974 when shy, orphaned Colin Montgomery is taken in by the marvelous “Miss Elizabeth”, the shrewd, champagne-swilling mistress of Pittsburgh’s Wynward Steel. Colin spends idyllic summers alongside the spirited yet troubled Wynward grandchildren.
They swim, they sail, they fall in love, they ride in glossy wooden boats. But when tragedy strikes, the Wynwards are ripped away from the lake, away from each other. Fifteen years later, with the grand lady’s health failing, it’s up to Colin to bring them together. He must take on the charming force that is Miss Elizabeth to unravel family secrets and uncover the truth. By welcoming him into the family as a child, the Wynwards rescued Colin. Ultimately it’s Colin who rescues the Wynwards.
“I grew up in wonder of iconic Muskoka hotspots like Beaumaris, Rosseau, Bala, Port Carling and Millionaire’s Row,” says Knowles. “As Canada’s Hamptons, it’s a storied place filled with beautiful blue vistas, lacquered boats, Muskoka chairs and summer heat. But there’s darkness there, too—family struggles, tragedy and loss, secrets swept behind wicker settees. I was raised in Muskoka and I’m a storyteller—I’ve always known there are terrific tales to be told.”
“This novel is a must-read, powerful tour de force,” says Cindy Watson, president of the Muskoka Authors’ Association and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Art of Feminine Negotiation. “Knowles skillfully explores the strength and fragility of the human condition, effortlessly weaving themes of love and loss, family, class, and the destructive power of secrets. The writing is rich and lush, taking you on a compelling whirlwind journey of discovery that will leave you breathless.”
Lori Knowles is a native of Muskoka, former resident of Toronto’s Leaside, and a lifetime cottager on Lake of Bays. With a degree in journalism from Carleton University she has built a career in travel and sports writing with ski and family travel columns in the Toronto Sun and contributions to The Globe and Mail, SNOW and Westjet. Currently Lori is co-editor of Ski Canada magazine.
Summers with Miss Elizabeth is available for order at loriknowles.com. Signed copies can be purchased at the book launch May 11, 2024 at The Boathouse, Taboo Resort near Gravenhurst, 3-5 pm.
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