Embark on a journey in the human psyche… The Overflow is a contemporary fiction, psychology-oriented novel with a focus on family and romance.
In a secluded vacation house, memories are plenty and new family dynamics can be built as four complex characters discover each other. William and Amelia are resolved to grow closer to their two nieces, but their marriage is facing qualms and they must revive their ebbing closeness. Young, rebellious Matilda is experiencing a new and unsettling attraction for a saturnine sailor, while Laura, her more fragile and discreet cousin, immortalizes in a stream of pictures the slices of life unfolding before her eyes. The shadow of past grief is still felt over the group, and there are many hidden layers to be found in each personality, when one looks past the appearances.
Targeted Age Group:: Any age from 18
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I wrote this book for my first attempt at the National Novel Writing Month. Though I originally did not believe in my abilities to complete a novel, I soon found myself surprised! Psychology and the complexity of personalities and human interactions are something I greatly enjoy to explore and thus it was naturally my focus. I was also somewhat inspired by various novels or movies taking place on the seaside, which helped me create the atmosphere of my setting, bringing something extra to the spirit of the work overall.
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
I wanted a variety of characters of very different ages and personalities so that each dynamic would offer potential and bring something new to the characters’ evolution. I wanted to make them real and multi-dimensional, as relatable as possible for the reader. One is relatively like myself; another was constructed as apparently shallow, and it was very interesting to delve into her mind and make her more layered, while making her mature and grow through the course of the story. Parts of their personalities were planned beforehand, while others developed during the writing process.
Book Sample
Matilda tapped her long nails against the window, watching the forlorn fall of the rain over the garden. Pressed against the pane and peering outside despite the obvious lack of any interest there, she felt just like a caged lion. The rhythm her fingertips were hammering accelerated in her edginess, a bit furiously. The little house by the ocean had already lost the appeal of novelty as far as she was concerned. She had been there several times during her childhood anyhow, and the joy of her reunion with her uncle, aunt and cousin had been but an interlude. They were lovely, all three of them, but hardly offered her much distraction. What did she have left then, to keep busy during her stay? Walking across deserted beaches.
She should have expected it, but she had accepted William and Amelia’s invitation without really thinking twice. She felt quite bitter about that, looking back. She liked them very much, that wasn’t the problem, but they were…an uncle and aunt. She couldn’t seriously expect them to entertain her. As for Laura, her cousin, the two girls had never gotten along very well. They were different, quite different, and their connection held little understanding. Matilda found her unsettling, with her constant quietness, her thin smiles, and the shadows in the back of her eyes. They simply didn’t have much to say to each other. And that left Matilda forsaken and quite frustrated, reduced to dwelling over the sadness of her fate, gritting her teeth and watching the rain fall.
About the Author:
Guillemette Allard-Bares is a young author, translator and proofreader. Her first novel, The Overflow, was self-translated from French and illustrates her partiality for psychology and literature. She is currently working on her second novel, Equilibrium.
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