In Hotel Abundancia the death of a dear friend awakens in Sara an emptiness she can no longer ignore. An unexpected gift allows her a short reprieve from her impoverished life. She embarks upon on an epic journey of the heart. This sojourn brings Sarah to a deeper understanding of self. But it is an understanding that may require the letting go of what she fought so hard – and travelled so far – to find. Each of the characters Sara encounters provides unexpected lessons, both painful and inspiring. And the mystical villages of Mexico, the pristine backwoods of Maine, the lush verdure of Vancouver Island, and the lake-bejeweled desert of the Okanagan Valley become characters unto themselves, as their influence guides Sara towards making the most difficult decision of her life.

Ellen Arrand is a published novelist and short story writer. Her stories have appeared in Grain, Room of One's Own, and Waves. Her novel, Public Works, Private Souls (Beach Holme), was praised by Books in Canada as: "a book full of painfully won personal truth thet makes the reader blink with admiration." This novel was also adapted for the stage, and was produced by Theatre Inconnu in 2004. The Trutch Street Women was a finalist in the 2005 Canadian National Playwriting Competition. Ms Arrand holds a Bachelor Degree in Creative Writing and English from the University of Victoria. She is currently enrolled in the Creative Writing Masters Program, at the University of Guelph-Humber.

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