The Vespertine

It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

Saundra Mitchell is a screenwriter and author. As executive producer and head writer for the Fresh Films and Girls in the Director's Chair short film series, she mentors young screenwriters from first page to production of their films. Her own feature film, Revenge Ends, debuted on the festival circuit in 2008. She has published short fiction in the Edgar Literary Magazine and SmokeLong Quarterly, and her short story "Ready to Wear" was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her debut novel, Shadowed Summer, is a 2010 Edgar Award Nominee, a Junior Library Guild selection, and an ALAN Pick. Saundra enjoys studying history, papermaking, and spending time with her husband and her two children. She lives in Indianapolis and welcomes you to visit her on the web at www.saundramitchell.com.