One Image, Two Story Ideas: Sailboat
Jen and Tina love writing prompts. Sometimes they turn into stories, sometimes they just get our creative juices flowing. Either way, they’re a lot of fun.
Jen’s Idea
I’ve been loving revisiting Jerome K. Jerome’s classic memoir Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing About the Dog) about three Victorian gentlemen boating on the Thames. When I saw this month’s photo, I knew I had to channel that spirit of fun that can happen on a boat trip. Since we’re in the mystery world, I decided to try my hand at a caper.
Tina’s Idea
Once I spotted the Russian state flag and the Russian naval flag on the sailboat Alexandra, I decided a heart-pumping espionage thriller would be fun.
Jen’s Back Cover
Rodney’s life is over. At least, that’s what his friends tell him. His girlfriend left him for a job on a sheep ranch. His PhD advisor has dumped him. And his sister has given him twelve days to repay a loan or else she’ll take possession of the beloved convertible he recklessly promised as collateral.
Rodney’s only hope of holding it together is a payday from his uncle. All he needs to do is transport Uncle Matt’s luxury yacht between berths in the Caribbean. Rodney hires a captain and packs his bags for a week that promises to be easy money in paradise. But the captain turns out to be wanted by a gang of diamond smugglers, two of Rodney’s friends accidentally stow-away, and a beagle named Beatrice refuses to be left home alone.
Rodney thinks he can hold it together, but the captain does a runner when his associates arrive looking for their money, and Rodney must find a way to get the thieves what they want if he has any hope of keeping his appointment with his uncle and getting his life back on track.
Tina’s Back Cover
Four recent graduates find themselves in need of a vacation before their parents start running their lives. Being the sons of prominent United States diplomats has its upsides and its downsides. They live elite cushy lives, but they are mere pawns in the games their parents play. Each has been given a roadmap to follow–their lives have been designed for them in advance. They have no say. All they have left is to follow the path.
Before succumbing to their fate, a vacation is in order and they choose enigmatic Russia as their destination. Little do they know that this decision will thrust them into a dangerous web of deceit, betrayal, and international espionage.
When the friends arrive in Russia, they are welcomed with open arms–one of the perks of being the offspring of influential diplomats. They are whisked away to luxurious dinners, lavish parties, and glamorous events, all meticulously orchestrated to gain their trust.
Their idyllic vacation takes a sinister turn when they set sail on a picturesque lake one fateful afternoon. They disappear without a trace, leaving their parents in a panic back home.
Days turn into weeks before the parents receive a message from the kidnappers, revealing their demand for highly classified intelligence in exchange for their children's safe return. As the rescue operation unfolds, buried secrets and hidden agendas come to light, exposing a treacherous conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of power. The friends find themselves in a race against time, fighting not only for their lives, but to prevent a catastrophic incident that could be the last straw in the precarious relationship between the United States and Russia.
Tina’s Response
Jen’s story is so much fun and has so much potential! I love that Rodney has one misadventure after another and I can easily envision this as a television series. I think Netflix should consider taking each of these missteps and turning them into funny and thrilling episodes. Jen, have you considered writing for television?
Jen’s Response
Tina has come up with a fresh take on the espionage genre, and I love it. I‘ve read a lot of spy stories, and I’ve never encountered one like this. The focus on the these young poeple adds a human element that I can’t wait to dig into. It’s a timely story told from a fresh perspective, and it’s one I want to read now. Please get writing, Tina!
Photo by Polina Shirokova on Unsplash