O.U.R. Cafe
Synopsis "O.U.R. Cafe"
The book follows the life of Juliette, who has sought employment at a café after her dismissal from an architectural firm due to an internal restructuring. She learns that life at the café is not always a bed of roses and struggles to adapt to its fast-paced life. In the process, she gets drawn into her colleagues' past, albeit unknowingly, and puts herself in harm's way. She also meets some quirky characters that frequent the establishment, including an old man who doesn't seem to remember his requests and a fashion editor who can't seem to take no for an answer. However, from the interactions she has with these people, she learns about life and decisions. Change is a central theme of this book. "I had the inspiration to write this book after visiting a simple beach café, which not only sells beverages and desserts, but also memorabilia. I had the luxury to sit there for the entire day, sipping a hot beverage and people-watching. Then it hit me to write a book about the interesting characters that can inhabit a beach café. I do realize that there are already a lot of books and movies on the said theme, and that mine won't be a stand-out. That said, however, I still hope this novella will touch a chord with you, and that you will enjoy it." I chose sandy footprints for the cover page as I believe every person, be it a result of a small or huge/good or bad encounter, leaves us with indelible memories, just as we leave behind footprints in the sand when we stroll along the beach. It is up to us to make meaning of and learn some life lessons from them.
