Tsawwassen author Ian Kent’s latest offering is an environmental thriller.
Catalyst tells the tale of Jake Prescott, a scientist visiting an international environmental conference in Los Angeles. When 43 people die horribly and mysteriously on a freeway by what initially appears to be a poison gas attack, government agencies remain baffled until Prescott becomes involved.
With the help of friends and colleagues, Prescott attempts to unravel the puzzle, only to be frustrated, blocked and hunted down by government agents and others who would prefer to have the event remain closed.
“After a number of historical projects, my wife said why don’t you write something modern? I was in the environmental business at the time and I thought, geez, I could do that and that’s how this story came about,” said Kent. “I have a scenario here that is realistic at least, scientifically accurate and such, so I thought it would be a great story.”
Kent has been writing for many years, mainly about travel, marine and historical fiction.
He has lived and sailed on the B.C. coast most of his life, adding to his knowledge of local marine lore and historical details.
More than 30 years of work in the environmental industry and international travel provided him with a wealth of detail and experience to write about the subjects covered in the new novel.
“Prescott, our fictional scientist, is Canadian and he sees things that others don’t. He puts together things very quickly,” said Kent. “Throughout this story people are trying to keep things quiet and under wraps and he finds that an old friend of his from Germany is involved in this and he travels back and forth across the pond chasing this mystery.”
Kent said he had the story written for a couple of years, but just recently released it.
A sequel to the story – another Prescott novel – will be coming out next year.
“I still have a few more things to work out on the next chapter of the story,” he said. “I’m very happy with how this all came together. I’ve had lots of fun creating this character. Some of the places that he goes are places that I’ve travelled to. It sounds better and is more authentic when you incorporate real places – hotels, restaurants. When we travel I write a journal every trip we take and if there is a place or a meal that is memorable, I can use that later to enrich the story that I’m trying to tell.”
Catalyst is available online through Amazon and Chapters and will hopefully be available locally soon at Black Bond Books in Ladner and Albany Books in Tsawwassen.
You can keep up to date on Kent and his other projects at: www.iankentauthor.com.
