The Honey Farm

A mixed crew of young writers, artists, and dreamers impulsively answer a classified ad to live at an "artists' colony" in remote northeastern Ontario that promises free room and board in exchange for labor. Cynthia, the honey farm's enigmatic leader, needs many hands to keep her business alive during a devastating drought. The farm-fresh produce, bountiful larder, and idyllic views sustain the newcomers initially, but before long warning signs arise. The heat is unrelenting. Water in the taps runs red like blood. Thousands of frogs rise from a nearby lake. Soon Ibrahim, a talented painter, and Silvia, his innocent muse, are the only ones remaining with Cynthia and acolyte Hartford. Ibrahim and Silvia seem impossibly naïve, slow to react as the situation degenerates. As the bees start to swarm, one senses that all is not sweet despite the honey that drips from every comb. Brief chapters cut from character to character, building tension.