The former Aurora and King Township resident has penned her first novel, Dreams in the Mist: Loyalist House Season I, a ghost story centred on a fictional bed and breakfast along the Niagara River.
“It’s historical fiction,” Mrs. Nattress said. “It’s about a person who purchases a B&B and it turns out to be a historical home. Everything is running quite smoothly and then she begins hearing sobbing and noises in the attic.”
The main character begins to dream of the family that lived in the house during the war and eventually uncovers a love story and clues to several mysteries surrounding the property.
The story draws from historical facts and Mrs. Nattress’ family history. Her ancestors settled in Queenston in 1778, were deeded land along the river and played a role in the War of 1812.
Mrs. Nattress, who grew up and attended school in York Region, operated a bed and breakfast in Niagara-on-the-Lake for eight years. It was a fascinating experience and eventually, the inspiration for her writing, she said. She now lives in Prince Edward County.