Nancy Marshall

Howard Spitz is a cranky, has-been detective novelist out of money and out of luck - until he meets eight-year-old Samantha, who convinces him he has what it takes to write children's books.

It takes a huge storm at sea for a couple running a financially-strapped restaurant and fishing business to rekindle their love for one another.

Angry island fishermen declare independence and use a Soviet nuclear submarine to get Ottawa's attention.