Photo/LAVINA KERR A COVER TOO DEEP, a first novel written by Orangeville resident Elaine Litster, a spy-adventure story full of mystery and intrigue is being launched Monday at the Orangeville Library. Vacation time is often a chance to reflect and recharge from the every day routine. Local novelist Elaine Litster has taken it one step further and used her vacations to Cuba to be inspired to write her first novel.

A Cover Too Deep, set in Cuba, is a spy adventure story that transports the reader to the Island nation and weaves a story of intrigue and mystery.

The details in the book describing the beauty found in Cuba stem from personal experience. "I visit Cuba annually," she said. "And I found it the perfect place to create this story."

Working on the novel part-time took a number of years for the new writer to complete it, as she waited for her vacations to concentrate on the different aspects of character development and plot, which crosses the borders of Cuba, the United States and Canada. When not delving into the subject of international spying, using a young undercover CIA agent as its main character, Ms. Litster has been working in Orangeville at Dufferin Child and Family Services.

"It was a really good escape," she said, "not at all like my everyday life and routine."

Ms. Litster is hoping her novel is a good escape for readers, too. A Cover Too Deep is already available for purchase online at Amazon www.amazon.ca. A book launch is planned at the main Orangeville Library (Mill Street location) next Monday, March 26 from 6 to 8 p.m.