Mark Lada, an educator in the Comox Valley published his debut novel, All That Wasn’t, in July, 2025. Described in its synopsis as, “an exploration of the human condition, the power of love and regret, and the ways in which our past can shape our future.” All That Wasn’t follows the lives of Tom and Neha and their reconvergence after many years apart. What brings an intriguing edge to the novel is the narrator — unnamed and omniscient. Who, the reader learns, is also a supernatural entity (Hello, Prince Of Darkness) who is fascinated with human nature and their predestined paths. Tom and Neha are ignorant of this entity observing them as their lives intertwine multiple times between 2008 and 2024, from England to Budapest, Mumbai and beyond. The novel follows two humans whose stories converge, making them question their life choices and wonder what the future can hold. As the book blurb notes, “as memory sharpens and the present begins to tilt, they will be forced to ask themselves not just what they want, but what they’re willing to risk to find it again. “And somewhere over the rooftops of Budapest, the storm is closing in. Because even the smallest choices have consequences. And even the devil has a vested interest in how this story ends.” All That Wasn’t can be found on Amazon.ca.
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