Ron Foss

Fishing for Gold Ron Foss

Written with families in mind, Fishing for Gold tells a story of a young American family - the mother and her two early teen aged sons living with her parents after the passing of their husband and father. The setting of the story is in Costa Rica, with its splendor of beaches, jungles, wildlife, folklore, and dangers. The grandparents (U. S. expatriates) own a small beachfront hotel, now operated by the extended family of grandparents, daughter and her two sons. The boys' adventures take place locally, in exotic settings, and in exotic wilderness settings where the grandfather takes the boys to help him dredge illegally for gold. The grandfather, with his share of flaws, is loveable, but overbearing, increasingly so, as the story develops and his obsession for the quick wealth of gold is pursued. Early on, a local police corporal is tipped off to the grandfather's pursuits and becomes equally obsessed with the quick wealth that 'confiscating' the gold could provide him. The deceptions begin. Character development is rich, as are the boys' adventures. The story of the boys' struggles to cope with family conflict and learn to stand up to the increasingly abusive behaviour of the grandfather is compelling. The boys must eventually save the day - and the grandfather - from his own excesses. Fishing for Gold is a real life action story, historical and factual in all its detail, glistening with realism. It is not a fantasy novel. The characters' struggle with ethical dilemmas, greed, prejudice, anger, denial, and the need to develop coping skills while simply trying to do things right.