The Missing Frame
by Eli Lazar

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One bag. Five rolls of film filled with grief. One chance to develop what’s left of love. For Liz Ferguson, grief arrived on a Tuesday, disguised as a camera bag. Shattered by the sudden death of Leo—her best friend and almost something more—Liz tries to outrun her sorrow at every turn. Until Leo’s camera bag unexpectedly arrives at her door. Inside Leo’s bag lies a note, his journal, his camera, and a handful of undeveloped film, each filled with fragments of his humour, philosophy, and love. Once a documentary-style photographer, Liz now finds herself developing the last rolls of film Leo left behind, unsure of where it will lead her. With each photograph serving as a bread crumb, Liz faithfully follows Leo’s trail to trust the blur and let the light back into her world. A poignant novella about grief and memories, The Missing Frame captures how to live again through the lens of a camera.

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Eli Lazar has been drawn to writing for as long as she can remember, her earliest words flowing onto page with curiosity and wonder. In primary school, her love for the storytelling deepened, encouraged by teachers who recognized the spark in her work. She has continued to craft poetry and fiction ever since, earning quiet recognition from family, friends, and local literary contests. With a degree in psychology, Eli brings to her writing a thoughtful understanding of grief, love, and the emotional journeys that shape us. The Missing Frame is her debut novel. When she is not writing, she captures the world through her camera, finds joy in shared laughter, and seeks out journeys that awaken her sense of wonder. Born and raised in Romania, Eli now lives with her family in Edmonton, Alberta, where she continues to bring to life the stories that have long waited to be told.

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Eli Lazar