The Story Behind Floating Underwater
The idea for my second novel, Floating Underwater, came to me from personal experience, work history (when I was younger, I interned at a center that treated people with schizophrenia), and from my late grandfather’s interest in the metaphysical. I then set out to write about a character named Paloma who is dealing with a history of grief and loss while also grappling with symptoms that could either be signs of schizophrenia or manifestations of a spiritual awakening.
Paloma is fearful that her premonitions may not only predict the future but may also change its very course. She is devastated when her latest vision foretelling a third miscarriage comes true. As a woman who has suffered through two miscarriages myself, I wanted to write about how a character deals with that particular loss, a loss that many people endure yet some never get to fully examine. I also wanted to explore what can happen when a person’s life veers off course and what it’s like to embrace a far different future than expected.
Going back to my grandfather’s interest in the metaphysical and how it sparked the narrative element of magical realism and otherworldly events that occur in Floating Underwater, he often claimed that he talked to ghosts while having midnight tea inside his Devonshire farmhouse. His mother, too, was known to have psychic abilities, reading people’s fortunes and helping them deal with personal dilemmas. I myself often feel a connection with others that creates a physical response in my own body to their spoken—and unspoken pain. So, it felt natural, then, to include the supernatural in this novel!
Floating Underwater was published under Turbulent Muse Publishing in September 2021 after nine years of rewrites, revisions, and several name changes!
Tracy Shawn lives and writes on the Central Coast of
California with her husband, two cantankerous cats, and loyal pit bull. Her
debut novel, The Grace of Crows, won several indie book awards. Floating
Underwater is her second novel. Tracy Shawn’s short stories have appeared
in Literary Brushstrokes, Psychology Tomorrow Magazine, and Steel House Review Literary Journal. She’s
written numerous articles for print and online publications and is currently
working on her third novel.
Part psychological fiction and part mystical fiction with a dash of magical realism, Floating Underwater follows a woman’s astonishing journey through the extraordinary and, ultimately, to her self-actualization and power.
Fearful that her lifelong premonitions not only predict the future but can also change its very course, Paloma Leary is devastated when her latest vision foretelling a third miscarriage comes true.
Falling into a mystifying world of increasingly bizarre phenomena, including a psychic connection with her mysterious neighbor, out-of-body experiences, and visits from her long-dead mother, Paloma grows desperate for answers. She is also desperate to start a family. But when a life-changing vision reveals a tragic secret from the past, Paloma learns to accept her gifts and embraces a far different future than she ever could have imagined.
“One woman’s mystical journey to move forward while confronting a troubled, mysterious past. Beautifully written; an ethereal, eloquent pleasure.” ~~Marlene Adelstein, author of USA Today bestseller Sophie Last Seen
“Mystical and magical realism permeates this women’s novel, and Amy Harmon fans would embrace Shawn’s adept storytelling. The author delivers spot-on dialogue, believable and enchanting characters, and surprising twists. It’s easy to imagine the novel as a talked-about book club selection (in fact, there’s a list of questions at the book’s conclusion). Poignant and beautiful, Floating Underwater leaves readers yearning for a sequel and another look at these captivating characters.” ~~Starred Review by Patricia Moosbrugger for BlueInk Review
“The writing is stunning…Paloma’s journey toward friendship, love in her marriage, and the realization that her fears have kept her eyes closed to everything happening around her is a journey worth following. This book will remind you to listen to the wind when it speaks and to look for what’s floating beneath the surface of the water.”~~Reviewed by Jenna Swartz for San Francisco Book Review
“A mystical journey that will take its readers on a whirlwind tour of beautiful imagery and meaningful life adventures, Floating Underwater is the story about a woman named Paloma Leary who learns that she has some very special gifts to share with the world…This book is wonderfully written in a lovely beach setting…Floating Underwater is the perfect book for someone looking for a bit of fantasy thrown into a realistic setting with realistic characters. Written with special attention to little details, this book is relatable, yet very special and is a one-of-a-kind read.” ~~Reviewed by Kristi Elizabeth for Manhattan Book Review
Book Information
Release Date: September 8, 2021
Publisher: Turbulent Muse Publishing
Soft Cover: ISBN: 978-1736664902; 312 pages; $10.99; E-Book, $3.99
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GrO5TV
Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/3qA2EA3
Award-Winning Author Tracy Shawn lives and writes on the Central Coast of California. Her debut novel, The Grace of Crows, won several indie book awards. Floating Underwater is her second novel. Tracy Shawn’s short stories have appeared in Literary Brushstrokes, Psychology Tomorrow Magazine, and Steel House Review Literary Journal. She’s written numerous articles for print and online publications and is currently working on her third novel.
You can visit her website at https://www.tracyshawn.com/ or connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
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