More discussion of the roots of my novels as I lived up to my diagnosis of a Hemingway Complex — my Caribbean suspense novel ISLANDS.
NOTE: This series started on Dec. 31. I’m honored to have my seriocomic novel of midlife reinvention PAUSE, published by Book View Cafe, selected by The International Pulpwood Queens Book Club as a December 2022 title. http://www.thepulpwoodqueens.com During my featured week in late December, I was asked to post every day about my novels and writing life, so am reproducing them in this series. All of my novels I discuss are available at http://www.bookviewcafe.com
ISLANDS grew out of my experiences as a scuba divemaster/instructor in the Virgin Islands in the 1980s.
I’ll start with the novel’s back cover description:
“Welcome to Paradise,” archeologist Susan Dunne hears on arrival at the Caribbean island to research petroglyphs and unravel the mystery of her brother’s drowning. Was it murder? This sunny tourist mecca conceals shadowy secrets — violent native unrest, a sunken treasure ship guarded by legendary Jumbies, and a bloodthirsty cult. Can Susan resist her attraction to her number one suspect, unpredictable combat vet Vic Manden? The most disturbing secrets she must explore are the ones hidden in her disturbing psychic visions, clues that challenge her notions of truth and reality.
“A superior mystery and suspense novel… a stomping, vivid ride.”
Dan Hays, Statesman Journal
*****
In the 1980s, I was eager for adventure after writing my first novel, the science fiction WILD CARD RUN (more about that on a later date). My partner Jim and I embarked on travels, as well as teaching scuba in various locales in the Caribbean. Our first scuba jobs were in the Virgin Islands, where I found plenty of exciting contrasts with my native Pacific Northwest. We lived for months in a tree-house with no running water or electricity, but the climate was so warm that our outdoor shower — a black hose running from our generous neighbor’s cistern — was a delight among the tropic foliage.
The novel’s character of Vic was loosely modeled on Jim — they had similar appearance, both had been drafted and wounded in the Vietnam War, and both practiced Karate.
I was fascinated by the colonial history in the Virgin Islands, including the dark chapters of the slave trade from Africa, which led to a mix of cultures and races. The “fast and loose” pace, fueled by the busy tourist industry, was very different from my more laid-back comfort zone. Like my protagonist Susan Dunne, who delves into the dark mysteries surrounding her brother’s drowning off the island, I quickly found myself in over my head. But in my case, over my head scuba diving was where I found my comfort zone in the beauties of the sea.
Here, I was free-diving to a sunken wreck:
I still relish tropic snorkeling trips to visit colorful sea life.
I started researching petroglyphs that seemed to be connected with whispers of Jumbies — mischievous spirits that might inhabit the mysterious rock carvings. I don’t have a photo of the island petroglyphs I found, but here’s a later image from the Washington State coast. The carvings are often found overlooking the sea, and crude faces are common.
I also spent time in the island archives and found accounts of wrecked slave ships, slaves who escaped and started their own rebellious settlements, and copies of notes sealed in bottles and throw overboard from sinking ships. I also discovered hints of the Vodun (“Voodoo”) when Jim and ventured into “jungle town,” one of the native quarters we were warned could be dangerous for “continentals.” Actually, we encountered a friendly reception at a wonderful hole-in-wall café called Le Lambi’s, which inspired an episode in the novel. I noticed there were some decorations of skulls and a painted wall screen that appeared to be “veve” patterns of the Vodun, which didn’t officially exist in the Virgin Islands. Add some diving we did for sunken treasure, and seeds of the novel were born.
I found this antique perfume bottle on a particularly foolhardy adventure.
Diver friends knew the schedule of the cruise ships entering and leaving the shallow harbor, where dozens of colonial-era ships had been wrecked in a storm. The bay had been dredged to allow the tourist ships, but when they blasted their props, it would expose some of the old wrecks. Since there was only a three-foot clearance under the ships, the area was off-limits for divers. I never could turn down an adventure in those days, so we entered the murky water and navigated by compass, able to see only a foot in front of our faces. I found a wreck and scored several antique bottles.
These days, I think I know when to turn down a dare, but adventure still calls, and Thor and I are planning more trips after we’re settled into our new home. Stay tuned!
*****
You will find The Rambling Writer’s blog posts here every Saturday. Sara’s latest novel from Book View Café is Pause, a First Place winner of the Chanticleer Somerset Award and an International Pulpwood Queens Book Club selection. “A must-read novel about friendship, love, and killer hot flashes.” (Mindy Klasky). Sign up for her quarterly email newsletter at www.sarastamey.com
