Peeking Between the Pages

...escape into the pages of a good book

Guest Post & Giveaway with Judi Fennell, author of In Over Her Head

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Please join me today in welcoming to Peeking Between the Pages author Judi Fennell. She wrote the very funny and amusing In Over Her Head that I reviewed yesterday. You can see my review here. What I liked most about this book is it was different from anything I’ve read before in terms of the underwater world that the story takes place in. So, without further delay, let’s relax and enjoy what Judi has to say…

Thanks so much for having me!

When I was working on my debut novel, In Over Her Head, I kept hearing the theme from Jaws in my head. And why not? The opening scene has Erica, the heroine who owns a marina yet is afraid of the water, in the water and there’s a shark. A big one.

Ah, but is it the ex-boyfriend on the boat, or is there actually something in the water?

That’s where I was coming from when I wrote this story. I LOVE going to the beach (or “down the shore” as those of us around the Jersey Shore say). We go every year, and I’ve been doing it for most of my life. (Although, there were a few years when the kids were in diapers and needed naps where it just wasn’t fun, so we took a few off.) We’re going again this year.

The problem is, I saw Jaws at an impressionable age. If you’ve ever been to the Jersey shore, you know that the waters isn’t quite (cough,cough) as pristine as say, oh, the Caribbean. It’s murky. Gray. You can’t see the bottom.

None of which would be a problem if there were a huge chain-link netting up and down the coastline to keep the nasties away. I mean, I know there’s no shark out there just sitting there (well, treading there), twiddling his pectoral fins, just waiting for me to get in the water, but sometimes, it sure feels like that.

I am not a total wuss, however. I have teens – they wouldn’t let me even if I was. I know this is an irrational fear. I get it. I try to overcome it – every single time I’m in the water. I’ve been to the South Pacific, the Pacific, the Caribbean, the Atlantic, the Mediterranean… I’ve swum in some pretty gorgeous waters. Gone snorkeling. Fed the fish in Hanama Bay in Hawaii. It’s beautiful. I love to float. I love to swim. I’m an Aquarius – the water bearer. Water is good for me.

Until my “shark meter” starts ratcheting up. Sigh.

So, while I do talk to myself ad nauseum while I’m in any body of salt water (and I just found out that bull sharks can swim up rivers!!! Oh no!!), it still hasn’t eradicated this fear.

So I used it. Figured I should get something out of the $2.50 +/- my mom spent to take me to that movie (it was released in 1975 – remember those days when you could actually afford to take a family to the movies and get popcorn?) I gave Erica my fear of the ocean.

Then I tossed her in. With a shark.

That wasn’t very nice of me, was it?

So I gave her a Mer man (notice the distinction: not merman. Very important to the Mers.).

He’s a very sexy Mer man. I thought that was rather nice of me. LOL.

So Erica and Reel are in the water, there’s a shark, some stolen diamonds, a chatty remora with an attitude (and a big ol’ scar on his head where his sucker is supposed to be, thanks to an unfortunate boat propeller incident). There are more Mers. Atlantis. A sea monster or two, a few gods, some magic, and, well… it’s been compared to The Little Mermaid but for adults.

I like that. After all, Ariel did defeat Ursula in the end and got her handsome prince.

Now if only she’d taken out that mechanical shark from that other movie, I’d be happy.

Here’s a taste of what Erica went through:

Her life’s air bubbling in front of her, frothing the water as it enfolded her in its claustrophobic embrace, Erica took another deep breath. It didn’t help. She repositioned the mask, fiddled with the regulator, and tried to enjoy the scenery, but images from Jaws kept thrusting their way to the front of her brain. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. She’d try any mantra to get through this. The line slid through her hands as she lowered herself into the depths. Okay, maybe seventy-five feet wasn’t “the depths” to regular divers, but she’d never been alone this deep. Hell, she never went in ocean water higher than her knees anymore. The wet suit insulated her from the drop in temperature, but nothing could disguise the fact that the sunlight dimmed with each foot she descended. Black sea bass zipped past, the thin orange striping on their snouts flickering in the flash of her dive light. A lion’s mane jellyfish drifted off the far edge of the reef. Great. The world’s largest jellyfish-rarely seen at this latitude-picked today to take a vacation. Perfect. Just beyond flipper-reach was what was left of the SS Minnow, an old lobster boat sunk by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department for an artificial reef. It shouldn’t be hard to find Joey’s diamonds then get herself the hell out of here. She could do this. She had to do this. As her fins fluttered near the wreck, scamp and porgies swam above the barnacles and mussels claiming it. Sea stars and white star coral covered the hull. A lobster disappeared inside a hole when she got too close. This should be beautiful. It should give her a sense of awe. Instead, it almost paralyzed her. Ever since The Incident, going back in the water had never been safe, no matter the incentive, but Joey’s gun made it the safer option. She examined every possible crevice, although she drew the line at poking into any place she couldn’t see. Pinching crustaceans liked little hidey-holes and her fingers did not. The mollusk colony snapped shut as she passed, colorful anemones hid their vulnerable parts, and crabs scuttled out of her way. But after twenty-five minutes, her search yielded no diamonds. Air tank at the return point, Erica turned toward the dive line. Joey was going to be pissed. Well, he shouldn’t have put the diamonds in Grampa’s urn. It wasn’t as if he didn’t know her grandfather’s last wishes; he’d been there when the will was read. Of course, he’d also known her fear of the ocean. Probably figured it was a safe bet that Grampa’s ashes would never make it to the dive site. This wasn’t the first time Joey had underestimated her. That had been when he’d thought he could schmooze his cheating ass out of a broken engagement with gifts and roses and phone calls. Her brothers had known what he was. They’d tried to tell her, but she’d defended Joey every time. She’d wanted to find someone whose life’s work wasn’t tied to the sea, so when Mr. National Account Manager had rented a slip at their marina and swept her off her feet, she hadn’t put up a fuss. Stupid her. And now he’d betrayed her yet again.

And just to thumb my nose at my fear, I contacted some Bed & Breakfasts in the areas where my stories take place. They’ve come on board with three romantic beach getaway weekends for me to raffle off to winners. The Atlantis Inn in Ocean City, NJ and the Hibiscus House in West Palm Beach, FL are gorgeous properties and maybe even the honeymoon choice of a few of my characters 🙂

All information is available on my website here.

See you on the beach! (‘Cause you won’t see me in the water. Well, okay, you might. But I’ll be the one having a conversation with myself, trying to convince myself that there are no sharks out to get me.)

About The Author:

Judi Fennell has had her nose in a book and her head in some celestial realm all her life, including those early years when her mom would exhort her to “get outside!” instead of watching Bewitched or I Dream of Jeannie on television. So she did–right into Dad’s hammock with her Nancy Drew books.

These days she’s more likely to have her nose in her laptop and her head (and the rest of her body) at her favorite bookstore, but she’s still reading, whether it be her latest manuscript or friends’ books.

A three-time finalist in online contests, Judi has enjoyed the reader feedback she’s received and would love to hear what you think about her Mer series. Check out her website at www.JudiFennell.com for excerpts, reviews and fun pictures from reader and writer conferences, and the chance to “dive in” to her stories.
_______

GIVEAWAY:

I’ve got 2 copies of In Over Her Head to share with you. Again, one is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) as it’s coming from the publisher and the second one is my gently read copy which will be open to all my friends worldwide and will be coming from yours truly. What do you have to do to enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment.
  • For 2 entries follow my blog. If you do already-thank you-and let me know so I can make sure you get entered twice.
  • For 3 entries blog/tweet this giveaway to spread the word.

I will be drawing for the winners on Sunday, June 21, 2009. Good luck to you all!

Be sure to check my other giveaways on both sidebars!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I wonder how many people had their love for the water ruined by that movie? I know I am one as well. I saw the movie in junior high, and you will not find me in the ocean past the knees. This is a problem since I live so close to the ocean. I spent a month at the beach last summer, in the shark bite capitol of the world, New Smyrna Beach. We actuall saw three sharks close to the shore! Had to cool ourselves off in pool, is all I can say. Anyway, I'm rambling. I would love to read this book. It sounds like alot of fun! I am a follower as well! rnawrot at cfl dot rr dot com

  3. Judi, I have been seeing this book all over the place lately! And I've added the second book to my coming soon line-up on my blog. I am definitely going to add this one to my shelves one way or another :).

    (I'm also a new follower!)

  4. Please enter me in your giveaway

    "Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Fun:
    CoolCanucks.ca"

  5. I am a current follower

    "Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Fun:
    CoolCanucks.ca"

  8. Can I be entered please Dar. I like the sound of this book, it sounds really funny. I remember going to watch Jaws and never setting foot in the sea again until I reached my 20's. Now I live by it and just love to visit the sea. Though now weary of jelly fish more than sharks!

  9. Hi everyone and thanks so much for taking a peek at In Over Her Head!

    Yes, Sandy, I know what you mean. Ruined the ocean for me. I like to think that The Little Mermaid gave at least some of it back.

  11. Loving the cover, that sure got my attention.
    I am very intrigued by the book now.

    Already a follower, oh and an international reader

  15. Hi Judi, and congrats on the new release!
    I saw Jaws when I was young, but it never affected my love of swimming in the ocean. Of course, up here in Canada our water is a little chillier, maybe if I lived in Florida I would be more hesitant to jump in!

    I'm a new follower~
    cheryl.mcinnis@yahoo(dot)com

  16. I love this interview. Please count me in for the contest.

    cindyc725 at gmail dot com

  19. I've heard alot of good things about this book.

    I'm a follower.
    and I posted on my blog.

  20. Reading very good reviews about this one – love the cover (and the water!)

    msboatgal at aol.com

  22. This is a book I really want to read.
    thanks for the chance to win a copy

    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

  24. Jaws ruined the ocean for a lot of people so don't feel too bad.
    I also go "down the shore" sometimes being from Philly. Unfortunately the traffic can be very horrible.
    There is nothing like the smell of the ocean as you approach the shore. Love it anytime of the year.
    Thanks for the contest Dar. I could use a good laugh.

    Jennygirl73(at)gmail(dot)com
    and I'm a follower.

  28. I'm already a subscriber (through Google Reader)!

    BookCrossingKitten22[at]gmail[dot]com

  34. I've never read about a merman before so this would be a whole new experience for me.

  37. Hi! I would love to be entered. There has been a lot of buzz about this book, and I have read quite a few "A" rating reviews.

  39. This has been on my TBR list since January! Thanks for the opp.

    jaam121388 at yahoo dot com

  41. This looks (sounds) like such a fun read! Can't wait!

    I'm already a follower

    I blogged in my sidebar

    Mary

    meah56 at gmail dot com

  42. good luck, everyone! I'm so glad you guys are interested in the story. I really did have a great time writing it.

  43. This book sounds like a lot of fun to read, please enter me! I can't wait to read it – I'm a follower already too! Great interview – and yes "Jaws" ruined things for me too!

  45. I like the premise of this book – can't wait to read it.

    Please count me in – Thanks!
    megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

  47. I'd love to win this book – it sounds great.

    I am also a follower.

    crystalfulcher(at)ec(dot)rr(dot)com

  51. Jaws never gave me the fear of water or sharks. But I still get freaked out while watching the movie…so I don't if I can help it.

  53. thanks everyone for stopping by – still! 🙂 Have a great weekend!

  54. I'd love to be entered for this giveaway, Dar! The book sounds like a fun read and not to be missed. 😀

    (I'm an international participant)

  61. Awesome guest post! I loved hearing about how the ideas came about for this book 🙂

    I'd love to be entered in the giveaway – shiloki[at]gmail[dot]com

    And I follow your blog in google reader.

  64. i remember watching jaws years ago – it always added to my nervousness when i started scuba diving and would see sharks!

    please count me in!

    + i'm a follower

    gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

  65. I would love to be entered,
    khal5671 at mwcc dot edu
    I follow you and I posted about all of your giveaways,

  66. I'm an international entrant and I would love this book!

    I am a follower.

    lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

  67. I have to confess, I've never seen Jaws all the way through, which is probably a good thing, since I love the ocean! This book sounds really cool!

  68. This is a unique take on a book theme and I would love to read it!

    rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

  72. My mom watched Jaws at an "impressionable age" too and told me she was scared to even take a bath afterward. I really do have to read this! Love the whole Little Mermaid for adults thing. The mechanical shark you mentioned wouldn't happen to be the creepy one from James in the Giant Peach would it? Ugh! Sharks do scare me but I'm not much of a water person so fortunately I'm not too worried about it. I did get to pet a baby hammerhead once though someone had caught (they threw it back though…)

    I'm already a follower Dar!

  79. I have just found your blog so I don't really qualify as a friend but I would love to win a copy.

    THis would be an international entry as I am in South Africa.

    Thank you.

    Carol

  83. I have been reading about this author on several sites lately. So this book has caught my interest. You give more detail here than I've read elsewhere. In reading Sandy's comments, the love of the ocean has never been ruined for me as I have never watched the movie "Jaw" ever. When I lived in Texas, we caught sand sharks to eat.
    I would love to win this book.
    jrs362(at)hotmail(dot)com

  84. Count me in on the giveaway. This book sounds like an interesting read. :]

    Sue
    okibi_insanity[at]yahoo[dot]com

  88. Wow, another giveaway! I think this book will be fit for my summer read. Please count me in. I'm in the international league. 😀
    linna.hsu(at)gmail(dot)com