Novels by Tracy Shawn

Floating Underwater 

Release Date: September 10, 2021
Synopsis:

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 own 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.

 

 

 

A Note from the Author:

 Floating Underwater was inspired by my own personal history, past work experience, and sheer imagination. Having suffered through two miscarriages myself, I wanted to write about how a character deals with that particular loss. Motivated from my past work as an intern at a psychiatric center, I also wanted to explore what it’s like for a daughter when her beloved mother has severe schizophrenia. I added in the narrative element of magical realism and otherworldly events because I believe loss and grief can make our day-to-day reality too difficult to bear without the hope that something magical is just beyond this realm. I created these extraordinary experiences for my protagonist, readers, and for myself to help us all feel as if everything in this crazy, upside-down world (and beyond!) will somehow, someday be okay.

Praise for Floating Underwater:

“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).” – STARRED REVIEW, BlueInk Review by Reviewer Patricia Moosbrugger

“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

“In Tracy Shawn’s novel, Floating Underwater, Paloma must allow herself to be submerged into the warmth of mysticism, feminism, friendship, and love… The women in this novel represent different forms of strength … The writing is stunning… 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.” – 5 Stars, Reviewed by Jenna Swartz, San Francisco Book Review

Excerpt from Floating Underwater:

(from Chapter 1)

Out of the corner of her eye, Paloma saw her. Bone-thin Serena raced across the street and planted herself next to the bumper of a parked car. In her ragged skirt and barely there T-shirt, Serena could be mistaken for one of Sunflower Beach’s many homeless people, who tucked themselves into alleys, behind bushes dotting the hillsides, and around trash-strewn paths by the railroad tracks. Yet the bedraggled Serena lived with her family, who tried their best to care for her in their own, private way. Serena stared at Paloma with her mismatched eyes, one blue and the other an unnatural shade of milky green. Slowly, Serena shook her head as her gaze misted over with what looked to be pity. Even though she had followed Paloma around ever since she’d moved into town, when she was in sixth grade and Paloma in fifth, Paloma’s heart raced now, and the nausea returned.

Reed leaned away and averted his face from Serena’s scrutiny. “She’s been showing up even more, you know.”

“I know,” Paloma whispered. “I think she’s trying to tell me something.” Paloma shoved her plate away. Eating would be impossible now.

“She’s not trying to tell you anything.” Reed sighed. “She’s just more unhinged than usual.”

Paloma dared to look again. Serena pinned her down with those unnerving eyes, and then her mouth suddenly twisted into a grimace. Not knowing what else to do, Paloma waved. Serena turned abruptly. Passersby shook their heads and stared as she skipped barefoot down the street. Paloma watched the last coiled ends of Serena’s long, tangled hair as it floated out of view.

Also by Tracy Shawn:

The Grace of Crows, Second Edition

 

 

 

Synopsis:

“The Grace of Crows” is the story of Saylor Crawmore, a woman tormented by anxiety. Saylor tries every cure from self-help books and therapy to medication. Nothing has worked. Desperate for an answer, she must also navigate the ongoing rip current between the troubled generations of her family.

Saylor discovers her childhood friend, Billy, homeless and ignored since his teens living under a pier in Malibu. This encounter sparks Saylor’s journey to gain insight into her strange fears and the power to overcome her severe anxiety. Armed with her new awareness, Saylor summons the courage to help her family.

Book Excerpt:

 

Saylor inhaled Faith’s expensive, powdery-linen perfume and sour wine-breath, remembering how Faith and her mother had been friends for a time, Faith and her husband, Cliff, sometimes-guests at her parents’ house. And when all of them were busy in the living room drinking sangria and smoking pot, Saylor and the Underwoods’ son, Billy, sat in her room listening to records and consuming the Fritos and 7Up that Billy had smuggled in his backpack.

Saylor eyed Faith. “How is Billy?”

“Billy?”

“Yes, your son, Billy.” Saylor pictured him singing along with her to Jackson Browne’s “Doctor My Eyes.” Her patient Billy, with his pitch-perfect tone, never once made fun of her when he accompanied her out-of-tune enthusiasm. Then Saylor saw Faith press her wineglass against her lips, and suddenly remembered why Faith had disappeared. Soon after her father’s funeral, Faith had supposedly gone to some meditation retreat in Bali, leaving fifteen-year-old Billy in care of the often-absent Cliff. The Breakers Point gossip was that Faith had really ended up living with some wealthy Frenchman. Regardless, she was supposed to return from Bali after a month, but never came back at all.

“Billy always had a soft spot in his heart for you,” Faith said, glancing down at her myriad of chunky-chic tiger’s eye, amber and agate rings.

“When was the last time you saw him?” Saylor could tell her questions were making Faith uncomfortable, but the tequila made her bolder than usual.

“It’s been a while…” Faith stopped and Saylor wondered if it could have possibly been since Billy was fifteen.

“How long?” The need to know what had happened to him grabbed Saylor so hard that she didn’t have time to worry about how Faith would take her incessant questioning.

Faith drained the last of her wine. “I don’t have to explain myself to you,” she said. “I don’t have to explain myself to anyone. I waited till Billy was a teenager before I left, and he did have his father.”

Saylor nodded in embarrassment: Who was she to judge Faith Underwood? No matter how closed-off the woman acted, maybe she’d been going through her own emotional turmoil. “I’m sorry, Faith. I didn’t mean to—”

“You should know that he’s not the same boy you remember.” Faith’s voice faltered. “When I got back into the country, I looked up Cliff and he told me that Billy ran away before his eighteenth birthday.” With a challenging stare, Faith continued, “Cliff said he had gone crazy.”

“Crazy?”

“Yes, that happens sometimes,” Faith said. “And unless you have a loved one that has gone through something like this, you’ll never understand.” She glanced at her thin Bvlgari watch and slid out of the booth. “I have friends I need to meet upstairs.”.”

“Wait,” Saylor said, trying to break through Faith’s guarded smile “Do you have any idea where he could be now?”

“Cliff mentioned…” Faith looked up at the ceiling as if searching for an answer. “Cliff told me that he was living under Breakers Cove Pier.”

Saylor’s throat went dry, but maybe she had misunderstood. “Living under the pier?”

“It’s exactly how it sounds, Saylor.” Faith shook her head. “And, no, he refuses to get any kind of help.”

“Do you think he’s still there?”

“From what I understand, he’s not exactly someone you want to visit.”

Saylor saw Faith’s mouth twitch and, although she felt sorry for her, she needed to stress how important this was to her. “I don’t care what kind of state he’s in, I still want to see him.”

But Faith only gave her a cool nod goodbye, acting as if she couldn’t hear. Saylor watched her glide away, wanting to chase her down to try to get a real answer, but knowing Faith didn’t want to provide it.

Faith disappeared up the stairs and Saylor pushed the rest of her drink aside.

Book Reviews

[testimonial group=”1″]

© 2014, Tracy Shawn