Derelict follows a divemaster who, after a devastating explosion, launches her own investigation and finds herself in a dark and lonely place. What were some sources that informed this novels development?

First was a scouting trip to Dahab, and a dive in the Blue Hole, along with trips into the canyons of the Sinai Peninsula and the Bedouin villages along the coast. Second, discussions with divemasters who work or worked at dive shops in Dahab. Third were discussions with a dive safety officer in charge of our local university’s dive operation — to make sure I did a good job blowing up a dive shop. And, finally, discussions with divers who have discovered and mapped century-old wrecks.

Ricky is a character I enjoyed following. What were some principles you kept in mind while creating Ricky’s character?

Ricky, like so many protagonists is broken. She has overpowering trust issues, is incredibly stubborn, reckless to the extreme, and has a strong moral compass.

This seemed like a fun book to write. What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?

The sand dune scene. I passed the dune while riding on my camel to the village of Ras Abu Galum. After dropping off my dive gear and meeting my bedouin host, I returned to the scene and began to map it out. That scene remained almost exactly as I walked it out, despite many editorial cycles.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

The next book in the series is Jetsam, due out March 1, 2023. (It takes place in Thailand and Myanmar.)

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