The Deepest Waters, A Novel (28 page)

The Deepest Waters
is most definitely a work of fiction. But historical fiction tales are often based on things that actually happened. Sometimes you’ll see the phrase “Based on a True Story” on a book cover. That means
most
of what you’ll read actually happened, though some details have been changed (for any number of reasons).

Then there’s the phrase “
Inspired
by a True Story,” which better describes this book. It means a true story inspired the work of fiction, but the book likely contains more fiction than fact. Just how much, I guess, is up to the author.

While all my characters are fictitious, as are most of the plot points, many things in
The Deepest Waters
really did happen. In fact, some of the most amazing aspects of the story are true. I had been watching a documentary about the SS
Central America
, a paddle-wheel steamship that sank in the waters off North Carolina in September of 1857. I couldn’t believe some of the things I saw. It captivated my attention. I was
inspired
. I soon ordered a number of books about the shipwreck to find out more, and then I began to write this novel.

I won’t take time to mention all the true things in my story, but here are some I found the most fascinating:

A steamship filled with tons of gold really did sail straight into a hurricane, spring a serious leak, and sink (before it did, the men aboard tried to bail her out in a bucket brigade).

A newlywed couple really did board that steamship for a honeymoon cruise back East, and the wife really brought all her wedding gifts along.

The steamship passengers had given up all hope of rescue when an old sailing ship appeared on the horizon. But it wasn’t big enough to rescue everyone, and over four hundred men were left behind. The newlywed couple was separated then, and the wife sailed away, firmly convinced her new husband had perished.

When the steamship sank, most of the men aboard drowned; many right away, others as they grew weary, floating in the ocean clinging to debris.

The rescue ship, carrying all the women and children, really did run out of food but was saved by another ship that appeared. The captain of the second ship was a Christian and gave the rescue ship all the food and water they needed to finish their journey. He wouldn’t take a dime in repayment.

Perhaps this is the most amazing of all . . . a large bird really flew out of nowhere and careened into the head of a captain sailing another ship over one hundred miles out at sea. It caused him to immediately change course. That night, his ship sailed right through the remaining fifty-three survivors from the steamship and rescued them.

The newlywed husband was among those fifty-three survivors, and he really did help save the lives of several men adrift with him at sea.

As you can imagine, a few days later, the newlywed couple enjoyed a most remarkable reunion.

As I studied this amazing story, I was reminded of a passage in the Old Testament:

Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters, they see the works of the
Lord
, and His wonders in the deep.

Psalm 107:23–24

One of the most enjoyable aspects of writing historical novels for me is the research. I always learn such amazing things. Take the part where Micah’s children, Sally and Eli, find each other and work as servants in the same New York mansion. When you consider the fascinating true story of the Underground Railroad, it’s not hard to believe something like this could have happened (I’d encourage you to read more about this on the internet). Now, the part where Eli and his father, Micah, meet that one magical night . . . I hope you’ll agree, if God can appoint a bird to smack into a sea captain’s head and get him to alter his course so that he rides right through the middle of a floating band of shipwreck survivors on a moonless night . . . it’s not a stretch to believe he could accomplish anything I imagined as I wrote this book.

One final thing: as much as I loved writing and researching this book, I am grateful that the few sea voyages I’ve taken with my wife have all been aboard very large ships with marvelous buffets and unlimited servings of soft-serve ice cream and iced tea.

This is now my third novel, written with the help of essentially the same team as my first two. I could simply ask these precious friends to reread what I wrote about them in my first novel and say “ditto” for their help with
The Deepest Waters
.

But I won’t.

Because they’ve helped me so much more with this book, and my appreciation for them and their help has grown so much more since then. Starting with my wife, Cindi. Many authors take the time to thank their spouses for their love and support and their willingness to sacrifice the needed time apart, so that the novel could be completed. I understand those sentiments and do thank Cindi for them as well. She is the love of my life and my greatest friend. But I must add my thanks for how much better this book is because of her input and suggestions. It’s almost as if I have the help of two gifted editors, not one.

Speaking of gifted editors . . . my thanks to Andrea Doering, my editor at Revell. You helped me with my first two books. You
really
helped me with
The Deepest Waters
. My readers now have, by far, a much better story than the one I originally sent you, because of your input and advice.

And thanks to Michele Misiak, Claudia Marsh, Donna Hausler, and the whole marketing/publicity team at Revell. What a joy it is to work with you behind the scenes. Thanks for all you do to get my books on the shelves and into readers’ hands. I want to thank Kristin Kornoelje for helping keep me on track and for all the wonderful little things you catch that nobody else sees.

A special thanks to Twila Bennett, Cheryl Van Andel, and the team responsible for the cover of this book. I loved my first two covers, but with this one . . . what can I say? You hit it out of the park! I’d love to hang it as a painting on my wall.

And finally, my thanks to Karen Solem, my literary agent and friend. I am in your debt and able to just relax and write because I’m always in such capable and caring hands. You’re simply the best.

Dan Walsh
is the award-winning author of
The Unfinished Gift
,
The Homecoming
, and
The Deepest Waters
. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for twenty-five years. He lives with his family in the Daytona Beach area, where he’s busy researching and writing his next novel.