Virtual Book Tour + #Giveaway: Secrets of a River Swimmer by S.S. Turner @GoddessFish

Secrets of a River Swimmer

by S.S. Turner

GENRE: Literary Fiction

BLURB:

As Freddy gazes at the majestic river gushing past him in the depths of a Scottish winter, he's ready to jump in and end his life. But what happens next is not what Freddy expects. From the moment he enters the river, Freddy starts a journey which is more beautiful, funny, and mysterious than he could have imagined. And through this journey Freddy's story becomes interweaved with a cast of unforgettable characters who are equally lost and in search of answers. Eventually they all unite in their quest for an answer to the biggest question of them all: will the river take them where they want to go?

In the tradition of inspirational works of fiction like The Alchemist and Life of Pi, Secrets of a River Swimmer is at once a profound exploration into living with meaning and an affecting story of people on the cusp of change.

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Excerpt:

From Page 21-22

My thoughts drift to picture what life as a gillie must be like. I imagine you start the day by carrying all the fishing equipment your fat and wealthy clients will need for a day of luxurious and fully-catered fishing. You carry everything while they take it easy, and you locate the best spot to fish for the largest possible salmon. Your local knowledge about fishing spots has to be extraordinary. You then set up the fishing rod, position your client in the right spot, and talk them through what they need to do to catch that magic fish they’re all searching for. Of course, your clients are always searching for the largest catch of the season, so they can go home and brag to their friends and family about what skilled fishermen they are. It’s obvious to you, if not to them, that the subtext is being able to sing to the world that they have massive willies, bigger than everyone else’s.

Beyond fishing, you’re forced to listen to whatever the hell it is your clients want to talk about for the eight long hours you’re on the river. Your clients are all obscenely wealthy, so it’s more than likely you’ll hear a lot of moaning about all the small things in life they’d like changed. Many of them will complain about local wind farm developments, council plans to develop their neighborhood, and, of course, the big one: immigration. They all believe immigrants are responsible for all the problems in the world. These people are your quintessential NIMBYs, and will always complain about progress if it affects them in any way, no matter how minor. You do whatever you can to bring the conversation back to fishing because it’s an easier conversation for you, and less productive grounds for their complaining. They’re slowly sucking the life out of you with their negativity, so you carefully select your words to bring the conversation onto a more positive pathway. And, of course, your ultimate back-up plan, as it is for many British people, is to pull out the ultimate conversation filler when you’re at rock bottom: the weather. Yes, it’s a desperate move and the equivalent of holding up a white flag, but needs must.

Interview with S.S. Turner

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

I believe Vanilla is the finest of the flavors, particularly when it’s made from real vanilla beans which taste of the Madagascan forest.

Which mythological creature are you most like?

I’m not sure it’s a mythological creature but I’d say the Luck Dragon from The Neverending Story. My wife tells me I have a similarly calm serendipitous energy.

First book you remember making an indelible impression on you.

A Stranger Came Ashore by Mollie Hunter. I loved all Mollie’s stories about Scottish myths and folklore. A Stranger Came Ashore was particularly exciting and I remember I couldn’t put it down when I was only around ten years old. In fact, I blame Mollie for opening my mind to living in Scotland for so many years despite my love of sunny climates. She presented the country in such a wonderfully mystical light.

How do you develop your plot and characters?

I start a novel with a few page plot plan and some short character essays. However, once the writing process begins and the characters come alive, I listen to where they need to go. Often my initial plan goes out the window relatively early in the story as a result. It’s a humbling process which involves sacrificing control to the story to the characters in it.

Describe your writing space.

I generally spend a couple of hours in the morning writing in one of a number of beautiful cafes which serve great coffee near where I live. I love it. There’s something about a warm and welcoming café environment and drinking a good coffee which helps me relax into the flow of writing. I also find nature inspiring and often write in parks and countryside locations with inspiring views. As you can tell I’m not an office person!

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

S.S. Turner has been an avid reader, writer, and explorer of the natural world throughout his life which has been spent in England, Scotland and Australia. Just like Freddy in his first novel, Secrets of a River Swimmer, he worked in the global fund management sector for many years but realized it didn't align with his values. In recent years, he's been focused on inspiring positive change through his writing as well as trying not to laugh in unfortunate situations. He now lives in Australia with his wife, daughter, two dogs, two cats, and ten chickens.

Website

Giveaway:

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