As a kid growing up on the sandy beaches of South Florida, the ocean was both playground and looming presence. Its vastness held a thrilling mystery, a sense of adventure just beyond the crashing waves. It was also a force of unpredictable power, capable of sudden storms and churning undertows.I loved the ocean, but I was also afraid of it. Those moments when you step farther out into the water and you can no longer touch the bottom… that sensation of unease as you begin to float, at the mercy of the tides… unaware of what was lurking beneath. It set my imagination alight.

They personified the ocean's untamed power, the lurking dangers hidden beneath the surface. I wanted to create a world where seasoned (and one undercooked) sailors braved uncharted waters, encountering not only the monstrous but also the fantastical. The story would be a tribute to the thrill of exploration, the camaraderie forged in the face of hardship, and the constant dance with the unknown that defines life at sea.

The ocean, in all its untamed glory, became the backdrop for this adventure. Its ever-changing moods, from glassy calm to raging fury, would mirror the challenges faced by the characters. And within its depths, the line between myth and reality would blur, leaving the reader to question what truly lurked beneath the waves.