Secrets of a River Swimmer

                                               Secrets of a River Swimmer

by S.S. Turner 

 

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GENRE: Literary Fiction

 

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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

 

 

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.

A Word With the Author

 What is the sweetest thing someone has done for you?

My wife Jess loves cooking and often cooks dinner for us. She’s a wonderful cook so I’m always grateful.

 

How would you spend ten thousand bucks?

I’m much more focused on experiences than possessions. So I’d book a holiday to a part of the world I’ve been longing to visit throughout the COVID lockdowns such as the Galapagos or Thailand or Malaysia or South Korea. 

Where do you get your best ideas?

I’m not sure! My best ideas hit me out of the blue when I’m jogging or hiking or doing anything other than thinking about writing. 

What comes first, the plot or characters?

For me, a story’s plotline comes first and then the characters become clearer as the story becomes clearer in my mind. When I wrote Secrets of a River Swimmer for example, I had a very clear picture of who Freddy, the narrator, was when I started writing but the other main characters stepped forward with more clarity once I reached their parts of the story. And then once they stepped forward, it was like meeting people I’d met before. They became clear in my mind very quickly. 

What does your main character do that makes him/her special.

My main character Freddy is special because he addresses heavy subjects with a unique lightness and humor. He’s even able to enjoy himself as the hard truths of his life descend upon him. 

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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.

 

https://www.thestoryplant.com/secrets-of-a-river-swimmer

 

Buy Links:

Amazon- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JWTK3WN/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

 

B&N- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secrets-of-a-river-swimmer-s-s-turner/1139673873

 

AppleBooks- https://books.apple.com/us/book/secrets-of-a-river-swimmer/id1591209788

 

Indigo- https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/secrets-of-a-river-swimmer/9781611883213-item.html

 

Kobo- https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/secrets-of-a-river-swimmer

 

 

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

 

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

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