Interview with Diana Stevan - Author of 'A Cry From The Deep'

About the author:

Diana Stevan is an actress and producer, known for The Brother (2013), Scared Silent (2002) and As Time Runs Out (1999). She is also the author of five novels: A Cry From The Deep, a time-slip romantic adventure; The Rubber Fence, psychological fiction; and a historical fiction trilogy family saga: Sunflowers Under Fire, Lilacs in the Dust Bowl, Paper Roses on Stony Mountain. She was also a finalist for the 2019 Whistler Independent Book Awards. And she is the author of The Blue Nightgown, a coming-of-age novelette.

Visit Diana Stevan’s website for information on her books and other creative activities.

Interview with Diana Stevan author of ‘A Cry From The Deep’

Link to my Review

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 INTERVIEW

What inspired the writing of A Cry From The Deep? Also, please provide a short overview of the story?

A friend of mine wanted to write a screenplay and asked me to write it with him as he wanted a female voice. He brought the idea of the shipwreck in the 19th c. that opens the novel. Also, the bride in the boat going to meet her lover whose ship has come ashore. He brought the idea, but we could not flesh out the story together and he had little time to write as well, so we abandoned our meetings after a year. I asked if he wouldn’t mind me carrying on, and he said fine. It was then I  decided to write the story as a novel.

As for the time element, I had seen a movie with time travel when I was a child. It had stayed with me over the years.

The short pitch for this story is: When Catherine, a diver on a treasure hunt, buys an old Claddagh ring, she gets nightmares that set her on a path to fulfill a promise of love made centuries before.

Setting is always important in a novel. You have chosen three locations. What are they, why have you chosen these and how do they fit into your story’s framework?

Because I’ve travelled to Ireland and love the culture , the superstitions, and folklore, I made this country my protagonist’s destination. And everything followed from there. I’ve always been fascinated by the shipwrecks of the Spanish Armada—that figure in my story—and they took place off the coast of the emerald isle. I also love New York City and have been there six times. The story gave me an opportunity to weave in scenes I’m familiar with. The same for Provence, where my husband and I spent a few weeks decades ago, so I could write that setting with strong visuals in my mind. .

Catherine Fitzgerald is an underwater photographer and Daniel Costello is a marine archaeologist. Why have you chosen these professions? Do you have any background or interest in these fields? Was much research required to use them aptly in the story.

There was a lot of research I had to do in order to convey their work experiences. I guess I chose those occupations and underwater scenes because I love snorkelling. I’m in my bliss when I’m underwater. If I was younger and braver, I would’ve taken up scuba diving, but living on the prairies of Manitoba until my late 30s didn’t give me that opportunity.

A Cry From The Deep is a time-slip story. Provide a little history of the Claddagh ring and its purpose in your story.

The history of the Claddagh ring is actually in the novel. I’d hate to give it away here, but it’s a fascinating one. As to its purpose in my story, the ring is so Irish, and fills the bill for that magical element I was searching for, one that would tie one woman from the past to a woman in the present.

What is it about the Irish landscape, culture and psyche that you like? Please provide a couple of examples where you used this special interest in your story?

It’s a land full of surprises, which I mention in my novel. Like there are so many shades of green in the landscape that it boggles the mind. I don’t think any photographs of the country do it justice. I loved its gentle countryside, with ancient rock formations and unexpected herds of sheep when you turn a corner. The land seems so unchanged with old cottages and roads so narrow, it’s impossible to drive down them without doing some injury to the paint of your car.

Provide a description (three characteristics) of one villain in your story and was he/she a challenge or fairly easy to create?

Hennesey, the salvager and head of the dive team, was not difficult to create, as I worked off a personality I discovered online. There’s a certain bravado and arrogance that seems to go with the job. I also used Jack Nicholson, the actor, as a character guide and thought of how he might react (based on some of his film roles). So, a chauvinist, for sure. Joy, his love interest, helped to soften his edge.

From your research, what are the most dangerous, disappointing and rewarding aspects of being in a crew searching for sunken ships?

Any time you’re relying on equipment to breathe underwater, you’re taking a risk. For an experienced diver, it’s a calculated one. You can get so mesmerised by what you see underwater you lose all track of time and place. And that’s extremely dangerous. But that’s also rewarding because of what you see beneath the surface. As for disappointment, if you’re searching for a wreck, and you can’t find it, then of course, your expectations are dashed.

You address some of the issues associated with finding treasures under the sea, including ownership of items. Can you share a little about that?

Every country has its borders underwater—like it has authority over a certain distance from the shore—so any treasure found within that area could be claimed by that country, if the salvager is honest with their findings. And if a foreign ship is found sunk in those waters, then the country who owned the ship could also lay claim.

What is the main theme of A Cry From The Deep?

I played with the idea of everlasting love, one that never dies. Is there such a thing and how do we know?

If you could be a character for a day in your novel A Cry From The Deep, who would you want to be and why?

Catherine. I love her bravery and her love for her daughter. Also, her passion for the environment and the preservation of antiquities for all of our enjoyment and education.

Have you always wanted to be a writer? Who or what inspired you? Please share about your publishing/writing journey? The number of books you have written and a bit about each of them.

No, I haven’t always wanted to be a writer. I was an honour student throughout my school days, including at university, and yet English and Literature were not courses I excelled at. I think partly it was because of my lack of confidence in this area. Though I was born in Canada, English was my second language. With both parents working, my Ukrainian speaking grandmother took care of me until I was eight years old. So, Ukrainian was my first language and the main language spoken at home. It took me a while to understand English grammar and punctuation. I’m not bad at it now, but thank God for editors.

When I began writing novels, I was retired from my work as a family therapist. At first, I wrote screenplays and had agents in Toronto and Vancouver and even some Hollywood interest for a screenplay, titled Shrinkproof. When no one picked up any of my scripts, I turned to novel writing. I adapted Shrinkproof into the novel The Rubber Fence.

I’ve written 5 novels and a novelette, all self-published. I had some serious interest from a notable NY agent for my debut novel, A Cry from the Deep, but when she passed on me and my novel, I decided I’d do it all myself. Some of my reasoning had to do with how easy it is to publish a good book today, if you have a good story and hire the help every author needs, like a good editor, book cover designer, and formatter. The other reason was my age. I didn’t feel I could afford to wait any longer to find the right agent and weather the time it takes to publish a book traditionally.  

Do you have any favourite activities or creative pastimes you like to do to relieve stress or to inspire you while on a break during the writing of a novel?

I love to walk in the forest or ride my bike. I also play the piano and violin (both passably and for my own pleasure). As an avid reader, I also escape into books and magazines. Fortunately, much inspires me. And I must get back to painting. I’ve done a fair amount in oil, acrylics, and watercolour.

Name five novels you read this year that you would highly recommend?

Invention of Wings by Sue Miller, The Rooftop Garden by Menaka Raman-Wilms, The Physician’s Daughter by Martha Conway, The Second Life of Samuel Tyne by Esi Edugyan, and at the end of last year, I read an astounding novel, The Overstory by Richard Powers.

If you were having a dinner party and could invite any three famous figures from the past and/or present to attend, who would you choose and what question would you ask each of them? What favourite meal would you serve?

Queen Elizabeth II, Greta Thunberg, and Winston Churchill.

I’d ask Queen Elizabeth II, “Given that you devoted your life to service and had to contend with loneliness, what would you do differently if you could do it over again?”

I’d ask Greta Thunberg where she gets her courage and determination from and what keeps her going despite the disappointing results from world leaders?

And I’d ask Winston Churchill why he gave the orders to bomb Dresden after the war was won? Wasn’t there enough destruction? Or was he thinking an eye for an eye? It was all so senseless. There are no winners in war.

For my meal: baked salmon with a rice pilaf and green French beans. (One of my favourite meals). And a fresh fruit salad for dessert with tea. 

Are you working on any new project and, if so, can you share a little about it?

I’m working on a short story collection. I’m about 2/3 done. And I’ve been visiting the poetry I’ve written over the years, and hope to begin submitting it here and there. As for another novel, I have some thoughts but will keep them to myself for now.

Thank you so much for this lovely interview, Cindy. It’s been such a pleasure answering your questions.

Thank you, Diana, for being my guest! It has been lovely to chat with you.

For those who would also like to read about and see samples of Diana’s poetry, please go to this link and for her artwork and her husband’s follow this direct link.