by Jason Heaton
My week diving the wreck of HMS Hermes back in 2017 informed much of my knowledge of the east coast of Sri Lanka, deep tech diving, and World War II shipwrecks. The Deep Sea Resort in Batticaloa was the inspiration for The Deep Blue in Depth Charge. I owe a debt of gratitude to the Deep Sea’s owner, Felician Fernando, who inspired my character, Sebastian, and taught me the art of technical diving and introduced me to the Hermes.
My time spent with the Lost Ships of Cortés Project in Mexico opened my eyes to the world of underwater archaeology and inspired the character, and the work, of my hero, Tusker. I thank Fritz Hanselmann, Christopher Horrell, Melanie Damour, and Jonathan Kingston for allowing me to get a glimpse into their work.
To understand the nuances of Sri Lankan Buddhism and a history of Buddhist extremism, I turned to my friend, Milinda Cumaratunga. Milo reviewed excerpts of this novel, provided valuable feedback, suggested appropriate names, and corrected my often blundered portrayal of the lives and customs of the Buddhist clergy.
Tina Edward read a draft of Depth Charge and provided feedback on some portrayals of Sri Lankan life and for her time and comments, I am grateful.
To make sure I was getting the titles, clothing, and lingo correct with regard to World War II Britain, as well as some Cambridge and London geography, I asked historian John Henry Phillips to reviews select chapters and he gave me helpful feedback and suggestions.
Tom Bushey provided intel on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, specifically the location where Tusker’s family cabin is, where he learned to scuba dive.
Years before I even conceived of Depth Charge, I read a thriller by Pierre Gobinet called The Freelancers. I remember thinking, “This is the kind of novel I want to write.” I met Pierre on a cold night in Geneva, where he told me about his experience writing that novel, and I credit him with being a big inspiration to me. If you can find, The Freelancers, I highly recommend it.
Even as I was writing the first few chapters of Depth Charge, Andrew Revitt reached out to provide incredibly kind encouragement and real world advice on publishing and promoting my novel. It was on his suggestion that I set up the Depth Charge website and collected contact information from interested readers. Andrew also provided a cover art concept that I used as inspiration on my earliest manuscripts. Never underestimate the value of seeing your title and name on a book cover early on. It makes it feel official.
J.R. Seeger, a prolific writer and creator of the “Mike 4” thriller series, reached out and generously offered advice and encouragement, and sent me one of his novels to read. Now that Depth Charge is published, I am returning the favor, sending a copy to J.R., and I hope he enjoys it.
How can I adequately thank Paul Andrews? This hard working London-based designer offered his time and talents free of charge to create not only the book cover design, but all of my marketing images, animations, logos, and even did the typesetting of this book. It was an act of extreme generosity that I’ll never forget.
Similarly generous was my friend and talented composer, Oran Chan, who, upon seeing an early cover mockup, took it upon himself to compose an entire theme song for Depth Charge. I have never heard of a novel having its own soundtrack, but listening to the track on repeat was inspiring as I edited the book, and it will find its way into the audiobook and, one day, the film score (a writer can dream, right?).
My friend Rick Marei learned that Tusker’s diving watch was to be an Aquastar Benthos, and he generously provided me with some inspiration in the form of a vintage Benthos to wear while I wrote Depth Charge.
Growing up in suburban Milwaukee wasn’t the most exotic or exciting life, but I found a kindred, dreaming spirit in my oldest friend, Christopher Winters. In high school, Chris and I shared musical tastes, wrote poetry, and went to coffeehouses while other friends were partying. Later on, it was with Chris that I did my first shipwreck dive, and we’ve shared countless adventures, both topside and underwater in years hence. The fact is, I always looked up to Chris. He took up acting, wrote a children’s book as a teenager, and took a bus to New York to try to get it published. He later became an award-winning maritime historian, author, and photographer. His focus, drive, and talents have always been an inspiration to me. Oh, and on a trip to Sri Lanka together, Chris started calling me “Tusker.”
Back when I was writing for Gear Patrol, I worked with a young editor named Chris Wright. I sparred with Chris occasionally over his suggested changes to my articles, but deep down I knew he was usually right and he made me a better writer. I told Chris that one day when I wrote my first book, I wanted him to edit it. With Depth Charge, that day arrived, and I cannot emphasize enough how much his editing improved the book you are reading. If you’re going to write a novel, never, ever, skip the editing. And if you can, hire Chris to edit it.
Nick Milanes, another Gear Patrol alum, came recommended by Chris to do the proofreading of the final layout. It takes a certain kind of person to proofread a 60,000-word 300-page book full of foreign names and arcane diving references, and Nick is that person. There’s nothing worse than opening a new novel and finding mistakes and typos, and the fact that Depth Charge looks so good is largely down to Nick.
The idea for Depth Charge was hatched in Jamaica, fittingly while my wife, Gishani, and I were staying at Goldeneye, Ian Fleming’s former estate. We were sitting by the lagoon after a morning snorkel when I got a bit of bad career news over e-mail. The decision to embark on a novel crystallized right there, and we immediately starting hatching plot ideas and possible publishing strategies, mere meters from where all of the James Bond novels were written.
The simple fact is, not only would Depth Charge never have been written, but I’d never have become the writer I am, if it weren’t for Gishani. Over our two decades together, she has always encouraged, cajoled, scolded, motivated, critiqued, and supported my writing efforts. She was there with me when I was writing my gear and watch reviews, taking the photos. And she always listens when I read out even my most boring work.
Gishani pored over Depth Charge, page by page, helping craft plot, relationships, names, and giving honest feedback on readability. She helped set up the Depth Charge website and has promised to help package and ship the books when orders come in. And she has supported us both, without complaint, while I spent months chasing a dream. Gishani always told me that she believed I’d be a novelist one day. Well, here I am, and it’s largely thanks to her.
Finally, what novelist doesn’t thank his parents? We often joke that my wife and my mother compete for the title “Number One Fan,” but if longevity counts, then Mom wins. As far back as I can remember she encouraged and celebrated my writing, and my reading. She always has been my champion, cheering for me from the bleachers, no matter what I’ve done or how well I’ve done it. The love of a mother knows no bounds and I owe a life of happiness and success to her.
Though Dad likes to pretend he keeps a tight rein on their finances, I know he’d relent if Mom decides to buy 100 copies of Depth Charge. Dad has always been the rock, the strong support our family relied on while we had our fun. I can’t count how many times he bailed me out or lent practical advice and a lifetime being his son has given me the strength and confidence to even write this book. He’s also afraid of deep water, one trait I’m glad I didn’t inherit from him.
I want to acknowledge two books I read that provided good background for some themes in Depth Charge. Stalin’s Gold, by Barrie Penrose, explores the salvage of gold from a sunken British warship in the Barents Sea. It is a daring story that could have been a thriller if it wasn’t true and it provided ideas and inspiration for Depth Charge.
The Hermes Adventure, by Rex Morgan, is a fascinating firsthand account of an expedition to dive the HMS Hermes wreck, written by the son of the photographer who was on board Hermes when it sank in 1942. The book spans three generations and 40 years, from Australia to Sri Lanka, and has some amazing photos and accounts of the ship’s sinking by her surviving crew.
/> Finally, I want to thank all those who encouraged me from the beginning of this project. Despite a lifetime of travel and adventure, both underwater and topside all over the planet, it was the sitting at home during a pandemic that became my life’s greatest adventure. The early and continued interest from those who signed up for email updates, sent me emails and messages with advice and encouragement kept me going when I hit moments of writer’s block, plot dead-ends, travel restrictions, and other challenges along the way. I hope the book lives up to your expectations and I thank you for your faith in me.
Jason Heaton
Minneapolis
April, 2021
About the Author
Jason Heaton has a decade-long history of adventure, travel, wristwatch, and gear writing, and his work has appeared in Outside, Gear Patrol, Men’s Journal, Wired, Australian Geographic, and Hodinkee. The New York Times once called him “a test pilot for the world’s most illustrious undersea timepieces.” He is also the co-host of the popular podcast The Grey NATO.
A certified technical diver, Heaton has been underwater all over the world, from the Galapagos to New Zealand to the Caribbean, and since 2015, he has been a member of the prestigious Explorers Club. He lives with his wife, Gishani, and their two cats in Minneapolis. Depth Charge is his first novel.
