Introduction

What began as a fairytale honeymoon in 1857 for John and Laura Foster aboard the steamship SS Vandervere becomes a nightmare when a hurricane causes their ship to sink into the murky depths of the Atlantic. Laura finds herself with the other women and children aboard a sailing ship while John and a hundred other men drift on the open sea on anything they could grab as the Vandervere went down. Suspecting her John is gone but still daring to hope for a miracle, Laura must face the possibility of life alone--and meeting her new in-laws without their son if she ever reaches New York.

Readers will be holding their breath as they sail through this emotional and honest story of hope, faith, and love in the face of uncertainty. Talented author Dan Walsh skillfully tells an epic story through an intimate focus on two lost lovers. Inspired by real events, this moving novel will capture the hearts of all who dive into its pages.

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Excerpt

September, 1857

Yesterday, when it had become a certainty their ship would
sink, Laura and John Foster held hands, as they had on their
wedding day three weeks ago, and made a vow: when that
moment finally came, they would leap into the sea together
and slip beneath the waves. One quick inhale of water. It
wouldn’t be suicide. God had already determined it to be
their last day on earth.

But that’s not what happened.

Laura was still here, alive and alone. By now, John had
most certainly perished along with the rest.

Her tears temporarily spent, Laura lifted her head and
looked at the other women. Faces barely recognizable. Cold,
wet, quietly weeping, or else staring at nothing, eyes locked
in grief. All the men in their lives—husbands, brothers, fathers—
were gone. The dim lantern light, shifting with the
motion of the sea, moved them in and out of the shadows
like phantoms.

The ship creaked and moaned with each rise and fall of the
waves, as if sharing their pain. From the darkest side of the
room, Laura heard a new sound. Heavy feet scuffing across
the wooden deck. As the sound grew louder, she waited for
someone to emerge.

“Pardon me, ladies. I surely don’t mean to disturb you.”

The voice, aged and deep. “I can’t see y’all at the moment, and
I hope I don’t step on nobody. I’ll just make my way toward
that lantern up ahead.” She followed the sounds from right to
left. “I brung something for ya. Those blankets we gave out
gotta be damp by now. These ain’t much, but I remembered
we had some old sails in stow. Captain said it’d be all right
if I cut ’em up and pass ’em out.”

His voice was caring and kind. As he came into the light,
Laura recognized the old Negro slave. He’d helped them when
they first boarded a few hours ago. She knew he was a slave by
the way the crew treated him. He set down a stack of folded
cloth. “Can’t see you ladies too good, but you hold up your
hand, I’ll give you one. If you got chillun, I give ’em one too.
You in the shadows, just say Micah as I come by, and I’ll get
you one directly.”

Several hands raised toward him. One by one, Micah
handed out the cut sails. Laura’s blanket was damp but not
badly. She waited, to make sure there were enough for the
elderly women and mothers with small children.

By his count, Micah ran short by twenty. “Don’t you worry,
got plenty more. I’ll go cut me some and be right back.” Laura
didn’t know how many had been rescued. She thought she’d
heard just over a hundred. Maybe she should get up and help
him. She wasn’t injured. “Micah?” she called out.

“Yes’m?”

She stood up. “Can I help you?” She could barely see a
path between them.

“That’s kind, ma’am, but I’ll be all right.”

“I don’t mind,” she said.

“I know, but truth is, I’m not sure what the cap’n say. With
the ship bobbin’ up and down, and it bein’ dark, I’d be afraid
you bang your head or worse. Tell you what. When I get back,
you can help me pass ’em out.”

“Anything I can do. You’ve been so kind.”

“Well, y’all been through so much, wish there was more
I could do.”

Just then the ship jolted upward. Laura almost fell.

“You all right, ma’am?”

“Yes.”

“See,” Micah said. “Just ain’t safe walkin’ around here in
the dark. I’ll be right back.”

Laura reached out and found a wall near the doorway, then
slid down in place. She could just barely trace the outline of
a woman holding two children near, tucked back a few feet
in the shadows.

“Mama,” said one child, “how much longer till Father
joins us?”

She heard the mother inhale deeply. “I’m not sure, son.
Just try and sleep. We’ll see what comes in the morning.”
What comes in the morning.

Laura allowed the phrase to turn over once in her mind,
but no more. She couldn’t bear to think beyond the next hour.
... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

From the publisher:

1. Which of the three main characters (John, Laura, or Micah) became your favorite and why?
2. Why was Laura so impressed with the depth of Micah’s faith compared to her own? How could someone who didn’t even know how to read develop such a strong walk with God?
3. What aspects of John and Laura’s love story did you enjoy the most and why? Do you think they had the kind of love that would stand the test of time? If so, why?
4. What do you think most attracted John to Laura? How about Laura to John?
5. Why do you think John felt he couldn’t tell Laura the truth about his family situation before the voyage? Do you think he made the right call? Would you have handled this differently?
6. John and the other men adrift at sea faced the likelihood of imminent death. How do you think John handled these moments? Did the scenes ring true to you? Have you ever faced a time where you thought your life was in danger?
7. John’s family in New York had many problems. What do you see as their biggest ones? Do you see these problems as being relevant challenges today or only things people in that era would face?
8. Did you learn any fascinating details about the history of the period, things you never knew before?
9. Were you aware that many Christians in the South accepted and defended the right to own slaves? How did they justify this? How would you have handled this issue if you had lived in the South at that time?
10. Did you have a favorite scene in the book? How did you respond to it and what made it your favorite?
11. How would you classify this novel: as a love story, an inspirational tale, or a novel of suspense?
12. Did you catch that The Deepest Waters was inspired by true events before reading it through? If so, while reading it did you wonder what parts of the story were factual and what parts were fiction? The author made a list at the end of the book that showed which things really happened. How good were your guesses?
13. Did you find the ending satisfying? Do you see this as a good resolve for the Foster family? Are there any future stories you think this family has left to tell? (If so, feel free to send them to the author, Dan Walsh, at [email protected]. )

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