Citywide Bytes—Explore the dark depths with “Fear of the Deep”

Let’s face it—the ocean is a damn nightmare and our next guest gives us one more reason to stick to shore. Joining us is Julie Hiner for her new book, “Fear of the Deep” out through Torrid Waters, an imprint of Crystal Lake Publishing. Here’s a look at what’s in store:

Bailey, a lifeguard with a heavy metal heart and a Jack Daniel's addiction, has long avoided the deep sea since a haunting accident. San Diego's sunny shores provide a facade of normalcy, where her nights are drowned in music and whiskey, and her days are spent keeping a safe distance from the ocean's grasp. 

But the sea has a way of claiming what it wants. The discovery of a woman's body, marked by peculiar and familiar blue marks, washes up on the beach, forcing Bailey to confront the fears she's been running from. Deep beneath the waves, something sinister lurks, a nightmare born from genetic engineering gone awry. As Bailey delves deeper into the mystery, she finds herself entangled in a web of horror and science fiction, where sea creatures of the darkest depths become terrifyingly real.

Sounds terrifying, right? Well, Julie has a lot to talk about, as we explore Bailey’s character and just what happened to keep her on land as much as possible, and what brings her back to the deep. We talk monsters and other works that helped inspire “Fear of the Deep.”

Julie shares what it was like working with Torrid Waters and Crystal Lake Publishing and creepy-as-hell cover that was made for the book. We also explore what’s next and if this deep sea horror story is one Julie will return to someday.