Beyond the Surface by Sarah Krizek
Ever since I was a little girl, I loved to write.
I would write silly stories and draw pictures to go with them (a very original Dinah the Dinosaur is stashed away somewhere) and dreamed of one day being an artist or an author.
For a long time, though I still loved both of those things, I didn’t think I’d ever really do either of them seriously. Even as I graduated with my degree in English, I never actually thought I’d write my own book. Teach English? Sure. But write a book? No way.
I never did teach English, though I thought that’s what I would do. I struggled to find the thing I wanted to do for the rest of my life, and eventually settled into a day job that paid the bills. The dream of writing a book took a back seat to my “real” job, amongst other things - getting married, having children, moving - the “real life” things.
But once the dust settled and I found my calling in staying home to raise my children, the whispers of writing a book began to pop up again. The kids are growing up and that fear of wondering who I am without a baby in my arms reared its head. I worried about finding a job and finding myself outside of my most important role of mom.
What was I going to do?
That tiny (and I mean minuscule) voice in the back of my head kept telling me to write. And so I pulled out years old notebooks that I had saved with bits and pieces of the story that had formed in my heart a decade ago. I sat in the car pick up line at school and wrote out the first draft of Beyond the Surface.
I’ll admit, at first, I felt like I was wasting my time. Why write if no one else will ever read it? Why write if it’s terrible? Why write if I’ll never get published?
I had no idea that in those moments God was already at work. Changing my heart, changing the voice in my head to better reflect His image and not the horrible image I had of myself. I didn’t know it at the time, but writing Beyond the Surface would bring me closer to God.
Maybe it was being immersed with other Hope Authors and hearing their stories and being so inspired by their faith that led me to seek out a Christ centered life in my every day, or maybe it was in the quiet moments of writing that I was better able to hear God’s will for me.
In hindsight, I feel like God wanted me to learn that my past does not define me forever. That I can change the voice I use toward myself. That I can accomplish something at the same time that I am scared as long as I keep my eyes on Him and give my fear over to Him instead of trying and failing to maintain control. Through writing this book, I have learned that I’ve never been in control, I never will be, but I don’t need to be because someone even greater is.
About the book…
In 1944, Anna Mitchell is running from a life bound to suffocate her, the life her mother mapped out for her. She tosses aside that figurative map to draw a new one, enlisting as a U.S. Army nurse. Despite her mother’s vehement protest, Anna embarks across the Atlantic, not knowing what to expect - certainly not expecting Paul.
Paul O’Reilly is part of the Army Specialized Training Program, which is supposed to keep him safe while World War II tears through Europe. But when the program is disbanded, he finds himself on the front lines with the rest of the 66th Division, the Army’s promises dissolved.
When Paul meets Anna, he can’t deny his feelings, though she pretends he doesn’t mean more to her than any other soldier. When the SS Leopoldville transports the nurses across the English Channel one week before Christmas, Anna could never imagine that same ship would sink to the bottom on Christmas Eve with Paul and the rest of the Black Panthers left to fight for their lives.
Beyond the Surface is a story of going the distance for one’s calling. It is also a tribute to the men of the 66th Division and a remembrance of their sacrifice, bringing to light what was long kept in the dark. The survivors of the sinking of the SS Leopoldville bore witness to a tragedy so great they could easily have been pulled beneath the waves that engulfed them on Christmas Eve, never to surface again. Still, they rose, battered, bruised, and worse for the wear, but no less strong. Perhaps even stronger than before.
About Sarah…
Sarah Krizek is originally from Hudson Valley, NY, and now living in the south! She is a stay at home mom to two children. She graduated from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in Art. After college she worked several jobs - the most notable being at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor (where the inspiration for Beyond the Surface started) and then later on, as a court clerk for a local town court. She enjoys being outdoors with my family, hiking, reading, and taking walks with our two crazy dogs.
Why I Write:
I suppose I write because the urge to do so has never gone away. I feel like there are stories that have wound their way into my heart and I just can’t shake them until I’ve gotten them down on paper. I don’t think I ever really believed I’d write a book, but I also never figured out what I was supposed to do with my life or felt settled without coming back to writing.
Who I write for:
On a grand scale, I write for anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a bit of a love story intertwined. But when I wrote this book, I often thought about someone like me, a mom at home, raising her children, looking for a good book to get lost in during those rare moments of free time - or staying up way too late to read just one more page. I write for the person who also longs to write - who maybe hasn’t gotten there yet but who hopes one day she might - I hope the way in which I got started might also encourage someone else that they can do it too!
The book every writer should read:
Well, I don’t think this is a very fun answer, but my constant go to is always The Elements of Style by William Struck Jr. and E.B. White. It is such a timeless, important book that has helped me so much to clean things up and not be so wordy.
Connect with Sarah:
Email: sarahkrizekauthor@gmail.com
Instagram: @sarahkrizek
Facebook: Sarah Krizek
Order Beyond the Surface HERE
