Thriller ‘Drowning’ by T.J. Newman explores survival at sea

On Arizona Horizon, we welcomed T.J. Newman, a former flight attendant turned acclaimed author, to discuss her latest book, “Drowning.”

About the book

This thrilling novel plunges readers into a harrowing scenario.

Six minutes after takeoff, Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean. During the evacuation, an engine explodes, and the plane is flooded. Those still alive are forced to close the doors—but it’s too late. The plane sinks to the bottom with twelve passengers trapped inside.

More than 200 feet below the surface, engineer Will Kent and his eleven-year-old daughter, Shannon, are waist-deep in water and fighting for their lives.

Their only chance at survival is an elite rescue team on the surface led by professional diver Chris Kent—Shannon’s mother and Will’s soon-to-be ex-wife—who must work together with Will to find a way to save their daughter and rescue the passengers from the sealed airplane, which is now teetering on the edge of an undersea cliff.

There’s not much time. There’s even less air.

“Drowning” is an unforgettable thriller about a family’s desperate fight to save themselves and the people trapped with them—against impossible odds.

The inspiration from this book stemmed from Newman’s previous career as a flight attendant.

“I had the idea for ‘Falling’ in the middle of a red-eye, and I had the idea for ‘Drowning’ in the middle of a red-eye, too,” Newman said.

The book went on sale May 30.

About the author

T.J. Newman is a Phoenix resident. Newman’s first novel, “Falling,” was named a best book of the year by “USA Today,” “Esquire” and others and has been published in over 30 countries. The book will soon be a major motion picture from Universal Pictures.

Concerning her success, Newman stated “I promise you, no one is more surprised about any of this than me.”