Thallasophile - lover of the ocean. That's me. I have a strong affinity for that entity and express those feelings through my writing—my books. They may span many genres but are all connected to the place I call home. Genres published: historical fiction, literary, murder, essays--they all are set on Topsail Island where I grew up. It is my way of preserving this wonderful place and the people with whom I share my life. The first book in the Murder by the Sea series is WATERLOGGED. Don Belkin is a former Marine, now a detective with the Surf City Police Dept. He's a conflicted man, to say the least, as he struggles to accept his past and find solace in the small beach town. Bitterness runs deep between the locals who have populated the area for generations and the "new" folks who think they've found paradise. Oh, Topsail Island may be the perfect tourist attraction, but in the summer it's just plain MURDER. (there are 5 more books in the series)