What lies beneath
He has everything—except the one thing that matters.
Tristen’s success is flawless: Wealth, prestige, and a groundbreaking AI project on the verge of changing the world. But beneath the surface, he is unraveling. Haunted by his father’s silence and tormented by the Wolf, an inner voice that feeds on his deepest fears, he flees to Carmel’s wild coastline in search of clarity.
There, a secret manuscript, The Man in the Cage, mirrors his inner chaos. As the ocean crashes around him and career pressures mount, Julia enters his life, piercing the carefully constructed masks he has spent decades perfecting.
Now Tristen faces a choice that will define him: Cling to control and ambition, or risk everything to embrace vulnerability and truth.
“Under The Current” is a psychological thriller and drama of masculinity, trauma, and transformation—immersive, emotional, and unforgettable.
What inspired the book
Hidden emotional struggles
I wrote “Under the Current” to dive into the complexities and contradictions that lie just beneath the polished facades or "masks" so many people, especially men, present to the world and themselves in everyday life. In a culture that often values success, intellect, and control above all else, the book seeks to reveal the emotional struggles and silent battles that remain hidden—feelings of loneliness, unresolved pain, and the search for identity that don’t easily fit into Western societal expectations.
Pressure to be perfect
Through Tristen’s journey, I wanted to explore how the pressure to maintain a perfect exterior can create deep inner fractures, and how confronting those fractures requires great courage and bravery. The story is a reflection on the ways men are often taught to suppress vulnerability, and it aims to challenge that narrative by showing that true strength lies not in control or stoicism, but in surrendering to the unpredictable flow of life and emotions.
Ocean as a meaphor
I have always found the ocean fascinating for many reasons. It's vast, very much unknown, and yet, for many, can be a calming presence. I used the ocean as a metaphor for the currents within ourselves—sometimes calm, sometimes turbulent, yet, always shifting. By sharing Tristen’s process toward healing and self-discovery, my hope was to inspire readers to embrace their own complexities, confront their pasts, and find meaning beyond the surface.
Discussion guide for book clubs
This discussion guide is a great conversation starter for book clubs seeking to mine deeper themes within “Under the Current,” as well as in daily life.