Under the Surface—Nina Kiriki Hoffman

I was taking a master writing class from Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch over on the Oregon coast, and one of our assignments was to write a story about a tsunami.  In Lincoln City, there are a number of blue Tsunami warning signs along the highway and the beach.  I did library research on tsunamis, and I also wandered the town, wondering what it would be like if a big wave rolled partway through it.

I had also been thinking about an offshoot branch of the magical family from my Chapel Hollow series.  Many members of this family have elemental powers.

I put the two together.  Unfortunately, I didn't get the assignment finished by the class deadline (I think we had two days to write it), but I did finish it.  "Under the Surface" is the result.

--Nina Kiriki Hoffman