Ask the Author: Shannon Leone Fowler
Answered Questions (12)
Shannon Leone Fowler
Hi Tawodi - Yes, it is normal for box jellyfish to come very close to shore. Although box jellyfish were previously thought to be confined to waters off north Australian, they are now known to be found throughout the tropics, predominantly in the Indo-Pacific. Thank you for your note, and for your kind words, and best of luck.
Shannon
Shannon
Shannon Leone Fowler
Thank you for writing, and I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I wish there was more I could say. I am glad that my story may have helped in some small way.
There were a number of books that meant a great deal to me after Sean’s death: Joan Didion’s Year of Magical Thinking, Judith Barrington’s Lifesaving, After Shocks: The Poetry of Recovery for Life-Shattering Events, and Andrew X. Pham’s Catfish and Mandala.
But two books really stood out for me. Elizabeth McCracken's An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination is incredible and I found myself wishing I had written some of what she wrote. And Sonali Deraniyagala’s memoir, Wave has got to be the most brutal, unapologetic, unflinching, uncomfortable, raw, brave, and truthful book I’ve read about grief.
There were a number of books that meant a great deal to me after Sean’s death: Joan Didion’s Year of Magical Thinking, Judith Barrington’s Lifesaving, After Shocks: The Poetry of Recovery for Life-Shattering Events, and Andrew X. Pham’s Catfish and Mandala.
But two books really stood out for me. Elizabeth McCracken's An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination is incredible and I found myself wishing I had written some of what she wrote. And Sonali Deraniyagala’s memoir, Wave has got to be the most brutal, unapologetic, unflinching, uncomfortable, raw, brave, and truthful book I’ve read about grief.
Shannon Leone Fowler
As I saw another great author (Cliff Garstang) answer, I don't have a summer reading list, as I read throughout the year. However, I am currently reading Freedom by Jonathan Franzen, as well as History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund. Next on my list is Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. And after that, there are so many choices, it will be hard to decide what is next - will have to see the mood that strikes.
Shannon Leone Fowler
What a great question. My fiancé was killed by a box jellyfish while we were on holiday in Thailand in 2002, as told in my memoir, Traveling with Ghosts. The next day on Ko Pha Ngan, another young girl was stung and killed. And while I was waiting for Sean's body to be released, I heard that yet another girl had been killed. But after I left Thailand, whenever I searched online, I could only find news of one girl dying that weekend in August 2002 in Thailand.
However, all these years later and recently after my memoir came out, I was talking to a neighbor who said she had been on Ko Pha Ngan shortly after I'd left with Sean's body. And she told me she remembers hearing about two girls dying. Suddenly, I find myself wanting to find out if there were two girls who died that weekend. And if so, who is the second girl? Why was her death never reported?
However, all these years later and recently after my memoir came out, I was talking to a neighbor who said she had been on Ko Pha Ngan shortly after I'd left with Sean's body. And she told me she remembers hearing about two girls dying. Suddenly, I find myself wanting to find out if there were two girls who died that weekend. And if so, who is the second girl? Why was her death never reported?
Shannon Leone Fowler
Hi Elaine.
Thanks so much for your message and for your question.
I think one of the most important lessons I learned after Sean’s death was that everyone grieves differently, and there is no right way or wrong way to grieve. Sean’s parents had just lost their twenty-five-year-old son, suddenly and unexpectedly. Now that I am a mother, I can think of absolutely nothing worse. In the face of devastating loss, we all just do the best we can, and I don't think anyone should ever be judged for that.
I am not sure if you have finished the book yet, but I come to understanding this at the end.
Thanks again so much for reading and for your comments.
Best, Shannon
Thanks so much for your message and for your question.
I think one of the most important lessons I learned after Sean’s death was that everyone grieves differently, and there is no right way or wrong way to grieve. Sean’s parents had just lost their twenty-five-year-old son, suddenly and unexpectedly. Now that I am a mother, I can think of absolutely nothing worse. In the face of devastating loss, we all just do the best we can, and I don't think anyone should ever be judged for that.
I am not sure if you have finished the book yet, but I come to understanding this at the end.
Thanks again so much for reading and for your comments.
Best, Shannon
Shannon Leone Fowler
Gatsby & Daisy in The Great Gatsby.
Shannon Leone Fowler
Walk away from the computer. Going for a run does wonders to work things out in the back of my mind.
Shannon Leone Fowler
Flexility - being able to work anytime and anywhere. And I love using my brain and doing something that doesn't involve being a mum at all (I'm a single mum of three kids, ages 6, 4 and almost 2 - so most of my day is taken up by lovely, demanding little people).
Shannon Leone Fowler
READ widely, join a book club to be introduced to books you wouldn't otherwise read. Put down your phone and pick up a book.
Shannon Leone Fowler
Original essays to be (hopefully) published around the time of publication of my first book, Traveling with Ghosts.
Shannon Leone Fowler
I listen to music that reminds me of certain people, times and places that I am writing about. And COFFEE!
Shannon Leone Fowler
I first got the idea while I was still traveling around Eastern Europe following the sudden death of my fiancé. I wrote constantly in my journal and long emails home when I could get online, and my friends and family told me I should take my journals and emails and write a book.
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