Shipped

by Angie Hockman

I still vividly remember the fingers of seaweed imprisoning my foot. The violation of water in my lungs, the crush of darkness. The absolute fear, the panic. I didn’t venture into a large body of water after that for nearly four years, and even now I stick with the shallow end of a swimming pool or frothy ocean surf. Deep water? No, thanks.

Fun fact: Henley = me. I had not one but two near-drowning experiences as a child (none of which required CPR, thank goodness), but I was low-key afraid of deep water and the ocean before I traveled to the Galapagos Islands in 2016. Also, like Henley, I decided I would do anything to overcome my fear so I could go snorkeling and experience the wonders of the Galapagos Marine Reserve firsthand...and boy, am I glad I did! Not just because it informed the writing of SHIPPED, but because through the experience, I discovered a new-found love of the ocean and all the marine wildlife that calls it home.

I recognize it from our marketing brochures as a marine iguana, one of the famed Galápagos species. And it sneezed on me.

Want to see marine iguanas sneezing, swimming, and feeding underwater? Check out this species profile here (includes a super cool 1-minute video): https://www.expeditions.com/expedition-stories/stories/wild-personalities-marine-iguana/

Juan Luis spots a pair of Blue-footed booby, the rarer cousin of the plentiful Nazca booby. We all gather around to watch as a male lifts one bright blue foot, then the other, in a mating dance. He bobs his head, fans his tail feathers, and circles the female, who seems wholly uninterested in his romantic display.

Did you know that boobies got their name from "bobo," the Spanish word for "stupid?" (P.S. they really are the most ridiculous birds and I love them) Learn more fun booby facts & watch them in action here: https://www.expeditions.com/expedition-stories/stories/wild-personalities-blue-footed-booby/

“I don’t like splashing details about my life across the Internet. It’s not real, what people post. It’s a carefully cultivated highlight reel. Everyone is marketing their own personal brand whether they know it or not, and I’d rather keep my personal life to myself instead of trying to sell a fake version of it online.

I heard something along these lines on the radio once (that social media accounts are a carefully cultivated highlight reel that don't reflect the "raw footage" of people's lives), and it stuck with me. I think about it a lot when I navigate social media with its ubiquitous filters and unrealistic standards, and it helps me put others' seemingly perfect lives into perspective.

“You gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, you might feel the same way about me as I feel about you.” “How do you feel about me?” I whisper. “Usually? Irritation and an extreme urge to shove a whipped-cream pie in your face. But also, desperation. Desire. And, fuck, I want to kiss you.”

I love this line (if I do say so myself, HA!) because when I wrote it, I pictured the classic movie gag of throwing a pie in someone's face (like Singin' in the Rain or Blazing Saddles). I also love the tension here between Graeme's frustration and desire—quite delicious to write!

“I respect you, Henley. You say you don’t want to do this? Okay. I’ll leave you alone. You say you want to give us a shot but keep it on the DL? I’m down. This is your decision, your choice. I would never do anything you don’t want to do, including reveal personal feelings at work if that makes you uncomfortable.”

It was so, so, sooooo important to me for Graeme to respect Henley's boundaries and not put pressure on her to hop into a romantic relationship if she wasn't ready. Not only because of her history with her ex, but because *respect in relationships is required!* My favorite romance novels normalize healthy boundaries, mutual respect, and clear communication, so that's what I wanted to portray through the progression of Graeme & Henley's relationship in SHIPPED.

I gasp as a giant tortoise emerges from behind a grove of bushes not twenty yards away. And it’s not just any tortoise. It’s a massive mamma jamma, nearly as big as the armchair back in my apartment. It must weigh hundreds of pounds and is probably older than the Second World War. When it stretches out its long, wrinkly neck to tear up mouthfuls of grass, the claws on the tips of its paddlelike feet leave deep gouges in the dirt.

Fun fact: Galapagos Giant Tortoises can weigh up to 500 pounds and live to be 175 years old! Discover more giant tortoise facts & watch them in action here: https://www.expeditions.com/expedition-stories/stories/wild-personalities-giant-tortoise/

“Who’s ready for a lip-sync battle?”

This was straight-up my favorite scene to write in the entire book, just FYI :-)

“Walsh, that’s abuse. And he was escalating. If you stayed with him, he wouldn’t have missed next time. He would have hurt you.”

If you or anyone you know is experiencing any form of abuse, including emotional or verbal abuse, please know it's not your fault and there are resources out there that can help. If in the US, visit www.thehotline.org or call the national domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.

Keep chasing sharks.

Fun fact: the original title of the book wasn't SHIPPED...it was "Chasing Sharks." Since "Chasing Sharks" doesn't exactly scream romance, however (lol), my editor at Gallery Books asked if I had any alternative titles they could consider. I was coming up short, so my agent, Jess Watterson, hopped on the phone with me to brainstorm and she's actually the one who came up with "Shipped." "Chasing Sharks" still has a special place in my heart though, so this quote is my personal favorite :-)

A diamond-studded wedding band sparkles on her ring finger.

A seemingly small detail, but intentionally included to show Henley via her mentor that it's possible to find success/happiness in both career and love.

Lindblad Expeditions, for example, is a longtime leader in sustainability and responsible, eco-friendly travel (and my personal favorite).

Still my favorite—highly recommend!

If after reading Shipped you happen to feel inspired to contribute to conservation efforts in the Galápagos, two organizations doing vital work are the Charles Darwin Foundation (www.darwinfoundation.org) and Galapagos Conservancy (www.galapagos.org), among others.

I'd like to add one more recommendation to this list post-COVID-19 in case it's of interest to anyone: The Galapagos Island Relief Fund (islandrelief.fund). More than 80% of the Galapagos economy is dependent on tourism, and when the pandemic halted travel for 15+ months in March 2020, it devastated the local economy. To help, the Galapagos Island Relief Fund was formed, partnering with local bank FUNCAVID to provide support to the people and wildlife of Galapagos. If you feel moved to help, check out islandrelief.fund and consider making a contribution today...and perhaps consider picking the Galapagos Islands for your next travel adventure! You won't regret it ;-)