The Book
"The Shadows the Ocean Keeps" is a queer historical fiction novel, currently in the first draft stage with an expected manuscript completing in the fall of 2026 around 100,000 - 120,000 words.
Entering the torpedo room of the USS Bonefish, Petty Officer Thomas Landry strives to feel at home among the systems and crew as the boat prepares to enter WWII. When Seaman Arthur "Artie" Parker arrives onboard, though, his feeling of safety is quickly challenged. In a world and time that punished queer military members by purging them from the ranks with a 'blue discharge', Landry and Parker must navigate their blossoming romance carefully, leveraging the camouflage that the forced proximity and crew relations can afford.
Follow Landry and Parker, along with the rest of the USS Bonefish crew, through her first three war patrols as they successfully launch attacks against enemy vessels, evade depth charges and counter-attacks, and attempt to live a normal life in the most abnormal of environments.
The Characters
Thomas Landry
Petty Officer Thomas Landry, 24, joined the United States Navy's submarine force after growing up in New Orleans, LA. Like his father, he worked in a local shipyard, honing his knowledge of mechanics and understanding of systems. Standing about 5'11", Landry is fair-skinned, strong, dark-haired, and mature looking for his age.
Arthur "Artie" Parker
Arthur "Artie" Parker, 21, is the son of a United States Navy officer, born and raised in San Diego, CA. After two semesters of college, Parker decided he wanted to do something different with his life and enlisted for the silent service. At a height of 5'7", Parker is tanned with wavy blonde hair, lean, and still retains his youthful appearance as he joins the crew of the USS Bonefish shortly before her departure to the Pacific Theater.