In this engaging Big Blend Radio conversation, filmmaker and debut novelist TJ Derry talks about his powerful new novel "Carried Away: Surviving the Unimaginable" — a story that begins as a laid-back surf trip and spirals into a gripping fight for survival. When burned-out New Yorker Cole joins friends on a remote Indonesian island chain seeking clarity and connection, he finds beauty, friendship, and love — until a catastrophic tsunami changes everything. Stripped of modern comforts and confronted by nature’s raw force, the group must navigate both physical peril and the deeper emotional reckoning that comes when everything else falls away.

More than just a survival thriller, Carried Away is a soul-searching exploration of resilience, purpose, and rediscovering what truly matters. Derry shares how his background in cinematography and storytelling influenced his immersive writing style, and how surfing — with its balance of surrender and control — became the perfect metaphor for life. He also discusses the book’s innovative use of QR codes for bonus materials and his partnership with Sungai Watch, an environmental organization cleaning Indonesia’s rivers and beaches.

Learn more at https://www.readcarriedaway.com/

✨As part of our National Novel Writing Month programming, this episode is featured on Big Blend Radio’s “A Toast to The Arts,” “Big Daily Blend,” and “Nature Connection” podcast channels! Explore the Big Blend Radio Network: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork