All Things Mission Aboard the Longfin

Hello, and welcome to my newsletter! This edition is all about my middle grade story, Mission Aboard the Longfin. Come on, let me take you on an adventure…

You might have seen my blog post from early February, where I talked about this story in quite a bit of detail. Back then, this story had a different name (The Heartbeat and the Submarine). The reason for the change was simple: I didn’t think it was compelling enough for the age group I was targeting. But while the name has changed, the story has stayed the same.

Where it All Began

Last April (2024), my parents took my nephew and niece to a submarine museum. And since it’s not too far from me, I decided to join them.

Now, this isn’t your standard museum. You can actually walk through a retired submarine—sit in the captain’s chair, look through the periscope, see the mechanical room as it was upon retiring, everything. Honestly, it was really fun, and I’d recommend it to anyone with young kids, or anyone who’s interested in navy history.

Anyway, after completing the self-guided tour and walking around the visitor’s shop, we went back to the car for snacks. It was there my nephew asked me, “So, when are you going to write a book for me?”

For perspective, I had published The Way of the Wielder a month before this. My nephew knew about that book, but because it’s (definitely) not for kids, he wanted something he could read. I told him I would write him one, and that’s where we left it.

Three weeks later, he came up to me after one of his lacrosse games and asked, “So, how’s my book coming along?”

Biting back a laugh, I told him, “I haven’t started it yet. But I have an idea. A boy goes off on an adventure with a submarine crew. How does that sound?”

He smirked and nodded. “Cool.”

And that was that.

The Catalyst

I loved the idea of a boy going on an adventure on a submarine, but it felt incomplete by itself. Adventures can happen anywhere, so why was the submarine important? How did it arrive in the story? What brought the boy to it? Why was he compelled to investigate it enough to adventure on it?

Basically, I needed a catalyst.

A couple of months after visiting the museum, I was weeding in the garden when I heard something strange in the distance. It was almost like a heartbeat—low, steady, and it sounded massive.

It sounds like a monster in the sky, my writer’s brain said with a chuckle. Then my eyes widened. Suddenly, I had my catalyst.

Putting It Together

Once I had the pieces, the story basically outlined itself. I wrote a bit of it last fall, but didn’t get around to completing the first draft until this past January. I’m really pleased with how it came out! It’s almost 25k words of adventure, mystery, and fun, and I can’t wait to share it with my nephew and the world.

It also ties into my own universal world building. There’s a character in this middle grade story that’s similar to one found in The Way of the Wielder series, which will be a fun surprise for those who have read those books.

Cover Reveal

This story is much different than my other books, so it required a different cover artist. I needed something with a younger vibe, with bright colors that promised adventure and excitement. I found a woman named Laura on Reedsy, who… Well, she nailed it.

The cover features a young boy standing on the deck of a submarine. He’s looking up at a massive sea creature, who has bright green scales, tendril-like whiskers, and dark golden eyes. The boy has his arm out, seemingly talking to the creature.

“What are they talking about?” you might be asking yourself. The answer is: You’ll just have to read it!

This cover is everything I hoped it would be. I’ve already shown it to my nephew, who loved it so much he pretended to faint. My niece also loved it. In fact, she loved it so much, she asked me, “When are you going to write me a book?”

Sigh.

(She wants it to be about a girl and her dog, by the way.)

The Blurb

Now that I’ve shared the background of this story’s creation and its awesome cover, it’s time to tell you what it’s all about.

Collin has heard countless tales of adventure from his dad and grandpa. As his tenth birthday approaches, he’s determined to find one for himself.

One day, he hears a mysterious heartbeat over the sea. Farther down the beach, he also finds an abandoned submarine. Curious, he steps inside, and realizes it’s anything but abandoned. When the crew asks him to join their mission, Collin knows this is the adventure he’s been searching for. But as the mission unfolds, Collin discovers it’s actually two in one: finding the source of the heartbeat, and what happens afterward.

Join Collin as he embraces the adventure of a lifetime—and discovers the magic that will linger long after it’s over.

It’s light and fun, and a perfect summertime adventure. One I’m hopeful my nephew will enjoy.

Release and Preorder

Mission Aboard the Longfin will be published on July 8, 2025!

It will be available in both print and ebook format, on Amazon as well as a few other places (I’m still researching that). Stay tuned to my blog for updates.

If you or your child reads on a Kindle, the ebook is available for preorder on Amazon now: https://a.co/d/fC5yojF 

Surprise!

Thanks for reading. As a thanks for making it all the way to the end, I offer you the first chapter of Mission Aboard the Longfin!

Enjoy!

~Sarah

Chapter 1

Finding Adventure

For as long as he could remember, Collin dreamed of finding his own adventure. He’d grown up hearing stories from his dad and grandpa about skiing down really tall slopes, flying on a helicopter into the heart of a wildfire, and even sailing along the Alaskan coast in the navy. All Collin ever wanted was to experience something like that himself.

So when he woke up on the first day of summer, he told himself this was his year.

The smell of eggs and bacon rumbled his stomach as he kicked off the blankets, threw on a shirt that matched his pajama pants, and ran downstairs.

His mom was at the stove, and although her back was to him, she still heard him enter the kitchen. “Morning, Collin.”

“Morning, Mom!”

He sat at the kitchen table, where his younger sister was already seated. “Morning, Allie!”

“Morning,” she said through a yawn.

“What are you going to do today?” Collin asked.

“Dunno,” she said with a shrug, clearly less excited about summer than he was. “What about you?”

Collin puffed up his shoulders. “I’m going to go find an adventure!”

Allie rolled her eyes. “You say that at the beginning of every summer.”

That was true. Every year on this day, Collin announced that he’d find some amazing adventure. And every year, come the end of summer, he’d be disappointed that he hadn’t found anything exciting at all.

But this summer was different. He could feel it in his bones. Call it a hunch, or maybe it was a growth spurt.

“I mean it this time!” Collin said. “And if I can’t find one, I’ll make one!”

“You can’t just make adventure, Collin,” Allie replied.

“Sure you can.” He pinched his face and considered. “At least, I think you can. Right, Mom?”

She turned and brought each of them a glass of juice—apple for Collin, orange for Allie. “You can do anything you set your mind to, Collin.”

He grinned proudly at his sister. “See!”

Allie shrugged as she lifted her glass to her mouth. “If you say so.”

Collin nodded with a little humph. “I do. Just wait. You’ll see.”

The kitchen fell quiet as their mother finished making toast. Fresh coffee had joined the smells wafting in the air, making it feel like a restaurant, without all of the noisy customers.

A couple of minutes later, heavy footsteps came down the stairs. Then a firm hand gripped the top of Collin’s head. “Morning, buddy.”

“Morning, Dad!”

“Morning, honey,” he said with a kiss to Allie’s head.

She laughed. “Morning, Daddy.”

His dad joined his mom at the counter. After a kiss Collin didn’t see, his dad grabbed a stack of plates, napkins, and silverware for the table. He set everything out while his mom placed a big bowl of scrambled eggs and a plate of bacon in the middle of the table.

“Happy summer, kids,” she said with a smile.

“Thanks!” he and Allie said together.

Neither of them waited for their parents, who went to grab their coffee before joining them at the table. Once his dad sat, their dog Rex appeared at his side. He didn’t beg, but he sat on his haunches, patient and alert, and ready for scraps.

“So,” his dad said after a sip of coffee, “do either of you have any big plans for summer?”

“Riley’s having a party,” Allie said while chewing a bite of eggs. “A sleepover! All of the girls are going. Mom said she’ll bring me.”

“That sounds fun.” He turned to Collin next. “What about you? Any plans with your friends?”

Collin shook his head. “Not yet. Everyone else’s parents made plans for summer camps or vacations already.”

“Aw, that’s too bad. Maybe they’ll ask you to join them at summer camp again this year.”

That was possible. Last summer, he went to camp for three days with Johnny. They had a lot of fun swimming, playing baseball, and frisbee, but it wasn’t really an—

“Collin’s going to find an adventure this summer,” Allie said, her tone teasing.

He scowled, but their dad spoke before he could. “Oh? What kind of adventure do you have in mind?”

Collin shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe something like in the stories you tell me.”

“I’ve done my fair share of adventurous things,” his dad admitted. “But many of them you’re still too young for.”

Collin exhaled an annoyed sigh. “Well then, maybe I’ll just wait. I’ll be ten in a few weeks, and I’ll be ready for bigger adventures then!”

His dad smiled. “That you will be, my boy. That you will be.”

Collin beamed, and tucked into his breakfast as everyone chatted about the day ahead. His dad was scheduled to do mechanical work at a facility an hour away, while his mom—who worked in the home office upstairs—had a busy day of meetings with clients. Upon more thought, Allie decided she would get her hands sticky with the glue and glitter their nana had bought her from the craft store. Their mom shook her head, while their dad laughed, sneaking a piece of bacon to Rex. Eventually, Collin’s dad finished his breakfast and brought his plate to the dishwasher.

“Alright, I’m out. When I get back, I expect a full report on how much glitter got lost in the couch.” He tipped his head toward Allie, who giggled and nodded. Then he turned to Collin. “And I want to hear if you found any good adventures. Can’t have you out-adventuring me already.”

He saluted. “Yes, sir!”

With a kiss to his mom and a pat to Rex’s head, his dad grabbed the keys and stepped outside. The hum of his truck sounded a few moments later, and the toot of a horn came moments after that.

“Alright,” Collin’s mom began gathering their empty plates, “I’ve got to work, but I’ll leave the door open a crack. If you need anything today, just knock first, okay?”

“Yes, Mom,” he and Allie said together.

“Be safe if you go out today,” she added, her gaze on Collin. Her lips curled into a grin. “And if you do find adventure, make sure you outshine your dad.”

He bit back a grin of his own. “Yes, Mom!”

Allie ran to the playroom, while Collin hurried up to his room. He stood in the doorway, hands on his hips and face pinched. What should he do next? The woods out back had thick tree cover and boulders bigger than his dad’s truck, but he could also ride his bike into town and explore the park like a ranger in the wilderness.

As he slipped out of his pajamas and into athletic gear, an idea struck him. One that was sure to be good.

It had to be, after all. Mom’s orders.

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