We chat with author Jacqueline Friedland about Breathing Under Water, which is a deeply moving exploration of motherhood, sacrifice, and the extraordinary connections that emerge when we’re brave enough to let others see our struggles.
Hi, Jacqueline! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi and thank you for having me. I am a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of both historical and contemporary women’s fiction. I used to be a lawyer (but I escaped!), and now I spend my time doing writerly things that I love instead. Whether it’s writing and researching new novels, reviewing fiction for trade publications, coaching others on writing and publishing, or teaching writing, I’m never all that far away from the written word. I live in the suburbs of Manhattan with my husband, four mostly-grown kids, and two dogs who insist they will never grow up. I’m addicted to Fresca, and the treadmill; I hate having the lights on if it’s sunny outside; and two of my favorite things are laughter and clean laundry.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve loved stories for as long as I can remember. When my mom would read me The Velveteen Rabbit, when I got old enough to start reading chapter books on my own, when I was in middle school and discovered historical romance, I would always become so engrossed in what I was reading that I literally would not hear people around me calling my name. As for writing, it was always something that felt natural to me. It’s hard to remember when the love started because it was just always there. Sort of like loving a parent. It’s just a part of who I am.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (and wow, did I cry!)
- The one that made you want to become an author: Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Your latest novel, Breathing Under Water, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Big-hearted (that’s a compound word so I still get four more), human, fresh, relevant, satisfying
What can readers expect?
This is a very human story. It’s character driven. The plot largely centers on an unexpected friendship between one young woman who looks like she has it all, but who is actually drowning in plain sight and a teenager with autism who is constantly underestimated by the people around him. There are moments of suspense when the young woman gets framed for something she didn’t do, as well as afterward when the teen goes missing. There are also very uplifting moments as everyone comes to understand what they were searching for all along. Ultimately, it’s a very human story about learning to meet people where they’re at, and I think readers will come away with feelings of joy and hope.
Where did the inspiration for Breathing Under Water come from?
I randomly heard two statistics within days of each other that just got my mind churning. First, I stumbled on the stat that over 40 percent of Americans don’t know how to swim. As someone who grew up around water, spending my teens on a swim team, etc, I was very surprised by that number. A couple days later, I heard on a news show on the radio that 8 percent of American college students experience homelessness during their time in school. I couldn’t believe it, but I did some research right away, and it’s true.
These two, seemingly unrelated numbers, got me to thinking about how prone we are to misconceptions and how we often assume people are thriving based on a few superficial metrics. In reality, it’s so important to have the right support systems in place or else even people with great ability can stumble. I also began thinking about the survival skills we do and do not teach kids today, and who is privileged enough to receive that kind of instruction.
As the child of a professor of special education, I’ve spent a lot of time with people on the spectrum, and I believe those kids are often underestimated or overlooked in ways that are unfair. I started envisioning a story where the person who seems to have everything is actually floundering and the only one who can help her is the person who’s known exactly who he is all along.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing all three of my characters, McKenna, Berry, and Leo. McKenna is an incredible athlete, which is something I never was as a kid. It was fun to imagine all the ways that makes a person stronger and also fascinating to work through all the other issues I’d never previously focused on for athletes, the pressure, the obligations, the expectations.
Leo is really the hero of the story, and he came into my head fully formed. Writing his scenes just felt so effortless and brought me so much joy. He’s a really smart kid who has interesting hobbies, loves routine, and always tells it like it is.
Berry is a middle-aged mom (like me) with too much on her plate. I had a lot of fun leaning into all the ways that mothers allow themselves to get stressed out. I especially enjoyed depicting how Berry believes she is essential to her family, but in actuality, she’s done such good mothering through the years, they could actually function just fine without her.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
The most difficult part of the book for me was learning about drones! Leo loves aviation, and he spends lots of time studying flight paths and flying drones around town. I had to learn both the tech capabilities of these devices, as well as FAA regulations and other related material. I needed the story to be believable, so I didn’t want to write anything that wasn’t possible. I also wanted to be inside Leo’s head and learn what he might find so fascinating about these objects of flight.
What’s next for you?
I have a monster book tour over the next couple of months. I’m traveling to so many places, so I hope everyone reading this will check out my events schedule on my website: www.jacquelinefriedland.com. Chances are, I will be somewhere near where you live, and my favorite thing is meeting readers IRL.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
The list of books I’m dying to read is LONG. But to name a few: The Shadow Artist by Lisa Barr coming March 2027 is high on my list. I recently finished and absolutely loved The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett and Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan.
