Local author sets her ghostly tales in Stillwater
Stillwater author Lisa Courtaway has published her second novel . “ Deep Water - Shadows of Camelot Crossing , A Haunting in Stillwater Book 2 ” is set in the same world as Courtaway ’ s first novel “ Red Water ” but serves as a stand alone story . In this ghost story , Camelot Crossing is a fictional neighborhood that blends 1980s and modern day Stillwater locations .
Can you give us a bit of your background ?
I am an Oklahoma native , having lived most of my life in Tulsa and Stillwater . As a married mother of four who also owns six ( yes , six ) dogs , an indue author and who works as a media teaching assistant at an elementary , school I am tired all the time . But I still find time to read , obsess about true crime investigations and lovingly meddle in the lives of my children .
Growing up I was a theater kid and a huge fan of Stephen King ( still am ) and horror fiction and movies . I excelled at all classes related to English and writing and barely passed those related to math and science . I always wrote poems and kept journals until child three and four were born less than five minutes apart , at which time writing was put on the back burner .
I have dabbled in an eclectic variety of careers in my life , but I am most proud of my work in education . Being a teaching assistant in two elementary schools and a medical paraprofessional at a middle school , while incredibly challenging , has been immensely rewarding . I have tremendous respect for teachers and am honored to work with such a dedicated group of professionals in a
job where at the end of the day I know I have made a difference in someone ’ s life .
What is Deep Water about ?
Deep Water tells the story of the Clarkson family ( neighbors to the Weizak family of Red Water .) The younger Clarkson daughter , Wren , disappears during the historic winter storm of January 2011 . Her older sister , Birdie , is forced to step up and care for Wren ’ s two young children as well as her aging parents .
Immediately after Wren vanishes , Birdie is plagued by visions of her younger sister and odd , inexplicable occurrences that she tries to pass off as figments of her overburdened , stressed mind .
The momentum and intensity of the eerie events escalate , pushing Birdie to face truths about her family and herself that are devastating . The reader is pulled into the unraveling web of secrets and family discourse , where ultimately ( and satisfactorily ) they learn the reason behind Wren ’ s lingering specter .
What led or inspired you to start writing fiction ? And how did you end up choosing your specific genre ( s )?
After moving from Colorado to Stillwater in the very early days of the pandemic , I took a hiatus from my job in education and knew I now had the time to write a book . That school year was extremely intense and
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