Carried Away

“Gripping and introspective…the visceral prose evokes a realistic portrayal of unrepentant exposure to nature’s harshness, infused with a palpable immediacy.” -Irish Film Critic

A tropical surf escape turns catastrophic when a tsunami hits, stranding four best friends in a fight for survival. Injured, disoriented, and cut off from the world, they face a brutal test no one could have prepared for.

For Cole, the trip was meant to be a reset-surf, sun, and nothing serious. But an unexpected connection with Kendal, a grounded, perceptive traveler, changes everything. Just as their romance begins to take root, disaster sweeps it all away.

Days stretch into an ordeal of dehydration, exposure, predators-and unraveling minds. The paradise they came to enjoy becomes a crucible that tests every instinct, bond, and belief.

Told with visceral realism and poetic restraint, Carried Away explores the thin lines between fear and love, chaos and clarity, life and loss. For fans of The Beach, Into the Wild, and Unbroken, it’s a gripping debut about friendship, survival, and the beautiful brutality of waking up to your own life.

Author Biography

Thomas J. Derry is a Toronto-based writer and award-winning filmmaker whose work explores survival, emotional grit, and the dry humor people cling to when things fall apart. Carried Away is his debut novel – a story equal parts chaos, heart, and sharp-tongued charm.