This week’s Jen’s Jewels column takes readers to the island of Hawai’i. In THE SHARK HOUSE, Sara Ackerman weaves a haunting mystery as a string of rare shark attacks draws marine biologist Minnow Gray back to the Kohala coast and to a devastating secret from her past involving her father and a great white shark.
LIGHTNING ROUND
In three words, describe the vibe of your book.
Sharky, mysterious, soulful
Plotter, pantser, or “organized mess”?
Converted plotter.
What time of day does your creativity peak?
Early morning, soon after waking, is my favorite time to write.
THE DEEP DIVE
Every book has an origin story. What was the “lightning strike” moment that made you say, “I have to write this”?
It was when I was snorkeling around these graceful white tip reef sharks down in south Kona (in the wild, not on a shark tour) a few years back, and I was surpised at how uninterested in us they were. They were just doing their thing. I thought, I need to write a shark novel. It sort of just popped into my head. It seemed essential that I do this and I was so happy my agent was on board.
Your protagonist: Did they arrive fully formed, or did you have to excavate them layer by layer? What surprised you most about who they became?
I usually have a rough idea of my main character, but it usually takes me a good 1/3 of the book before I really feel like I know them. When I finish the first draft, I end up going back and fleshing them out once I really know them on a deeper level. These characters truly become like friends to me over the course of a novel. In Minnow’s case, I was surprised at her heightened senses, and how that added a fine dusting of magic to the story. This was not something I had planned on.
Setting can be a character unto itself. How did your location shape the story’s mood, and what personal connection (if any) do you have to that place?
Setting is always one of my favorite parts of writing and in this case, I had a very clear picture of the setting because it’s a coastline I spend a lot of time on. I walk, swim, and paddle on the Kohala coast at least a few times a week. And in the case of the house in the book, I based it on a couple real beach houses that belong to family friends.
The setting definitely shaped the mood in that the Kohala coast is a very wild and rugged yet beautiful place. There is such a broad expanse of blue, blue ocean and lava and sky that it takes your breath away. And also so much history with Hawaiians and sharks. But also juxtaposed on this, we have these luxury resorts and billionaire enclaves. I was hoping that the rawness would show through, and I think it does.
What theme or question haunted you while writing this book? Did you find an answer, or are you still sitting with the mystery of it?
One thing that I wondered about while writing is how I would react if I ran into a BIG shark – a niuhi – in the water. Reef sharks that I’ve encountered are smaller and usually non-threatening, and on one hand I would love to see a tiger or white shark, but I’m also a bit terrified. Tragically, while working on this story, a north shore (Oahu) lifeguard I knew was killed by a shark while going surfing at Goat Island. Also, one of my best friends’ brother narrowly escaped being bitten when a large tiger shark clamped down on his surfboard at a place I used to surf all the time. When it’s so close to home, you realize it could easily be you. But also, I know that shark incidents are extremely rare.
THE PERSONAL TOUCH
I love hearing about authors’ reading lives. What’s at the top of your TBR pile right now, and what made you add it?
I just got The Names by Florence Knapp and The Everlasting by Alix Harrow from my local bookstore, Beach Dog Books. I kept seeing both of these on Instagram and a few friends loved them. I also just started listening to The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage on Audible.
We’re kicking off a new year!
Do you set any creative intentions or rituals for January? How do you approach fresh starts as a writer? I love a fresh start, and this year, my next novel is due to my editor on Jan 5, and THE SHARK HOUSE releases on the 13th, so after that, my plan is to read and relax and set up a schedule to unwind from several very intense years. As we speak, I am drawing up a Weekly Wellness Schedule of fun, mediation, exercise, reading, eating and spending time in nature until I get my manuscript back with revision notes. It will be like my own mini retreat and I can’t wait!
If you could have dinner with one of your characters (or boot one out of the book entirely), who would it be and why?
I would want to have dinner with Woody Kaupiko, the older Hawaiian man who owns the house where Minnow stays. I would love to soak in all that ancient wisdom that he carries.
LOOKING AHEAD
Without spoiling anything, can you give us a tiny peek at what you’re working on next? Even just the vibe or the question you’re exploring?
My next (#10!) novel is set in 1984 here on Hawai’i Island and centers around a restless volcano and a woman who disappeared decades ago.
I didn’t think I would love another book of mine as much as I love THE SHARK HOUSE, but this one is proving me wrong. Also, we recently settled on a title that I’ll be announcing soonish. The book comes out in January of 2027, which seems so far away.
What’s the best way for readers to stay in touch and follow your literary adventures? (Website, social media, newsletter, carrier pigeon…)
Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, and you can subscribe to my newsletter on my website.
BONUS: The Author’s Playlist
Optional but fun:
Share 3-5 songs that capture the mood of your book or that you listened to while writing. I’ll include them in the post! Walk on the Ocean by Toad the Wet Sproket, Beauty in the Light by Hollow Coves, Constellations by Jack Johnson, Morning Light by Josh Garrels
Closing Note: Thank you so much for sharing your insights and creativity. I can’t wait for readers to discover your new release. Happy writing!
Thank you so much for having me. This was so much fun.
THE SHARK HOUSE by Sara Ackerman
Narrator: Jennifer Robideau
A Novel
A BookBub “Best Books Coming This Winter”
A haunting mystery beneath the ocean’s surface. One woman’s reckoning with the past. Long-buried secrets waiting to rise.
Hawai’i, 1998. When a string of rare shark attacks unsettles the once-peaceful Kohala coast, marine biologist Minnow Gray is called in to investigate. Known for her uncanny connection to sharks, she is the island’s best hope for uncovering why the attacks are happening—a mystery that has both the local community and the tourism industry on edge—and for determining whether the same great white still haunts the coastline.
Witness to an unspeakable tragedy involving a white shark and her own father, Minnow has carried a darkness with her ever since. She knows, deep inside, that unlocking the memories of that long-ago morning is the only way to truly heal. And as she searches for answers, the past and present collide, revealing shocking and unexpected truths that cut deep as the sea itself.
The longer she’s in Hawai’i, the more she comes to see that her journey here might be as much about finding herself as finding the shark.
An atmospheric exploration of the intricate/fragile dance between humans and sharks, set against a backdrop of stunning Hawaiian landscapes and deep-sea danger, The Shark House is a tale of resilience, redemption, and the raw power of the natural world—and of the courage to face what lies within.
Dive in, if you dare.
Action | Romance | Women’s Fiction Friendship [ Harper Muse, On Sale: January 13, 2026, Paperback / e-Book / audiobook, ISBN: 9781400347971 / eISBN: 9781400347988 ]
Buy THE SHARK HOUSE: Amazon.com | Kindle | BN.com | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Books-A-Million | Indie BookShops | Ripped Bodice | Libro.fm | Audible | Walmart.com | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Sara Ackerman
Sara Ackerman is the Hawaii born, bestselling author historical novels set in Hawai’i. Her books have been labeled “unforgettable” by Apple Books, “empowering & deliciously visceral” by Book Riot, and New York Times bestselling authors Kate Quinn and Madeline Martin have praised Sara’s novels as “fresh and delightful” and “brilliantly written.” Amazon chose Radar Girls as a best book of the month, and ALA Booklist gave The Codebreaker’s Secret a starred review.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
About Jennifer Vido
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry, earning acclaim as the award-winning author of the Gull Island series. When not writing fiction, she interviews authors for her weekly Jen’s Jewels column, leads water exercise classes, and directs a legal nonprofit. Currently residing in Maryland, she and her husband are proud parents to two grown sons and a rescue dog named Fripp.
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