Jay’s novels are available at various stockists in Western Australia, interstate and overseas including longstanding locals - the General Store at Rottnest Island, Hollow Surf at North Beach, the Margaret River Bookstore, Gracies Store at Gracetown, Mukau in Cowaramup & the Prevelly General Store.

At a glance

Through the early years of a friendship between two boys Into the Sea explores first freedoms, the seesawing transition from innocence to adolescence and the impact of sudden loss. In later parts the novel powerfully evokes life on the road and the unpredictability of trusting to chance travelling in remote places. Along the way, it vividly describes the landscapes of Australia and Indonesia and their people and captures what it is to ride waves, to be a surfer and the trials, if not impossibilities, of loving one.

Blurb

Billie (Will) is a small kid bleached by the ocean. He surfs. Riley’s bigger, bites his nails and pretends he does too. Together they roam their beachside suburb, nose drip over their first surf magazine and start to dream of far-off places. Suddenly out of a heatwave a fire erupts to take more than their bushland.

Later in their mid-twenties, the friends reconnect driving across the desert. There they live in the heat, dust and cold salt water, amongst a melting pot of passing travellers and violent incensed locals. Riley forgets a girl he thought he knew and Will’s drug addiction gives way to blindness to life beyond the sea which may prove to be even more destructive.

Musings around the campfire become real as Will leaves everything and heads for the tropical islands of Indonesia. At first a phone call, then a postcard, then nothing. Eventually Riley, in a strong relationship with stable work, sets out to try to track him down and, heading deep into the islands, starts to learn things he never knew he should.

“He slipped off his board into the sea, face down, eyes closed ... and let it engulf him for a time. Out of air, he turned to float on his back and ... rising and falling slowly on the undulations of the ocean, the salt water washed and revived him like it always did, the sun warmed his face and chest and his tethered board gently twitched at his ankle.”

Reviews

“I felt I was there …. It brims with true experience and descriptive energy.” Robert Drewe

“Rich evocative writing reminiscent of Tim Winton and Robert Drewe.” William Yeoman, The West Australian

Your book is brilliant! Not only is the story rivetting, your gift for expression is truly remarkable. You have captured the soul of surfing. The search, the adventure, the danger and the point of it all - the bliss. Chris M, Sydney

From raiding the fridge after hours in the surf to freezing footy training sessions Jay has perfectly captured growing up as a surfer in Australia. I could taste the salt and zinc, feel the sunburn and sore muscles and was repeatedly reminded why I love surfing. Reading Into the Sea filled me full of nostalgia I didn't know I had and a desire to travel I thought I'd lost. JC, WA

Great read, thought I was reading Tim Winton. Bob McTavish, Byron Bay.

Laurie's attention to detail takes you … to the dunes, to the desert and to Indonesia.…From the way that surfing can be linked to a kind of death-wish recklessness, to the way that human passion and connection is as fluid as the ocean, to the value of friendship and the beauty of just dropping out of society…I absolutely inhaled this novel.. Emily P, WA

One of the most enjoyable reads I have experienced in a long time - the story is simple but beautiful … anyone reading this will have a hard time putting it down. Simon B, WA

Took me away from busy work focussed life … and reminded me of how the simple things and living in the moment provides a rich, raw and envious existence. ML, WA

Just finished reading - epic read - the best surfing novel I've read for sure!! BP, WA

Really enjoyed the journey ... a simple tale told well... a French film in attention to detail and subtlety… NB, SA