Beth McKnight is a public relations professional, space science enthusiast, and storyteller whose work spans journalism, environmental advocacy, and communications for some of the world’s most respected organizations. She has led outreach for NASA space research, developed community campaigns for healthcare and housing, and earned national recognition for creative campaigns that bridge science, nature, and humanity.
With homes in Colorado and Oregon, she and her husband enjoy birding, kayaking, hiking, and anything that takes them outdoors. Beth’s writing draws on a deep belief in personal transformation, often sparked by the wisdom found in nature.
Several years ago, my husband and I enjoyed a sailing vacation in the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas, where the beautiful turquoise sea is a perfect temperature for swimming and snorkeling.
Our boat was moored out a nice distance from the beach, so I jumped off the boat to snorkel and swim to shore, relishing the perfect temperature of the water and marveling at the variety of fish so close to the surface. I felt like I could stay there all day and commune with these beautiful creatures.
About halfway to shore, I saw a shiny, silver barracuda–longer than any other fish–gliding toward me. I turned to get a good look, and, for some reason, I assumed it was a female. She was not at all aggressive, but she seemed curious about me.
She swam parallel to me for a short distance, and I was thrilled. At one point, she even let me reach out and touch her side, which was soft and smooth. It was such a precious moment! Then, when I looked at her, she was facing me, and I felt a kind of kinship forming. I was grateful to have what seemed like several minutes but was probably only a few seconds with her. I watched her graceful glide as she swam away, leaving me feeling awe and wonder.
The memory of that special connection has stayed with me through the years, so I decided to give that inspiring experience to Elizabeth, the main character in my book so that she could learn from it.
