CSUMB’s Lindholm surfaces with latest mystery in a series

By Mark Muckenfuss

James Lindholm enjoys putting divers into situations he hopes he will never be in himself. Sometimes those divers don’t survive. 

But it’s OK. They’re only fictional characters. 

In addition to leading the Marine Science department at Cal State Monterey Bay, Lindholm is an author. He’s just come out with “Calypso Down,” the fourth in a series of mystery novels where much of the action takes place underwater. Chris Black is the recurring hero in each novel. 

While some scenes and adventures are based on real experiences, Lindholm said Black is not an autobiographical character and is no closer to himself than the book’s secondary characters are to his colleagues and students.

“Some characters are loosely named after them,” Lindholm says of his fellow researchers, “and some of my students have shown up in different ways.”

His fast-moving plots involve everything from real-world and internet pirates to sunken treasure to kidnapping on the high seas. The main action in his latest book takes place in an undersea research station that is facing sabotage as well as the threat of an approaching tropical storm. Through it all, Chris Black and other characters prevail.

“One of the things I enjoy is a series, where you can see the characters develop,” Lindholm said. “I’ve been trying to achieve that.”

As busy as his real life keeps him – besides teaching, Lindholm is involved in research that takes him to offshore sites along the California coast and to coral reefs around the world – the mysteries he constructs are constantly on his mind. 

“It is often the last thing I’m thinking of before going to sleep and the first thing I think of when I wake up,” he said. “In February, I was in Cuba. We were doing four dives a day and I was pretty tired, but I was thinking about plot and details the whole time. A lot of my plane flights are spent outlining.”

He gets inspiration not only from his research but from the friends and colleagues he works with. During downtime on a dive boat, it’s a good way to fill the hours.

“If you can imagine three of us in the galley of a research vessel, 300 miles off the coast of Costa Rica,” he said of a recent trip, “I’m laying out the plan for the book and my buddies are tossing out ideas. It’s really fun.”

So is the writing, when he can find the time to do it.

“This book,” he said of “Calypso Down,” “when I was writing the climax, my palms were actually sweating. That was fun. It was a very immersive experience for me.”

Pun intended, of course. 

Lindholm makes sure to include plenty of technical information about diving and marine science to keep those in the know interested and to educate the average reader about exploring the underwater world and also larger environmental issues. 

He’s nowhere close to being finished. 

“I’m writing Book 5 now,” he said. “Book 6 is broadly outlined and I’m strategizing on 7 and 8.”

Sales indicate he is building an audience, he said, adding there is so far little danger of his “side job” making him rich and famous. 

“It’s a labor of love,” he said with a smile.

Regardless, stepping away from his university work is not a consideration, he said. His novels would likely not exist without it.

“Going out and doing this work is central to the stories,” he said. “I would never give that up.”