From 2018-2019 Iris Graville served as the first writer-in-residence aboard the Washington State Ferries, spending a couple days a week writing on the route that travels between Lopez, Orcas, Shaw, and San Juan islands. The subtitle for her book Writer in a Life Vest: Essays from the Salish Sea is quite literal, as much of the book was either written on the water or inspired by Graville’s residency. These entries span the gamut of subject matters, from the story of a ukulele jam aboard the ferry to poetry to an imaginary interview with Rachel Carson and Greta Thunberg. Graville’s main focus is the health of the Salish Sea’s ecosystem, including the plight of the orcas (I particularly enjoyed “O is for Orca: An Alphabetical Excursion through Orca Whale Characteristics”). Writer in a Life Vest is a love letter to the beautiful place we call home.
—Haley, Phinney Books, Seattle, WA
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