Irene Skyriver

Washington native, Irene Skyriver was born in Port Townsend and raised in the country. She moved with her children and horses to Lopez Island 35 years ago. She lived off grid and as a single parent, spent most her early years growing a garden and letting the outdoors and beaches be their sanctuary, inspiration and teacher. She organized parades for Earth Days, International Women’s Days and was one of the early founders and shapers of the Summer and Winter Solstice celebrations as well as, Passage Rites ceremonies for the youth. A poet, dancer and a singer of traditional “Earth Circle Songs”, writing came later for her, mostly because it is necessary to sit down to do it!

She received a Fellowship to Fishtrap Writers Conference, based on a submission from Paddling With Spirits. This was followed by a grant to finish the work. She now has a lifetime of materials and experiences she is applying to a variety of writing projects. In between involvement in community, her market garden and milking goats, she plans to sit down try to accomplish these new writing endeavors.