Veronica Skotnes - Selected Title Author

Veronica Skotnes: I Read It in the Waves. Sailing in the Arctic Sea

What is your book about?

I Read It in the Waves follows a journey along the outermost islands of the Finnmark coast. Over the course of three years, I sailed alone along the northernmost part of Norway, searching for people, stories, and experiences from the farthest reaches of the coastline. The book intertwines an outer and an inner journey—it is both deeply personal and a broader exploration of how the coastline looks today, with all its challenges and hopes. Observations from my time aboard a sailboat merge with reflections on our relationship with the sea, nature, and life itself.

What inspired you to write this book?

Island communities have always fascinated me. Perhaps because, in many ways, a sailboat is almost like an island as well. The idea for this book first took shape when I was sailing northward along the Norwegian coast in 2020 and visited the remarkable island communities of Helgeland. There, I encountered a way of life completely surrendered to the sea—just as I was. While docked in Kabelvåg, Lofoten, I received a gift: a copy of Carl Schøyen’s Nord i værene (1917). Schøyen had traveled to the outermost islands of Nordland and Troms during a period of great transition, when traditional Nordland boats were giving way to modern fishing vessels—a pivotal moment in coastal history. However, he never made it as far north as Finnmark.

In Finnmark, I discovered a rich and vibrant maritime history—one shaped by conflict and uncertainty, but also hope and resilience. I felt a deep need to tell the stories of the people I met and the nature I experienced. Like Schøyen, I believe we are living through yet another turning point for the coast. Many of the smallest coastal communities are struggling to survive, and fishing alone can no longer sustain them. For me, it was important to preserve a small piece of this vanishing history.

Who is the intended audience for this book?

This is a book for those drawn to nature philosophy, the ocean, and the coast. For people with roots in Northern Norway, it may evoke something familiar and warm, while for those without ties to the north, it may awaken a sense of adventure and longing for the Arctic. It is a book for those with their feet firmly planted on land and for those with all the world’s oceans in their heart—for the curious landlubber, the nostalgic old sailor, and everyone in between.

What sets your book apart from other books within the same genre?

I see this as a book that brings a bit of poetry into the traditional travelogue. For me, it was essential that the book could be read like a novel—not just as a source of information, but as a place for reflection, interpretation, and contemplation. I am drawn to the poetic and the lyrical, and I hope that spirit shines through in the text.

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