About the Authors

Curtis Ebbesmeyer holds a Ph.D. in oceanography from the University of Washington. Media worldwide have turned to his expertise on ocean currents and floating objects. Each year, Curt presents a booth and talks at beachcomber fairs in Alaska, Florida, and Washington, as well as hosting the radio program Flotsam Hour, in which listeners call in with interesting flotsam (like “Antiques Roadshow” for ocean currents). Four times a year he publishes a newsletter, Beachcombers’ Alert!™, telling of interesting flotsam reported to the headquarters of the Beachcombers’ and Oceanographers’ International Association. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

Eric Scigliano, currently an editor at Seattle Metropolitan magazine, has reported on maritime and environmental issues for more than 20 years. He has also written for Harper’s, New Scientist, Technology Review, The New York Times, and many other publications, and received Livingston, Robert F. Kennedy, and American Association for the Advancement of Science writing honors. His books include Puget Sound: Sea Between the Mountains, Love War and Circuses: The Age-Old Relationship Between Elephants and Humans, and Michelangelo’s Mountain: The Quest for Perfection in the Marble Quarries of Carrara. He lives in Seattle.