Beth Ann Mathews grew up the Midwest and earned her master’s degree in marine biology from the University of California at Santa Cruz. As an associate professor at the University of Alaska Southeast, she taught courses in biology, behavioral ecology, and marine mammalogy and led research on harbor seals, Steller sea lions, and harbor porpoises. She has also studied humpback, gray, and sperm whales and led undergraduate research programs on board tall ships in the Gulf of Maine and from field camps in Hawaii and Alaska. Mathews has published numerous scientific papers (Elizabeth A. Mathews), and her memoir Deep Waters was a finalist for the Nancy Pearl, Best Book Award for Memoir, and a three-time finalist in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards (Grand Prize, Memoir, and Debut Author). She lives on an island with her husband in Puget Sound, WA.

Beth’s life in Alaska as wife, mother, and marine biologist is derailed when her fit, adventure-seeking husband is slammed by a brainstem stroke. Medevacked to Seattle, Jim fights to walk again—motivated by discoveries in neuroplasticity—while Beth and their young son champion his rehabilitation. Back home in Juneau after five hospital-bound weeks, Beth resumes teaching and research at the university as she becomes Jim’s primary caregiver. Before Beth thinks he’s ready, Jim initiates wilderness explorations on their boat. Sailing Alaska’s Inside Passage with their young son deepens the couple’s bonds, but chafes at Beth’s Midwestern instincts to keep her husband safe at home and rebuild security by working more.

After she rescues Jim during two boating incidents, Beth’s fear of losing Jim at sea is amplified. When she learns his survivor’s goal is an ambitious multi-year sailing expedition with the family, she questions her ability to live up to his expectations. Should she risk her job as a professor to pursue a less secure, but more empowering and connected future?

Laced with information on recovery from stroke and tender moments between Beth, her husband, and son, Deep Waters is a gripping, intimate story of relationship resilience, set against the backdrop of Alaska’s dramatic marine wilderness.