Book excerpt: October Ferries to Gabriola is inspired by the life of the notorious British novelist, Malcolm Lowry, author of the 20th century masterpiece, Under the Volcano. Playwright Charlotte Cameron mixes fact and fiction, moving back and forth in time from 1946 to the present day, juxtaposing the lives of Lowry and his second wife, Margerie, with the plight of a contemporary couple. Both couples are dealing with similar troubles: alcoholism, tragedy and homelessness, hopelessness, guilt and angst. Both couples come to Gabriola Island, British Columbia, seeking refuge, a place to write and love, a place of redemption and hope, creativity and rebirth. In this provocative drama, Cameron raises a host of existential questions and explores our endless quest for a paradise on earth.