Author and poet Shirley Grier, who grew up in the Nisqually Valley and spent her early years in Yelm, is sharing her reflections on small-town life through her poetry books: "Uncaged" and "Dust on the Sundial," according to a recent news release.
"Uncaged" was published in December 2025. "Dust on the Sundial" was published a few months prior.
Though she now lives in Utah, Grier's writing is deeply rooted in the places and experiences that shaped her childhood. Her poems return to a time when neighbors knew each other, kids rode bikes until dark, and ordinary days quietly became lifelong memories, the release stated.
"Those years stay with you," Grier said. "The Nisqually Valley gave me my first sense of belonging, and my writing is a way of honoring where I came from and the people who were part of that world.
Uncaged is available on Amazon at https://tinyurl.com/yr2xrcew.
Dust on the Sundial is also available on Amazon.
