While on vacation at a beach resort on the coast of Sri Lanka in 2004, Sonali Deraniyagala lost most of her close family members in the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Wave is Deraniyagala's account of the nearly incomprehensible event and its emotional aftermath. An economist, Deraniyagala did not have a background in personal, creative, or literary writing. Her decision to write a memoir began at the advice of her therapist, who suggested that she write down her painful memories in an effort to work through her trauma and suffering.

Deraniyagala engages in conversation about her writing practices with Ramona Naddaff (director of Art of Writing).