An islander with an extensive background in writing has been hired as The Beachcomber’s new arts editor.

Juli Goetz Morser will replace Elizabeth Shepherd, who recently stepped down from the part-time position.

Morser, who has lived on Vashon for 25 years, worked for years in the TV and film industry as a writer, producer and actress for television shows, commercials, movies and radio.

On Vashon, Morser has been a bookseller at Books by the Way — where she also started the shop’s author reading series — was communications director at The Harbor School and has written freelance for The Beachcomber as well as Vashon Allied Arts, Vashon Youth & Family Services and a slate of online publications and blogs.

The Beachcomber’s editor, Natalie Martin, said Shepherd would be greatly missed at the paper, but she was thrilled to have Morser join the paper’s team.

“The arts pages are an important part of our newspaper, and I’m thrilled we found someone with so much talent, experience  and  passion for the arts,” she said.

Shepherd, who has been with The Beachcomber since 2008, recently stepped down to focus on her other part-time job. Shepherd is director of children’s programming at Northwest Film Forum, where she puts on an annual children’s film festival. Her duties at the Film Forum recently expanded, and she is leaving her post at The Beachcomber to focus her energy there.

“It’s been a really fulfilling job to keep track of Vashon’s bustling arts community,” Shepherd said. “I’ll really miss the daily contact with so many amazing people and artists, but I look forward to continuing to support the arts on Vashon in any way I can.”

Morser lives on Vashon with her husband, freelance illustrator Bruce Morser, and has an adult daughter who lives in Seattle. She will take over the position at the beginning of next month