Southern Maine News by Catherine Gentile
SUMMER 2011
FICTION:
Shonna Milliken Humphrey Former Executive Director of MWPA, is celebrating the publication of her debut novel, Show Me Good Land, published by Down East Books. Friends partied with her at The Danforth in Portland.
Rona Jaffe Foundation Writer’s Award winner, Sarah Braunstein, discussed her book, The Sweet Relief of Missing Children, at Longfelllow Books in Portland.
As part of the Maine Festival of the Book, actors at Portland Stage Company read from Ron Currie’s novel, Everything Matters!.
The University of Southern Maine hosted author Lily King, reading from her most recently published novel, Father of the Rain. Lily has also published, The English Teacher and The Pleasing Rain.
Deborah Gould appeared at Brunswick’s Curtis Memorial Library, reading from her novel, Household.
Dennis A. Walch read from his book, The Greens of Maine, at the Walker Memorial Library in Westbrook.
MYSTERY:
Julia Spencer-Fleming’s One Was A Soldier, has been enjoying a good amount of exposure. Julia appeared at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Portland, where she read and signed copies of her latest book.
While she’s not from Southern Maine, I must give credit to Glenna Johnson Smith, who is enjoying the publication of her book, Old Maine Woman: Stories from the Coast to the Country. Falmouth Memorial Library hosted Glenna’s recent appearance. From there, she joined friends at Portland Public Library’s Brown Bag series and Longfellow Books in Portland for another reading. Would that Glenna bottled her energy and sold it along with her book.
POETRY:
Former poet laureate, Baron Wormser, read from his ninth book of poetry Impenitent Notes, at Longfellow Books in Portland.
The 4th Annual Poetry Festival at Merriconeag Waldorf School in Freeport featured Poet Laureate, Wes McNair, and high school finalists from: Aucocisco,Cheverus, Deering, Falmouth, Gorham, Merriconeag Waldorf, North Yarmoth Academy, Scarborough, Thornton Academy, and Yarmouth.
The ensemble of Martin Steingesser, Judy Tierney and cellist, Robin Jellis, presented Martin’s poems, The Thinking Heart: The Lives and Loves of Etty Hillesum, as part of Holocaust Remembrance Day at First Parish Church in Portland.
NONFICTION:
Psychologist, Amy Wood, has published Life Your Way: Refresh Your Approach to Success and Breathe Easier in a Fast-Paced World through Modern Sage Press. She joined friends at Longfellow Books, Portland, to discuss and sign her book. FMI: amywoodpsyd.com.
Donna Towle signed her book, My Spiritual Guide for Souls, at Ave Maria Gift Shop.
William David Barry joined friends at Falmouth Memorial Library for a lunch-hour discussion of his book, Deering, a Social and Architechtural History.
Crash Barry and John McDonald teamed up at St. Lawrence Arts Center, Portland, for a reading entitled, Two Maines.
Penelope O’Sullivan presented a slide presentation to accompany her discussion of her book, The Pruning Answer Book, at Kennebooks, Kennebunk.
Children’s book author, Cynthia Furlong Reynolds, presented a talk entitled, “What Tools Do Writers Need?” at York Public Library.
Science journalist, Hannah Holmes, read from her most recent publication, Quirk: Brain Science of Your Peculiar Personality, at South Portland Public Library.
Tony Oppersdorff and Kyrill Schabert, authors of Best Nature Sites: Midcoast Maine Route 1 Corridor-Brunswick to Belfast, discussed these sites at Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick. They later joined friends at Crystal Spring Farm, in Brunswick for a nature walk and book signing.
Eugene Elcik, Lars Christensen and Clay Hurtubise, authors of the Lobsterman of Deep Cove, Maine, The Almost Always Audacious Adventures of Larry and Wuppy…the Easter Puppy, and Shaman: Devils’ Deal, appeared at Arby’s in Portland.
South Portland Police Officer, Steve Webster, has written and self-published a book of stories about his experiences on the force: One Promise Kept: The Case That Made a Cop and Others That Almost Broke Him.
Richard Crossley, signed his book, The Crossley ID Guide, at Freeport Wild Bird Supply.
Author and tarot practitioner, Jeanne Fiorini, discussed her book, Tarot Spreads and Layouts/A User’s Manual for Beginning and Intermediate Readers, at Borders Books and Music, South Portland.
Harrison Village Library hosted Ben Sprague, discussing his book, Buy, Hold, Sell: A Disciplined Guide to Investment Success.
Anne Serafin signed copies of African Women Writing, Resistance, Contemporary Voices at the Museum of African Culture in Portland.
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE:
Illustrator Jamie Hogan has written a children’s book, Seven Days of Daisy.
Jeannie Brett, illustrator of My Cat, Coon Cat, signed books at L.L.Bean in Freeport.
Portland author, Gail Donovan, brought a live bug zoo and bug games to Portland Public Library to celebrate the release of her children’s novel, What’s Bugging Baily Bleckher?
Longfellow Books in Portland hosted Lisa Jahn-Clough, reading from Felicity and Cordelia.
Author, Maria Padin, read from her latest book, Jersey Tomatoes Are the Best, at Longfellow Books in Portland. Illustrator, Charlotte Agell, joined her, signing copies of her book, The Accidental Misadventures of India McAllister.
Award-winning children’s author, Shirin Bridges, signed her book, The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Real Princesses, at the University of Southern Maine bookstore.
YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE:
Juvenile and teen fiction authors, Maurissa Gilbord, Ellen Booraem, and Carrie Jones joined fans at Bull Moose in Scarborough. Maurissa read from her book, Warped; Ellen from Small Persons with Wings, and Carrie from Entice, the third in her Need series.
MEMOIR:
James Richardson appeared at Borders Books and Music in South Portland to sign his book, Standing on Two Feet.
Susan Conley discussed her memoir, The Foremost Good Fortune, at the Cancer Community Center in South Portland.
Longfellow Books in Portland hosted Melissa Coleman, reading from her memoir, This Life Is in Your Hands: One Dream, Sixty Acres and a Family Undone.
Hyperion/Voice has published Caitlin Shetterly’s Made For You and Me: Going West, Going Broke, Finding Home.
Susan Conley participated in Portland Public Library’s Brown Bag Lecture series, discussing and reading from her memoir, “The Foremost Good Fortune.”
My thanks to all who emailed information regarding their publications, book signings, and related celebrations. For those who have news they’d like to share, please contact me: cgentile@maine.rr.com.
“You can learn about the pine only from the pine, or about bamboo only from bamboo. When you see an object, you must leave your subjective preoccupation with yourself; otherwise you impose yourself on the object and do not learn. The object and yourself must become one, and from that feeling of oneness issues your poetry.” Basho