If you're having trouble viewing this email, you can see it online.
Welcome to the Late-July edition of MWPA's Ex Libris Maine.
This edition offers new books by Maine authors in the categories of Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Nonfiction,Memoir,Poetry, Children's, and Young Adult / Young Readers.
For more information on any title below, simply click on the book's cover.
Happy Reading!
The Finest Fire
Annelisa J. Wagner
Independently Published
It's the 1980s and work in Colebrook, NH is hard to come by. When Michelle loses her job at Tillotson Rubber, she decides to take her chances and move to Berlin, NH to start fresh, away from her domineering mother. But escaping family trauma takes more than just a change of address, and as Michelle settles into a new life and a new romantic relationship, she faces the fact that real change, and real healing, can actually be a life's work. Filled with period detail and lively characters, The Finest Fire is a loving portrait of the hardscrabble world of northern New England and the ways in which we can build our own family and find our own place, and the tragedies that can happen if we don't.
The first published volume of short speculative fiction by Shaun J. Nigro. From the furthest reaches of space to the inner-most recesses of the mind, these stories explore what it means to be human, often alongside increasingly sophisticated technologies, and usually with a twist.
The thirteen stories in Rebecca Turkewitz’s debut collection Here in the Night are engrossing, strange, eerie, and emotionally nuanced. With psychological insight and finely crafted prose, Here in the Night investigates the joys and constraints of womanhood, of queerness, and of intimacy. Preoccupied with all manner of hauntings, these stories traverse a boarding school in the Vermont woods, the jagged coast of Maine, an attic in suburban Massachusetts, an elevator stuck between floors, and the side of an unlit highway in rural South Carolina. At the center of almost every story is the landscape of night, with all its tantalizing and terrifying potential. It has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and the Independent Book Review.
In a Whole New Way: Undoing Mass Incarceration by a Path Untraveled
Edited by George Carrano & Jonathan Fisher
Prospecta Press
In a Whole New Way is a photographic self-portrait by New Yorkers serving a term of probation. Their work lifts the veil on this “second-chance” justice intervention which has spread from its origins in 1841 Boston to most of the world today. If all Americans serving a term of probation were gathered in one locale, they would constitute the third-largest city in the country. Yet few of us understand what this dominant criminal justice sanction known as "probation" involves. Nor do many Americans realize the originally rehabilitative practice became punitive following the 1972–92 crime wave. In many jurisdictions it remains so today, making probation a staging area for incarceration, rather than its alternative. In a Whole New Way shows how hundreds of determined New York residents on probation—along with neighborhood allies—undertook efforts to change this reality, equipped only with cameras. In the process, they found themselves transformed.
Illustrated by Alice J. Menzietti-French & Jean Marie Ivey
Authoraide Publications
Maine Wonderland is a celebration of the author’s deep connection with the state of Maine and her passion for storytelling. With vivid descriptions and captivating imagery, Ivey paints a vivid picture of the region, transporting readers into a world of awe-inspiring landscapes, breathtaking coastlines, and serene wilderness. In this book, readers will embark on a transformative adventure, exploring Maine’s hidden treasures and experiencing its unique culture, history, and natural wonders. From the rugged beauty of Acadia National Park to the picturesque lighthouses dotting the coastline, Maine Wonderland captures the essence of this remarkable destination and showcases its timeless allure. Through the pages of Maine Wonderland, Jean-Marie Ivey expresses her thrill to share the beauty and magic of Maine. This book serves as a heartfelt love letter to the state that has been a constant source of inspiration throughout her life.
Wild and Wondrous: Nature's Artistry on the Coast of Maine
For award-winning science writer and photographer Margie Patlak, exploring the unique Maine coast opens a door to deeper insights and a greater appreciation for nature’s artistry. Fog erases all boundaries and imparts a sense of the unknown. Repeating lines of clouds render infinity with their visual echoes. Tree reflections in a pond or tidal pool give us pause. From blueberry barrens ablaze with autumnal color to tidal shores decorated with barnacles and rockweed, Patlak’s lens captures Maine’s diverse habitats and inhabitants while conveying her sublime sense of wonder at its natural beauty. “Not just a book, but a stunning work of art that transports the reader to the magical shores of Maine,” writes nature photographer Steven Mandel. This book is a visual accompaniment to Patlak’s nature memoir More Than Meets the Eye, which was given an Outstanding Book Award by the American Society of Journalists and Authors in 2022.
32 Jobs & No Gold Watch
Christine Deeney
Independently Published
32 Jobs & No Gold Watch is an honest, heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking, and often humorous memoir. It begins by looking back on Christine as a 16-year-old girl, dealing with personal issues and beginning what will be an unusual and varied work life. Now facing retirement, she looks for answers as to why she had so many jobs over the years–32 to be exact. Did it all stem from a difficult childhood, or maybe her insecurities, anxiety and panic attacks were the culprits? The answer of “Why 32 Jobs?” may not be crystal clear by the end of her musings, but you will definitely be impressed by the honesty and sincerity of the author, and there is no doubt you will enjoy hearing about her adventures.
Meghan Sterling’s gorgeous collection, Comfort the Mourners, is an elegy to self and selves. From the memories she shares of her grandparents’ family in Ukraine to the care she bears for her daughter — everything in this book is from the heart. This collection "weaves a delicate, fine tapestry of moments and images: family life, the war against Ukraine, poetry, the past and the present with the living and those who have passed away but stay close to Sterling’s ear so she can 'hear them breathe out sea like a shell.' Sterling’s voice is musical and unique. Comfort the Mourners stands out. It’s an exceptional collection—grand, resonant, full of delights, and notable for the seamless way it assembles beauty from tragedy and grandeur from the everyday"—Michael Kleber-Diggs, author of Worldly Things.
Douglas the Rabbit Adventure Series is a bright and imaginative string of tales based on stories passed from father to daughter during the author's childhood. The first book in this series, The Original Douglas the Rabbit Story, introduces readers to Douglas and his adventurous spirit. In this second installment, Douglas the Rabbit Makes Some Friends, readers travel backward in time, learning how Douglas first befriended a bird, a skunk, a chipmunk, and a fox to form a diverse group of animal pals. While the first story stays true to the tales told by the author's father, this volume reflects the author's own everyday adventures with family and pets--especially a hamster named Mischief who makes a show of storing treats in her cheeks. This story also reflects the “go for it” approach to new challenges which belongs to the author's mother – who continues to inspire her today.
Senior year is off to a disastrous start for Ethan Olsen. His brother is gone, a friend is dead, and someone has dumped rotten bait on his front doorstep. Soon, his family is the target of nonstop harassment which threatens their lobstering livelihood in a small town on the coast of Maine. As Ethan attempts to make sense of these events, he teams up with Britney Campbell, self-proclaimed research geek and potential girlfriend, if only Ethan can make the next move. In the face of mounting incidents and rumors that his brother is a murderer, Ethan feels increasingly helpless. But all this changes when he comes to terms with a lingering childhood trauma. Trapped, a coming-of-age mystery which touches on themes of identity and belonging, will keep you guessing to the end.
SUBMISSIONS If you are a current Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance member, and you would like to announce your new book in ExLibris Maine, click HERE. If you are not a member, click HERE to learn more about our member benefits.
.jpg)
.jpg)
