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Welcome to the Mid-July edition of MWPA's Ex Libris Maine.
This edition offers new books by Maine authors in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction,Memoir,Poetry, and Young Adult / Young Readers.
For more information on any title below, simply click on the book's cover.
Happy Reading!
Just East of Nowhere
Scot Lehigh
Islandport Press
Just East of Nowhere, Scot Lehigh's debut novel, is a gritty coming-of-age story exploring the often hidden pockets of Maine and featuring a poignant and troubled cast of characters caught in the undercurrents of a struggling, coastal town. The powerful novel, with its characters, setting, and storyline, should resonate with anyone from "just the other side of nowhere," as Kris Kristofferson evocatively describes it.
Life and Death in Ephasus: A Short Story Collection
Ephesus was once a thriving city on the Aegean coast of Asia Minor, site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Wonders of the World, and a destination for religious pilgrimage--long before the advent of Christianity. St. John and St. Paul introduced Christianity to Ephesus, where it survived its turbulent beginnings and, in 431 CE, hosted the God-defining Council of Ephesus. Life and Death in Ephesus is a collection of stories about major events in the history of Ephesus. Characters include Herostratus, first to commit a “herostratic crime;” Alexander, The Warrior King; Julius Caesar and Mark Antony—both lovers of Cleopatra; Heraclitus, the philosopher who said, “You can’t put your foot in the same river twice;” St. Paul, persona non grata in Ephesus; Nestorius, whose characterization of Jesus split the Eastern and Western church, and many others whose names are made up.
Fogg's Island: The Education of Jacob Baxter
JD Rule
South Bay Associates
Islander Jacob Baxter’s life was planned and predictable, just like his twin brother Isaac. Their destiny was to follow the footsteps of the island’s generations of fishermen. His world shifted, however, when his teachers recognized his talent for mathematics and encouraged him to head to the mainland for college. Nobody from his family had ever done this, and his friends couldn’t understand why he wanted to. His lobsterman brother remained on the island, happily married. Once ashore, tragedy followed triumph for Jacob. Growing up with seafarers had taught him how to deal with one kind of misfortune, but he was now tormented by another kind. Could Jacob assuage the ghosts and get on with life ashore?
Dry Tinder: A Tale of Rivalry and Injustice in Salem Village
Janice C. Thompson
Independently Published
Dry Tinder is an historical novel based on the true story of the Towne sisters—three innocent, "godly" women falsely accused of witchcraft in 1692. Told through the perspective of Sarah Towne, the story becomes personal. Understanding the hysteria of the Salem witch trials by imagining the day-to-day lives of the early colonists, Thompson shines a piercing light on the harsh judgment of their Puritan faith, wars with the native tribes, and the sometimes troubled relationship between the Massachusetts Bay Colony and "Mother England."
Chasing Shadows: My Life Tracking the Great White Shark
Chasing Shadows is the story of a resurging white shark population in the western North Atlantic. Seen through the eyes of Greg Skomal, the shark biologist who quite unexpectedly found himself in the middle of it, this tale is told by science writer Ret Talbot, who has collaborated with Greg to bring to life this remarkable conservation story about restoring an apex predator to an ecosystem. Of course, having white sharks just off some of New England's most popular (and crowded) beaches certainly creates challenges, and therein lies much of the narrative's tension--balancing conservation, science, and public safety, especially in the wake of a 2018 fatality on Cape Cod. Scientific illustrator Karen Talbot provides illustrations for the book. Ret and Karen Talbot live in Rockland, and Skomal lives in Marion, Massachusetts.
Wander off the beaten path in this collection of essays about the excursions of two pedestrians in Europe. Rather than racking up miles in the obvious museums, a husband and wife meander through the streets of Paris in search of the perfect thrift store, intense dark chocolate, and radical poster art. In Ireland, after tramping over limestone karst and occupying neolithic forts, they seek and find an ancient well of bardic inspiration. The island of Angelsey and its circular trails confounds them at first, rendering them lost, yet still surrenders its oldest secret when they secure the important key-all for a ten-pound deposit at the market. Everywhere they go, they take their time, savoring the weather and the land, availing themselves of each restorative café experience. You may think you know Europe, but these humorous and thoughtful essays will take the reader to places where curiosity always finds something new.
Grieving the end of a 7-year relationship, 39-year-old Roberta, an attorney, feminist and lesbian is uprooted from the world she knows. Starting over, she embarks on a quest to build a home in the woods of Maine. In the process of building, she reconstructs a life, one grounded in childhood loss and life in an orphanage. When another intimate death shakes her to her core, she experiences psychic and out-of-body events, which begins an 8-year spiritual journey to understand her Jewish roots, the Kabbalah, Buddhism, and reincarnation, ultimately finding the meaning of home.
The granite coastlines and salt marshes in Maine, awe-inspiring eruptions of volcanoes in Hawaii and Iceland, and “hot spots” of a life story are vividly revealed in the language and imagery of Magma Intrusions. This collection of poems is about the geological forces that shape our earth and stories that shape a life. Weston's obsession with volcanoes begins in childhood and plays a central role in Weston’s poetry. Whether she is describing her family, her travels to see volcanoes in remote areas, or her time in Maine, she connects deeply with the creative and destructive powers of life on this planet.
Sparrow Robinson loves to dance and leap around. She loves cats. She has a million questions about the world, and she’s not afraid to ask them. But she’s just moved to a new town and a new school, and her busy parents have no time for her to get “carried away.” Suddenly, she feels totally out of place. Sparrow’s favorite thing in all this newness is her neighbor, Mrs. LaRose, who has seven cats and always has cookies and lemonade to share. But after Mrs. LaRose breaks her hip, she decides to move into assisted living—where the cats aren’t allowed! Sparrow has to help. Determined to find new homes for the cats, Sparrow forgets about her own troubles—but her quest just might be the key to Sparrow finding a home for herself in this town, too.
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