The port at Hydra, Greece Picture-perfect moments await at the picturesque port of Hydra, Greece. From the stunning sunset views to the lively ambiance, it's a destination that will steal your heart.

Many thanks SCMP for featuring my work for Cheung Chau Wave “Island Portal” August 8 - 29, 2021

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3144036/films-art-ocean-pictures-heart-cheung-chau-wave-festival?module=perpetual_scroll&pgtype=article&campaign=3144036

Salt and Roses: The Coastal Maine Way of Life by May Davidson

Salt and Roses is a collection of essays from May Davidson, co-inventor of the Maine Buoy Bell and author of Whatever it Takes, that offers an intimate look at her love affair with the State of Maine and her years working and living along the coast with h

As of this writing, author May Davidson is (or will be) 93 years old. In 2019, she had her memoirs, Whatever It Takes, published by Maine’s Islandport Press. Salt and Roses is filled with smaller reminiscences, gathered from a column that appeared for many years in The Lincoln County News, where many of the essays in this book first appeared. The first thing you must know about Ms. Davidson is…

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A Monarch Butterfly Story, will be out on Saturday! Celebrate the launch with Melissa Kim​ and me. The event is part of the Pollinator Parade and Festival, Gilsland Farm Maine Audubon​, 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth, Maine. Visit for a reading, signing, book sales and more fun. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. For details, see maineaudubon.org The book will also be available through Islandport Press​, local book shops and Amazon after the 20th http://www.islandportpress.com/bookshop/children/a-monarch-butterfly-story.html

Spend an amazing 2 night cruise on the Grand Bahama island from port of palm beach, Enjoy endless shore excursion, delicious dining, 2 night short getaway for those who have little time to take a refreshing vacation book your cruise to the Granada Bahamas island today!!

UMF student wins Islandport Magazine <b>writing</b> contest

YARMOUTH — A story about a young woman getting caught in a lie has earned University of Maine at Farmington senior Aimee Degroat first place in the inaugural Islandport Magazine Fiction Writing Contest. Aimee Degroat's story “Where He Ain't” gracefully follows the main character Darlene as she ... http://ift.tt/2s05hyI

This new book details the amusing, funny and slightly gross parts of Maine snowmobiling – Bangor Daily News

When Matt Weber got into snowmobiling less than a decade ago, he figured he’d be able to learn quite a bit about the sport by finding a few books to read.

His search for Maine-centric snowmobile books was fruitless, however: As far as he was able to determine, none had ever been written.

Eventually, he got to work changing that, and the product of his labors, “ Making Tracks, How I Learned to Love Snowmobiling in Maine,” was recently released by Islandport Press.

Staff photo/Melissa Lizotte | Star-Herald

Snowmobile tote rides are among the fun activities offered during Aroostook State Park’s annual Winter Family Fun Day on Feb. 23.

The 145-page volume offers up plenty of practical tips and takes readers to some of Weber’s favorite sledding areas; it divides Maine into four snowmobiling regions and offers a primer on each.

The result is a broad-brush treatment of the sport that will be perfect for someone looking to get into sledding, while also providing some light-hearted storytelling that veteran snowmobilers will enjoy.

Weber has an interesting backstory. He grew up in Stillwater and graduated from Old Town High School, has worked as a snowmaker at Sugarloaf and now lives on Monhegan, a tiny island 10 miles off the mainland, where he’s a lobsterman. Of note: Snowmobiles are not allowed on the island, so every time he wants to go for a ride, he first has to make his way to the mainland.

Weber is also the co-owner and brewer at Monhegan Brewing Company.

There’s plenty of room to snowmobile in Maine, and the Maine Snowmobile Association says there are more than 14,000 miles of trails to explore.

In “Making Tracks,” Weber divides the state into four rough regions — The County, Katahdin and Moosehead Region, Eastern Maine and The Western Mountains — and shares stories of his adventures in each part of Maine. He also offers some pro tips, including places he likes to eat or scenic trails you shouldn’t miss, along with his favorite lodging locations.

At the end of the book, he adds in a valuable “resources” section, which includes some safety tips, along with a directory of some outfitters that rent sleds.

There is one small problem with “Making Tracks”: Weber is a funny dude, and the comic interludes were among my favorite parts of the book. I would have liked to have seen even more, interspersed with the more practical how-to and where-to sections.

Among the funny anecdotes he shared was the description of his father-in-law’s passion for chainsaws: ‘I once pointed out to him that he only has two arms but five saws, and he glared at me, clearly wondering why his oldest daughter had married such a complete imbecile.”

Another favorite tale involved Weber’s youthful attempts to plow snow by tying a shovel to his bicycle.

“Invariably, the shovel would actually plow maybe two inches of the driveway, hit a frozen rock, snap the rope and drive the end of the shovel into my gut — pitching me off the bike and knocking the wind out of me,” he wrote.

And some readers will get a kick out of his on-the-fly solution to a trailside bathroom emergency. I certainly did. I read the passage aloud to a couple of colleagues, giggling hysterically. They were more grossed-out than amused. To each their own

Whether a reader is just getting into snowmobiling, is a longtime veteran of the trails or is just looking to live vicariously through someone else’s adventures, “Making Tracks” will make a welcome addition to the bookshelf.

And when it’s snowing too hard to even think of taking the sled out, reading a few pages may just keep the cabin fever at bay until the trail groomers have time to tidy things up.

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Bài viết This new book details the amusing, funny and slightly gross parts of Maine snowmobiling – Bangor Daily News đã xuất hiện đầu tiên vào ngày Funface.

from Funface https://funface.net/funny-news/this-new-book-details-the-amusing-funny-and-slightly-gross-parts-of-maine-snowmobiling-bangor-daily-news/

I am so excited that THE MISSING SEASON by Gillian French is available now and that I get to share the news! If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Gillian French, be sure to check out all the details below. This blitz also includes a giveaway for FOUR signed copies of the book, Us Only, courtesy of Gillian and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. About the Book: Title: THE MISSING SEASON Author: Gillian French Pub. Date: May 21, 2019 Publisher: HarperTeen Formats: Hardcover, eBook Pages: 304 Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD From the author of Edgar Award finalist Grit and The Lies They Tell comes a tense, atmospheric novel for fans of E. Lockhart and Marieke Nijkamp, about friendship, truth, and the creeping fears that can't be outrun.  Whenever another kid goes missing in October, the kids in the old factory town of Pender know what is really behind it: a monster out in the marshes that they call the Mumbler. That's what Clara's new crew tells her when she moves to town. Bree and Sage, who take her under their wing. Spirited Trace, who has taken the lead on this year's Halloween prank war. And magnetic Kincaid, whose devil-may-care attitude and air of mystery are impossible for Clara to resist. Clara doesn't actually believe in the Mumbler--not like Kinkaid does. But as Halloween gets closer and tensions build in the town, it's hard to shake the feeling that there really is something dark and dangerous in Pender. Lurking in the shadows. Waiting to bring the stories to life. Excerpt: “It’s sad, you coming here.” Kincaid takes me in, his smile fading. “Now you’ve got no chance.” No chance. Like he read it in my tea leaves or the lines of my palm. “Why?” “Because he only takes Pender kids. Likes our taste, I guess.” Kincaid drops his board, glides backward on one foot, never breaking eye contact. “Like . . . hopelessness.” “And Steak-umms from the caf,” somebody says, making people snicker. “Liver.” Trace shows his teeth. “God, I love that shit.” “What about Gavin Cotswold?” Sage says. “Have they figured out how he died yet?” “Mumbler got him.” Trace. “He OD’d.” Bree gives Trace a withering look. “He went out in the woods, got fucked up, and died. His own mom thinks so.” “I heard the animals didn’t leave enough of him behind to be sure.” Trace says. Then, to Kincaid, “Tell her about the first boy. Ricky Whoever.” “Sartain. Ricky Sartain.” Behind Kincaid, most of the activity has stopped, everybody pulling up some concrete to listen. He’s holding court, a storyteller who knows his audience. “It all started, like, twenty years ago. Kid went missing two days before they found him on the banks of the marsh, way out by the railroad bridge.” Kincaid nods slowly, easing into it. “Somebody put their hands all over him.” More covert laughter, Trace’s whisper: “Loved to death.” Kincaid entwines his fingers, working his palms together in sinuous rhythm. “Squeezed him, crushed him. Mashed his spine, smashed his belly.” A voice speaks up: “My mom said that kid got hit by the train.” “Of course she did.” Kincaid doesn’t turn. “She also told you that Santa Claus is real and honesty is the best policy and if you’re good, you’ll get into heaven, right?” Snorts. Somebody mimics, “But my mommy said,” whacking the boy who interrupted with a baseball cap. “He was folded in half.” Sage grips Trace’s forearm. “That’s what I heard.” “No.” Kincaid’s hands are tai chi slow. “Lengthwise.” “Stop.” Bree says it under her breath; I’m the only one who hears. “Ricky disappeared right around Halloween. That’s the pattern.” Kincaid skates a circuit around us, dismounts, and slaps the tail of the board so it pops into his hand again, all one smooth movement that I wish I could watch again frame by frame. “Truth. After, Ricky’s friends told everybody how they’d all gone out to the railroad bridge to smash pumpkins one night, and there was somebody hiding under there. Too dark to see, but they heard him, mumbling and yammering away.” Yip, yip, yip! I look up to see audience participation, lumbering shapes aping around the others, sounding like a zoo after hours—Ahhh-ah-ah-ah! Mwaaa-hoohoo! “Next time anybody saw Ricky, he was red guacamole.” Kincaid pauses, smiling faintly, but he’s not really seeing me now. “Ever since, Mumbler’s been around. Takes a bad kid every few years, always in October. Grown-ups have some bullshit excuse for what happened to them, but we know.” Nods pass around the circle. I watch for inside looks—they’ll drop the act when they see I’m not taken in—but the quiet drags on. “What’s the Mumbler look like?” I hold Kincaid’s gaze, willing him to let me in on this, let me prove I don’t scare easy. “So I’ll know him if I see him.” Kincaid looks to Trace, again with the smile that creases his eyes into merry slits, a kid showing his little sister where Mom hides the Christmas presents. “We can take you to him.” About Gillian: I’m a ridiculous, sometimes cranky, often hungry, frequently writing flibbertigibbet who really hopes she can keep doing this for a living. My debut novel, GRIT (HarperTeen), was an Indie Next List pick, a Junior Library Guild Selection, received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and ALA Booklist, was an Edgar Award Finalist, a South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Finalist, and received both a 2018 Lupine Award from the Maine Library Association and a 2018 Maine Literary Award from the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance. My other novels include THE DOOR TO JANUARY (Islandport Press; Bram Stoker Award Finalist), THE LIES THEY TELL (HarperTeen; 2019 International Thriller Award Finalist, 2019 Maine Literary Award Finalist, 2018 Junior Library Guild Selection), and THE MISSING SEASON (HarperTeen, coming 5/21/2019; preorder giveaway happening now). My short fiction has placed in Writer’s Digest and Zoetrope: All Story contests, as well as appearing in such publications as Weirdbook and Creepy Campfire Stories for Grownups. I hold a BA in English from the University of Maine, and I’m a member of the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance, Mystery Writers of America, and the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators. Currently, I still live in my native state of Maine–shocker, I know–with my husband and sons, where I’m perpetually agonizing over my next novel (in the best possible way, of course!) Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Amazon Author Page Giveaway Details: 4 winners will win a signed finished copy of THE MISSING SEASON, US Only. a Rafflecopter giveaway

http://www.dazzledbybooks.com/2019/05/the-missing-season-release-day-blitz.html

PORTLAND, Maine | Half of iconic Bert & I duo dies 60 years after recording

PORTLAND, Maine | Half of iconic Bert & I duo dies 60 years after recording

PORTLAND, Maine — Bob Bryan, one half of the comedy duo Bert and I, which had fun at the expense of Maine Yankees and popularized the immortal punchline, “You can’t get there from here,” has died at his home in Quebec. He was 87.

Bryan and the late Marshall Dodge created their humor in a dormitory room at Yale University, and their 1958 album was the first of several that shaped the state’s humor…

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The Ghosts of Walter Crockett: A Memoir by W. Edward Crockett

In his new memoir, Portland-native Ed Crockett recounts his struggle to break the cycle of alcoholism, come to grips with the embarrassing specter of his father, to eventually find success on the same streets where his father once spent his days drunk.

The author of The Ghosts of Walter Crockett and I have one thing in common: the year of our birth (1961). This is significant, for while we were raised in different cities in different countries, the time period was shared, so I could immediately identify with Ed Crockett as he recounts his life growing up in Portland Maine. Ed Crockett is the youngest of eight children born to Walter and…

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A Monarch Butterfly Story, the forth and final book in Maine Audubon & Islandport Press's Wildlife on the Move series will be out next month! A Snowy Owl Story will also be back in print after being sold out for almost a year. Melissa Kim & I will be signing copies of all four books on May 20th, at Gilsland Farm's annual Pollinator Parade & Festival in Falmouth. Dress your kids up like their favorite pollinators and join the parade! Hope to see you there.

BUSHNELL ON BOOKS: ‘This Day in Maine’ and ‘The Lost Boys of London’

BUSHNELL ON BOOKS: ‘This Day in Maine’ and ‘The Lost Boys of London’

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THIS DAY IN MAINE by Joseph Owen; Islandport Press, 2020; 400 pages, $16.95.

THIS DAY IN MAINE

Founding Father Thomas Jefferson once derided the value of newspapers: “The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers.” And he was wrong, as former Maine journalist Joseph Owen proves in his debut book “This Day in Maine.”

Owen currently…

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Contributor Update: Elaine Ford

Today, we here at Superstition Review want to take time to mourn the loss of past contributor Elaine Ford, who passed away in August 2017 at the age of 78. We will forever be grateful for Elaine’s contribution to our magazine and are honored to announce the release of her seventh book, This Time Might Be Different, which will be out from Islandport Presson March 13, 2018. The books is available…

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How to Open Your Work to Critique & Land Your Dream Agent

How many times has this happened to you? A friend or acquaintance discovers you’re a writer in search of representation and that elusive first book deal. They offer to read one of your pieces and give you feedback.

Did you take them up on it, or shy away, cringing at the thought of exposing your passionate, creative side to someone who, well, actually knows you? For seventeen years, I wrote young adult novels and short horror fiction, letting virtually no one but my parents and, later, my husband—people who I trusted to be honest, yet also sensitive to my feelings—read my drafts before I submitted to editors. I could take a rejection from a stranger without flinching because I knew it wasn’t personal, but the thought of sharing my work with someone I knew and having them think less of me afterward was terrifying.

This guest post is by Gillian French . French is the author of three novels for teens: GRIT (HarperTeen), THE DOOR TO JANUARY (Islandport Press, 9/5/2017), and THE SUMMER BOYS (HarperTeen, 5/2/2018).  Her short fiction has placed in Writer’s Digest and Zoetrope: All Story contests, as well as appearing in Odd Tree Press Quarterly, Creepy Campfire Stories (for Grownups): Tales of Extreme Horror, Sanitarium Magazine, and The Realm Beyond. She holds a BA in English from the University of Maine, and lives in her native state of Maine with her husband and sons, where she’s perpetually at work on her next novel.

Then, about five years ago, a published author of middle-grade fiction became a patron at the library where I worked. After learning second-hand that I was a struggling writer, the author offered to read one of my manuscripts. With my stomach in knots, I emailed her my latest book, convinced that I was making a huge mistake. I had read her stuff—she was good. A successful, legitimate author like her could blow my fragile ego out of the water.

Instead, what she did was send back helpful, encouraging feedback. We became friends; as time went on, she read three of my books, and enjoyed the last one enough to pass it along to her agent, Alice Tasman of Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. That book was Grit, my debut YA novel released in April, the first in a two-book deal with HarperCollins. After nearly two decades, I’ve finally realized my dream of becoming a published author.

Now, good fortune and timing obviously come into play here, but the key is that we built a relationship based on the trust implicit in allowing another person access to your creative soul. Trust that your work is worthy of being read, and trust in your reader not to cut you to the bone. Chances are, if I’d gone with my first impulse and turned down the offer of a critique, Grit would still be sitting in some agent’s digital slush pile right now. But how can you know if you’re letting the right person in? Not just someone with connections; someone who knows how to give constructive criticism, who appreciates all the hard work and hope invested in every piece of writing.

[Want to Write Better? Here Are 10 Habits of Highly Effective Writers]

First, ask yourself what you’re hoping to gain from sharing your work. If the answer is praise and a pat on the back, staying in your tortoise shell might be the best thing; who wants a totally one-sided relationship? But if you’re looking for a different perspective on your work, or a sense of direction with your next round of edits, a critique partner or writer’s group might be worth a try. Here’s a shortlist of places to look when you’re ready to get your feet wet, ranging from kiddie pool to the deep end.

Online Writing Communities: Arguably one of the most painless way of sharing your work with others, online writing communities can provide lively, inviting boards for artists to connect, encourage, and share pearls of wisdom—without necessarily having to FaceTime. A Google search yields myriad “best of” lists; when I did my own digging, Absolute Write Water Cooler, NaNoWriMo, and Critique Circle were mentioned again and again as popular, enthusiastic boards where you may just find your tribe. And if you end up in a demoralizing exchange, all you have to do is close out.

Family and Friends: How often have you considered asking someone close to you to read your manuscript, then changed your mind, thinking they’re too busy or I don’t want to put them on the spot or they don’t read my genre? Chances are, a friend or family member will be flattered that you asked, and eager to help. Think about it: These people care about you. They want you to succeed. Assuming they’ll only tell you what you want to hear, or lack the emotional depth to grasp the subtle nuances of your prose, is doing your relationship a large disservice. Take a closer look at your inner circle; who do you regard as thoughtful, respectful, and well-read? You probably already have a gut feeling about who might make a good sounding board. Start small by asking one of these chosen few if they’d be willing to look at a couple chapters and give you their honest opinion. Again, a display of trust in another person can go a long way towards deepening your connection, and gaining you some much-needed reader response.

Writers Groups: I know. Every time you hear of one meeting in your area, you imagine yourself sitting in some community center conference room, white-knuckled, while a tableful of people rips your baby to shreds over coffee and cookies.

It’s important to do your research first. Shop around and see what groups exist near you. Don’t be afraid to get in touch with the contact person and ask for the group’s mission statement. Are they all about fostering creative growth with an eye toward publication, or is it more of a casual weekly/monthly get-together for artists to mingle and bounce ideas around? It’s up to you to decide what would benefit your writing and build your confidence. These groups are not for everyone, and that’s okay, but it does give you the opportunity to be the change you want to see in the world: Offer another writer the kind of positive, constructive feedback you’ve always dreamed of receiving.

Whatever avenue you take, exposing your work to new readers is the best way to keep your writing fresh, fit, and on the upward climb to publication. Open up, and trust in the validity of your work. You never know which new connection might be the one that changes everything.

The biggest literary agent database anywhere is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the most recent updated edition online at a discount.

If you’re an agent looking to update your information or an author interested in contributing to the GLA blog or the next edition of the book, contact Writer’s Digest Books Managing Editor Cris Freese at [email protected].

      The post How to Open Your Work to Critique & Land Your Dream Agent appeared first on WritersDigest.com.

from Writing Editor Blogs – WritersDigest.com http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/open-work-critique-land-dream-agent

I jumped in again and am now a proud two-time survivor of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. I learned from last year that the majority of my time would be spent visiting and engaging with other bloggers. I didn’t want to have something as pesky as actually writing a blog post get in the way which means that this annual one month challenge was in reality an intense two month process.

I researched, wrote and prepped everything in March while in April, other than some minor edits, I focused on all the social aspects of the challenge which is one of my favorite parts.

Click on any picture to jump to a slide show with hyperlinks to my A to Z Challenge Post associated with that image.

A is for Atayne | Even a couch potato needs good performance gear.

B is for Baxter’s Fine Candies | They knew how to do candy right in the 1800s.

C is for Carved Wooden Spoons | 7 tips to keep them forever young.

D is for Dr. Dandelion | Will this gardener’s scrub turn my thumb green?

E is for Eagre Games | Get ready to experience the dream world of ZED.

F is for Flight Deck Brewing | We love (really love) our craft beer in Maine.

G is for Good Natured Brand | Facing mosquito season with Bugaroo and no fear.

H is for Highland Maple Pepper | Maple makes everything taste better.

I is for Islandport Press | Stories connected to New England.

J is for Jarva Cakes | Delicious things come in small packages.

K is for Kendrick | scrappy little nobody | 10% defiant should be everyone’s goal.

L is for LooHoo | Add some fun to your laundry routine with wool dryer balls.

M is for Might & Main | A design firm that understands my passion for Maine.

N is for Northwoods Gourmet Girl | The special joy of a blueberry dessert sauce.

O is for October Fields | Finding my zen with clean burning soy candles.

P is for Pike’s Original Maine Garden Hod | Practical and Beautiful.

Q is for Mainely Quilling | I am in awe of these paper creations.

R is for Recycled Lobster Rope Mats | No better way to say “Welcome to my home”.

S is for Stringin��� Along with Me | Giving new life to old guitar strings.

T is for Tree + Vine | Costumes that match a child’s imagination.

U is for U. Smelly Dog | Now my dog is going to smell better than I do.

V is for Vintage Maine Kitchen | Creatively flavored all natural potato chips.

W is for Waldostone Farm | Elevating brunch with a bloody lobster cocktail.

X is for Xtreme Conditions | STABILicers Maxx make winter hiking a breeze.

Y is for Younity | Want to try a blueberry wine? You’ve come to the right state.

Z is for Zeitgeist Factory | Using concrete in unexpected ways.

Many of my goals for participating in the challenge were similar to those that I set last year including:

Expand My Content. I recently hit a few milestones on my blog including my first year anniversary and my hundredth post. Just as I celebrated completing my first A to Z challenge, I continue to be proud of and celebrate all the milestones I achieve on my site which now includes being a two-timer for the A to Z.

Write Consistently. I am excited that I have successfully  maintained a regular and consistent blogging schedule (for the most part) but nothing compares to writing 26 days of content in one month. It’s always an adjustment to transition back to a normal blogging schedule but I always approach it with more inspiration after the challenge.

Improve My Writing. I’m confident this goal will remain no matter how long I continue to write. There is never an end to getting better at writing. However, practice does help! This challenge improves my writing skills in two ways – all the writing that I do and all the reading that I do. I love stumbling upon other bloggers during the challenge who have fun, creative writing styles and engaging posts.

Highlight Maine. While I had focused on Maine for last year’s challenge too, this year I drilled down and picked one specific area: Made in Maine. I enjoyed researching and learning more about my theme and it helped me build up another area of my site so it was a double win.

Connect with Other Bloggers.  This is without a doubt my absolutely favorite thing about the blogging challenge. Getting to meet, engage with and learn from other bloggers. It was a little more difficult this year without the Linky List to visit every site as each letter had a new “list” to choose from and in the end I think a lot of those I connected with happened to have similar posting schedules to me so I was able to find them easier. But still, I did meet some awesome bloggers who I will continue to follow and support.

I took a few days off to enjoy achieving another successful year of participating in the A to Z Blogging challenge, but now it’s time to figure out what comes next as I continue to work on expanding and growing my blog.

As I finish up this recap, I wanted to again thank all my fellow bloggers for the support and encouragement they provided during the A to Z Blogging Challenge. As always, it motivated me and helped me stay on track. It really makes a difference when you know someone is actually reading and engaging with your posts. Thank you!

  #atozchallenge | Reflections of a two timer and what comes next. #blogchallenge I jumped in again and am now a proud two-time survivor of the A to Z Blogging Challenge.