Just Write Books
Helping Maine authors share Maine stories
  • Home
  • Store
  • About
  • Contact
  • Help
  • Blog

Author Talks: Robert M. Chute

9/22/2016

Comments

 
Picture

​Robert M. Chute outside his writer's retreat called Rondezview. 
​JWB: What are some of the themes that you return to regularly in your writing?
Chute: It was, is, never easy to say I love someone but I can easily and freely talk to a tree or a rock. Also, as a scientist as well as a poet, poetry is another way to explain—you choose what.Robert Chute came to Just Write Books with a book of poems, Reading Nature, in 2005. Over the past eleven years, we have worked together on additional poetry works and several Maine mysteries. A humble and talented man, Robert is dedicated to revealing Maine through his poetry and fiction. 

We took a moment to catch up with Robert Chute and asked him a few questions we thought would be intriguing to hear the answers.

​
JWB: When did you start writing?
Chute: I was about 11 years old, sitting by a window on a rainy autumn night. I wrote a four-line conventional rhymed verse about the sound of rainfall in a puddle outside. I can visualize the event but can’t recall the exact lines.
Picture
JWB: What is one event that has shaped your writing?
Chute: Finally, at age thirty-five, meeting a practicing poet, who became a friend; and I learned you could not only write poems, but be a poet.

JWB: What are three of your favorite books to reread?
Chute: First I must admit I find it difficult to think of an answer, to think of three books I want, right now, to reread. The only book I can recall rereading in the last five of six years was John Livingston Lowes’ The Road To Xanadu. An American novel I would like to reread:The Scarlet Letter. Poetry I frequently return to: Emily Dickenson.

JWB: Any advice for young authors?
Chute: Find a true friend who is also a critic and editor. Writers who have only themselves as an editor may have a fool for a client.

JWB: What are you currently working on?
Chute:  In 2015, I completed a conglomerate book of poems inspired by and about Thoreau, my thoughts about Thoreau life and works, spliced, if not spiced with autobiographical relevant aspect of my life. Now I've just completed another chapbook A Kiss to Build a Dream On. I've also sent my publisher photos and poems for another chapbook Bragdon Hill. The latter celebrates the remaining patches of wildness that are accessible around my home in Poland, Maine.

Author Bio
Robert M. Chute is a seventh generation Maine native. A retired professor of biology, most of his nonscientific writing has been poetic in nature. He is Professor Emeritus of Biology at Bates College and served as director of the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area. He lives on Middle Range Pond in Poland, Maine.



Comments

Just Write Books Submission Guidelines

9/6/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Just Write books is not accepting new manuscripts until 2017. We are working on several projects and are unable to even look at new ones until January 2017. However, once the new year arrives, below are guidelines to use when preparing your book for publication. 

People have asked how to prepare a manuscript for submission to Just Write Books. Always before, I have said, "Print in a reasonable font size with 1-inch margins." I felt that would give people enough information. 

I was wrong. 

So I developed the following guidelines for manuscript (ms) submissions. If you want to submit your ms to other publishers; subscribe to writersmarket.com. There you can search and find publishers and each publisher's submission standards.

Just Write Books does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. We care about the amount of trees used in the world for paper. Call, write or email to tell us about your book. Begin a conversation before sending anything.

Publisher Nancy E. Randolph will want to speak with the author to learn about the book, the author and why this book should be published. Only a few manuscripts evolve into a book with Just Write Books.

Just Write Books does not return manuscripts. We carefully shred them.
  • Don't send us your only copy. If your manuscript is rejected for publication; we carefully shred it. The cost of return (of packaging and shipping/mailing the manuscript) far outweigh the cost of reprinting.
  • No reading fee but a donation. Just Write Books asks that you donate to the Save Our Swinging Bridge.Org when sending us a manuscript to review. Upon being invited to submit your ms, please send a copy of your check (to one of the two nonprofits above) with your manuscript. $25 for 1-99 page manuscript. $50 for a manuscript of 100 pages or more.
  • Before printing your manuscript, complete a thorough edit. It will survive another round or two of edits at Just Write Books. Please read it aloud and spell check. Both of these things will help prevent your manuscript from going through the shredder.
  • Your manuscript must be a computer-generated printout. No handwritten submissions. Use clean, white 8 ½ by 11 inch unlined paper of average thickness. No designer paper. Use an easy to read font. Most computers have Times New Roman. Please do not use different typefaces or sizes. Don't try to make it look "good." You'll only irritate the reader. Our preferred font size is 12 points. Left justify the print. Do not right justify, center or fill the line to force a right flush. Do not format or insert photos. Just the text please. Use a one-inch margin: top, bottom, right and left. Indent each paragraph by .3 or .5 inch. Do not leave a blank line between paragraphs. 
  • Double space the entire document. 
  • Create a running head with the title of the book and your name. 
  • Place page numbers centered at the bottom of each page. Ensure that the document is set to automatic numbering.  If you do not know how to do this; ask a friend or a friendly computer geek for help.
  • Do not 3-hole punch, staple or otherwise bind your manuscript. We might take only 20 pages to read away from our desk.
  • Provide a list of photographs or illustrations and include a couple of printed samples of the same  (photocopies will do).
  • Check every page for clear printing and that each page printed.
If you have followed the above suggestions; our reader will be able to read your file, make comments, edits and suggestions without straining her eyes or developing a migraine headache. In addition, when it is time to make your manuscript into a book, it will be in the right format for flowing into desktop publishing software.

  • Do not include a cover letter. (By this time, we've already told you to mail a copy.) This will allow you to mail the manuscript via Media Mail through the US Postal Service. (If you want to send a cover letter; mail it separately in a first class envelope or email anything you want to tell us. Remember do not email the manuscript.
  • Double check everything before mailing, including our mailing address.

Just Write Books, 14 Munroe Lane, Topsham, ME 04086. Seal and drop in the mailbox.
If you haven't heard from us in 2 months; send a postcard, email or simple letter. That's polite and non-irritating. 

I hope this helps clarify things for the authors.


Picture
Nancy E. Randolph operates Just Write Books with the tagline Maine books, Maine authors, Maine stories. Randolph quickly developed a reputation as a publisher of quality Maine books. An active community member she co-chaired the rehabilitation effort of the Androscoggin Swinging Bridge and guided the planning and creation of two riverside parks at each end. Along with two others she founded and serves as a member of the board of Save Our Swinging Bridge.Org to ensure the maintenance of the historic Roebling designed and built bridge connecting Topsham and Brunswick.

Comments

    Author

    Nancy E. Randolph operates Just Write Books offering consulting and coaching for writers.

    An active community member she co-­chaired the rehabilitation effort of the Androscoggin Swinging Bridge and guided the planning and creation of two riverside parks at each end. Along with two others she founded and serves as a member of the board of Save Our Swinging Bridge.Org to ensure the maintenance of the historic Roebling designed and built bridge connecting Topsham and Brunswick.

    Archives

    November 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

    Categories

    All
    Beach Reading
    Book Club
    Children's Book
    Christmas
    Edible Plants
    Festival
    Foraging
    Fourth Of July
    Gifts
    Hanukkah
    Holidays
    Just Write Books
    Maine
    Maine Books
    Maine Stories
    Robert M Chute
    Summer
    Tom Seymour
    Virginia Chute
    Wild Plants

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    November 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

Picture
Just Write Books
​14 Munroe Lane
Topsham, ME 04086

Phone: 207-729-3600

What our Customers say

Nancy E. Randolph, JWB owner, markets my titles on a wide scale. She also sets up book signings. I find it infinitely more enjoyable and rewarding to work with this Maine-based publisher than to deal with national publishers from out-of-state.
Finally, JWB does not publish just any aspiring author. Randolph is very selective, accepting only material that she is convinced will sell. I highly recommend JWB to any author. 
Tom Seymour, author of Wild Plants of Maine and many other titles.
I just had these decals made [with my logo]. Every day I look at the logo you created from my drawn ideas, I smile. It is strong and me. Thank you.
Alice Andrenyak, Alice's Awesome Adventurs

JWB Privacy Policy

© 2018 Copyright Just Write Books