Category: Maine Books

My Maine School Bus Driver

9/4/2019

Local author, Norma K. Salway will sign books at Maine Line Products, 23 Main St, Bethel, ME 04217 on September 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. My Maine School Bus Driver written by Salway and published by Just Write Books in Topsham is a children’s picture book about a school bus driver, his bus and his passengers.

Bonjour! Welcome to Bus Number 14. My Maine School Bus Driver by Norma K. Salway introduces Mr. Gosselin and highlights the importance of his job as he delivers children to and from school in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. From pointing out wildlife along the edge of the road, naming an unexpected eight-legged stowaway, to announcing gag lunches over the speaker, Mr. Gosselin enriches the commute of the elementary school students every morning.

The cheerful Mr. Gosselin enjoys inciting uproarious laughs (or groans) from his young passengers, but it never distracts from his top priority of keeping the children safe. In her newest children’s book, Sawyer seamlessly blends bus safety rules into a charming glimpse of Maine school bus rides.

My Maine School Bus Driver is brought to life through the whimsical illustrations and authentic interactions between Mr. Gosselin, his passengers and their families. Moments that are rarely acknowledged in everyday life are given their time to shine in this heartwarming tale.

“Norma Salway has written a delightful story and an effective teacher resource all in one. Her book is a wonderful addition to our school bus safety curriculum.”
–Jason Manjourides, principal of Pond Cove Elementary School

Dick Gosselin drove for the Cape Elizabeth school district for decades. He completed a fifty-year broadcasting career in Maine and Boston, and even hosted the quiz show, “So You Think You Know Maine.” He worked as a videographer, conducted bus tours and was active in Big Brothers, Big Sisters. He is now retired but reminisces about interacting with students on his bus on their way to and from school.

Norma Kimball Salway, parent, grandparent, and graduate of the University of Southern Maine retired from teaching in 2009. During her thirty-four years in education, she taught students aged four to seven. Her hobbies include writing, kayaking, gardening, antiquing, and crafting. My Maine School Bus Driver is Salway’s fifth book since retirement. She continues to write and lives in Portland, Maine, with her Maine Coon cat, Gusty.

Just Write Books LLC, an independent publishing company based in Topsham, Maine, publishes Maine books by Maine authors telling Maine stories. JWB uses its trademarked High Point Publishing System with state-of-the-art technology mixed with old-fashioned writing, editing, publishing, and marketing skills to help writers become authors and authors reach their publishing goals.

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Put a Maine Book Under the Tree this Year

12/6/2017

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Here are ten books, new and old, that make excellent gifts for the readers on your shopping list. This selection shows the breadth of books published by Just Write Books. There’s something for everyone. And best of all we offer FREE SHIPPING through December 15th.

Wild Plants of Maine: A Useful Guide by Tom Seymour
In this edition of Wild Plants of Maine, Tom Seymour has added several new wild plants, more mushrooms and some exciting new recipes to the bountiful harvest that Tom Seymour leads us to discover in Maine. From insect repellent to table fare to a relaxing wintergreen tea, Seymour identifies the source and describes the method of preparing wild plant concoctions and foods. Any person living in or visiting Maine should have Wild Plants of Maine to ensure the enjoyment of our great Maine outdoors. From the shore to the forest and from the first green of spring to the snowiest winter day, join the “best guide of all” as Seymour enjoys Maine “wilds.”

A Daughter of Francis Martin and The Remembrances of Marietta Lufford by Virginia Chute
These historical novels are deftly written keeping to historical facts and filling in with an imagination and a sharp pen that allows us to follow Virginia Chute on her travels back in time.

The Attic & Me by Norma K. Salway
A passion for attics and anything old cultivated a love of collecting family artifacts in Norma Salway. She tells inspirational stories connecting to her roots and experiences that reveal who she is today. Readers will enjoy hearing of joys of collecting, agonies of trials, fears, and interactions with creatures on a farm.

Lewis and the Lighthouse by Bill McKibben
Bill McKibben has written his first book about Lewis, a boy who lives on the coast of Maine near a lighthouse. Enjoy the tale of Lewis' exciting adventure as he races to save a ship one stormy night. With just enough suspense for young readers, this fun read-aloud book is illustrated with lively art by Robert Logan.

Taking Flight by Diane H. Schetky
Travel with poet Diane Schetky from the state of Maine that she calls home to the Arctic and even to inside lives of “Friends who have lost their way.” Taking Flight is a selection of poetry that will provoke a thoughtful journey companioned by a mindful guide.

Topsham, Maine: From The River To The Highlands by Robert C. Williams
"All of Maine’s small towns can boast of fascinating but little-known history. Fortunately, Maine can boast of curious and articulate historians like Robert Williams who tell their stories." - Bill Bushnell, Kennebec Journa

Wyman Falls Mysteries by Robert M. Chute
Get caught up in the lives of a small Maine town with three books set after World War II. Start with Coming Home where, Jim Johnson returns from World War II to mysteries involving family and friends. Johnson's return is filled with surprises—a body hidden in a garment bag in an empty cabin, his deceased father's association with bootleggers and his childhood friend, Joan Chaplin, now married but with an absent husband. In Return to Sender, Melonie Janus travels to Wyman Falls to investigate the death of her brother among the odd characters of the remote Maine town. Finally, in Roadside Rest, the mystery unfolds as a fellow from West Virginia comes to town with a deed to property owned by Willis Wyman and James Johnson. The West Virginian goes missing. There are more questions than answers in an investigation that includes quirky town characters. Meanwhile Jim Johnson is missing in action from Korea.

This is just a sampling of the books available from Just Write Books. What is your favorite?

Nancy E. Randolph operates Just Write Books, publishing Maine books by Maine authors telling Maine stories. Randolph quickly developed a reputation as a publisher of quality Maine books. An active community member 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.

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10 important things about foraging according to Tom Seymour

7/21/2016

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Tom looks at cattails.

Many people have purchased Wild Plants of Maine: A Useful Guide by Tom Seymour. It is a great book for those interested in foraging. With close-up photos and others showing the plant's location and relative size compared to other plants, it is a welcoming identification book for wild plants. More than that, Tom describes how to find, harvest and to use these plants.
Recently I asked Tom what were the ten most important things that people should know about foraging for wild plants here in Maine. Here are his answers.

Goostetongue.

1. Prepare to harvest by knowing the right time. Each plant has a perfect time of availability, the “window of opportunity.” Since plants come ripe in a regular succession, knowing when to expect your favorite wild edible puts you in the driver’s seat.
2. Collect and transport your harvest in baskets (my favorite method), brown paper bags or canvas bags. Never collect in plastic because it causes the harvest to sweat and wilt. They lose flavor and can mold in the wet plastic bag.
3. Be aware of plants that cause irritation to the skin when foraging. Poison ivy, virgin’s bower (wild clematis, a vining plant of edges and woodland trails), often mistakenly called “poison oak” and several other plants can cause mild to severe reactions in people. Know how to identify these plants. There are many great photos on the internet so as to allow you to identify these the first time. Watch out, since some people are affected just by being in the same vicinity. They don't even have to touch the plant to have an extreme allergic reaction.
4. Become familiar with botanical names in addition to the common names to prevent mix-ups in communications. Scientific names for plants are called “binominal nomenclature.” The first name is the genus, or general family and the second name tells something specific about the plant. Don’t be afraid to use these names and don’t worry about proper pronunciation. Others will know what you mean. The danger in only using common names is that some plants often share the same common name. For instance, “pigweed” is the common name for several totally different plants.

Goosetongue leaves ready to freeze or can.

5. Cook or prepare the plant according to suggestions from a trustworthy source. Wild Plants of Maine offers dozens of recipes in the back of the book. Within the section for each plant, I offer suggested preparations for each edible. You might find a few other recipes in other cookbooks. I particularly like fiddleheads with butter and salt and pepper.
6. When a wild edible plant is harvested, harvest extra then freeze, dry or can according to suggestions in Wild Plants of Maine. One example: I love goosetongue, or seaside plantain, Plantago juncoides. When home-canned, these have the same flavor and a similar texture as when fresh. Nothing says “summer in winter” like a jar of seaside plantain.
7. Here in Maine, plants have a short growing season. This means they change size and appearance in a short time. Get to know your favorite wild edible plants in all seasons. That way, you can locate groups of colonies of great, edible plants in the off-season and harvest them later, when they are ready for picking.I
8. When learning a new plant, note carefully every detail of the plant’s description in the book. If a plant matches everything else except for one detail, it is not the plant in the book. Each plant must match every, single thing in the plant description section. Take no chances, since there are some toxic wild plants out there. Don’t let this keep you from trying wild edible plants, though. Instead, know that you are safe when the plant in hand perfectly matches every item in the description.
9. When harvesting wild plants, never pull a plant up by the roots. Most wild plants are perennial, some are biennial and only a few are annual. Uprooting a plant kills it and takes it out of production. On the other hand, don’t worry about taking a good haul by snipping with clippers or cutting with a knife, since these plants come back year after year.
10. Have fun foraging and eating your wilds.

Check out Tom's website here.

Stay up to date on the latest foraging stories on Tom’s blog.

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.

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My Maine School Bus Driver

Put a Maine Book Under the Tree this Year

10 important things about foraging according to Tom Seymour

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