Blog Posts - Just Write Books

Thirteen Moons Hits the Shelves Again

1/11/2019

Passamaquoddy, French, and English open the door to this story of Father Rales living with the Abenaki in the early 1700s.

Thirteen Moons
Every other year this way of counting months
as moons produces one moon too many
so this mid-summer, this thirteenth moon is termed
Abonamicikizoos – that is
“let this moon pass by.”
In this way we count the first of seventy-two
years of Sebastian Rale, Jesuit, a Priest of
Norridgewock, the province of Maine.
We celebrate the scholar come to spend
half the lifetime and his life: Priest of Hunger,
Ice and Snow, Sickness, War, Dark Woods
and brotherhood.

Thirteen Moons, in its tri-lingual publication, is being reprinted in soft cover. The book, written by Robert Chute, uses poetry to tell the story of Sebastian Rale, a man who lived with the Abenaki Indians for thirty years and compiled an Abenaki-French dictionary. It follows his life with them, as English settlers attack the Abenaki at Norridgewock, fearing Rale and thinking he was a French spy and “instigator of French rebellion.”

Sebastian Rale was a Jesuit missionary from France, who came to spread Catholicism to Native Americans. He was stationed with the Abenaki who lived near the Norridgewock settlement. He lived among them for thirty-five years as a part of their society, until finally being killed in the final attack that destroyed the Native Americans’ village along with up to a hundred villagers.

This book, as Rale did in his life, honors the Abenaki by providing the story in their language, Passamaquoddy.

Robert M. Chute wrote the first version of Thirteen Moons in the late 1970s. He submitted the work to Penumbra Press after his self-printed copies became popular among the people he handed them to and hoped for translations into French and a Native language. While the French translation was added to the book, the Native translation didn’t come through. Years later, WWII veteran David Francis asked to translate it into Passamaquoddy, his native language. This edition is a reprinted version of the three-language version, with a new cover made to look like white birch bark.

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.

Tom Seymour is busy writing a new Book About Trolling

8/15/2018

Getting Your Big Fish: Trolling Tactics and Techniques for Trout, Salmon and Togue will be published by Just Write Books early 2019. Seymour details how to catch fish that are measured in pounds, not inches

People who troll for trout, salmon and togue represent a small minority of Maine’s anglers. And yet, these select few routinely catch the largest fish of all.

Fly fishing, a hugely popular sport, does not necessarily target large fish. In fact, most fly-fishers content themselves with catching and releasing mostly stocked trout. And for that, people congregate in huge numbers around places where freshly stocked trout are available.

Trollers, however, never need to contend with crowds. Rather than carrying the small nets used for stream fishing, trollers always have a huge, long-handled net available for that 4-, 5- and even 10-pound salmonid.

Even those who cast spinning lures for salmonids mostly fish to smaller trout, usually recently stocked ones. The reason most fly and spin-fishers rarely take big fish is because their tackle does not permit them to put their offerings down deep where the biggest fish await. Trolling solves that problem.

Fully versed trollers use a combination of techniques both old and new. Tackle, though, falls in the category of new and improved, at least when compared to the trolling gear of yesteryear. Lines, rods and reels are thinner, lighter and stronger than ever before. Whereas most people associate trolling as a sedentary sport using heavy and often unwieldy tackle, today’s trollers are constantly working the water in ways our ancestors could not have imagined.

Fish locators help to not only locate fish, but also give an idea of what the bottom looks like, a big help any time. And downriggers, devices that allow anglers to use light tackle while trolling deep for the biggest fish, have turned the trolling world upside down.

And yet, the traditional lead-core line has its place too. New, ultra-thin lines make catching even medium-sized fish a joy, especially when coupled with light and powerful modern rods and reels.

Lure manufacturers cater to those who troll and like auto manufacturers, these companies strive to introduce hot, new offerings each year. These often brilliantly-colored lures lie side-by-side with old tried-and-true fish slayers in angler’s tackle boxes.

Given all this, the age-old practice of lake trolling has now become the wave of the future. Getting Your Big Fish by Tom Seymour will help anglers to catch that wave.

10 things to know about foraging according to tom seymour

7/25/2018

Foraging is a popular pastime among rural residents of Maine, including Tom Seymour, author of Wild Plants of Maine. We talked with Tom recently and asked for some pointers about foraging in Maine. According to Seymour, a law was introduced to Maine’s local government which would ban foraging altogether, due to issues caused by malicious or unlearned individuals. Thankfully, that law was overruled, which means foraging is still allowed

Here are ten things to know so you don’t hurt the environment or make anyone angry.

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.
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.

Dame's Rocket

Queen Anne's Lace

10. Have fun foraging and eating your wilds.

10 Festivals to attend in maine

7/18/2018

Maine summer is filled with fun things to do, both on weekends and weekdays. First among many are festivals. It is time to go out and have a good time with friends and family while eating food and enjoying events unique to each festival. Here's our list of ten festivals to visit, and check out the links in the titles for more information.

1. Maine Potato Blossom Festival - Fort Fairfield - July 14-22
Enjoy the 71st year of this family-friendly celebration that lasts for nine days. The main events are happening from the 19th to the 22nd. Magic, music, a parade and fireworks are a few of the spectacular things going on at this festival.
2. Central Maine Egg Festival - Pittsfield - July 9-14
Enjoy an egg-cellent weekend full of food, crafts and fireworks, and don’t miss the Famous Big Parade.
3. Yarmouth Clam Festival - Yarmouth - July 20-22
“Always the third Friday in July”, the clam festival hosts a parade, fireworks, music across three stages, races, crafts, and delicious food.

4. Maine Brewers' Guild Beer Festival: Summer Edition - Portland - July 28
(21+ event) This is the best chance of the summer to try Maine's best craft brews and listen to great music. Enjoy the sun and relax while munching on tasty food from area food trucks.
5. Redneck [Blank], Pig Roast and Music Festival - Hebron – August 2-5
Enjoy a great, lighthearted festival with mud runs, beer, camping and great food in its eighth year.
6. Maine Lobster Festival - Rockland - August 1-5
Held every year in the first weekend of August, there’s lots of lobster to enjoy at this festival--a seafood cooking contest, arts and crafts, a parade and lots of great music.

7. Maine Highland Games and Scottish Festival - Topsham - August 18
Celebrate all things Scottish with music, dancing, games and savoury food from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
8. Great Falls Balloon Festival - Lewiston/Auburn - August 17-19
Take flight and see the vistas surrounding the Lewiston/Auburn area from the sky, either at dawn or dusk.
9. Camden Windjammer Fest - Camden – August 31 and September 1
Celebrate Camden's maritime heritage at this weekend full of schooners, races, history and plenty of other maritime activities.

10. Common Ground Country Fair - Unity - September 21-23
It's not your typical fair. It is a world of sustainability, environmentally-sound living products with organic agricultural demonstrations, arts & crafts, nonprofit that better our world and lots of livestock enjoy and experience.

Is your favorite festival not listed here? Tell us what it is.

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.

Author Talk: Vance Bessey, author of awk the awkward penguin

7/12/2018

Vance Bessey brings penguins to Maine

I’ve known Vance Bessey for years. He has provided illustration in a few books over the last several years. We’ve talked about his writing. In addition to his children’s books, he writes young adult fantasy. I was very happy to consult and cheerlead his publishing efforts for his Orphans of the Storm soon to be published by Dreaming Big Publishing. Vance is a fine illustrator, an enthusiastic teacher of script writing, illustration, cartoons and more. We have become friends. We talked about Awk the Awkward Penguin for a couple of years before I said, “Oh, Vance, let’s do this book through Just Write Books.” Now Awk the Awkward Penguin is published and Vance and I are marketing it while Vance is on the road with little Awk.

Author Q&A

JWB: Tell us a little about Awk?

Vance: Okay. Awk the Awkward Penguin is a story about being different — that is something I think nearly every kid feels at some point. Little Awk is born with flippers that are too darn long and they hamper his swimming (very important for a penguin) as well as causing him to trip as he waddles along in his penguin world. His community notes his clumsy nature and dubs him: Awk the Awkward Penguin. Awk tries to deal with his awkwardness despite some criticism and bullying. He has a good friend and that helps but eventually he begins to wonder just how he is supposed to fit in.

His adventures begin as he gets separated from his penguin colony and meets some friends along his journey. They help him to see that different isn’t a bad thing. Sometimes different can be wonderful. Awk discovers great benefits to his extra-long flippers and returns home to save the day, finding his place in the world at last.

JWB: What are some of the themes that you return to regularly in your writing?

Vance: I love the Redemption theme, but many of my stories are about honor, sacrifice and doing the right thing. Classic heroism. I believe these themes, although a bit out of vogue, still echo as good and true in most of us.

JWB: What is one event that has shaped your children’s book writing?

Vance: Becoming a dad. I have always loved storytelling but when I became a father it really took off. I used to read a lot to my kids but what they liked best was when I would weave a story for them directly from imagination. I did that a lot with them. And parenting opened up a whole new world of experiences to draw from, no pun intended. Having children helps you to remember how it actually was being a kid. How the world appears to fresh eyes. This is a gold mine of ideas and inspiration both for children’s books and young adult novels.

JWB: What are three of your favorite children’s books to read to children?

Vance: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak and The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg.

JWB: Any advice for young authors?

Vance: Yes. Go out there and live a lot. Have experiences, take risks. Learn first-hand about all the things you are interested in. Pay attention to your inner growth. Hold on to your awe and amazement as you get older and really think about the people in your life. Try to understand them and know them as you do yourself. Write about what you know but dig deep into your experiences and feelings and write about what matters to you. Make interesting well-constructed stories with amazing characters and plot twists but put in themes underlying all that that will create pathos in your readers. To do that, the themes have to move you as you write them. That’s all there is to it.

JWB: What is the most difficult part of putting together a children’s book?

Vance: Like with any story, the ending. Character development, story construction, pacing - It’s all relatively easy in a children’s book. Bringing all the storylines together at the end so that you have a neat tidy package with a solid moral, that’s a trick.

JWB: Why penguins?

Vance: I like penguins, they’re funny. People like them. They stand up on two feet, like us. They congregate together, like us. They are easy for kids to relate to, I think. Plus, they are fun to draw.

JWB: What do you hope that children take away from the story?

Vance: That’s easy. This was my whole reason for writing “Awk”. Different isn’t a bad thing. Different is good. In fact, different can be a marvelous and beautiful thing. There’s a lot of intolerance in our world – about skin color, religion, cultural differences, sexual affinity and gender, appearance, and even physical and mental challenges. I hope to reach children at a young age with the idea that differences of all kinds are not scary or somehow ‘wrong’. Everyone is different, in some way, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It can be a source of curiosity and wonder if not looked at with distrust or preconceived ideas. That is my message and when I read my book to grade schoolers, they all get it easily.

JWB: Does “Awk” address the way we should treat others who may appear to be “different or odd”? Do you think that kids can see that we could each be like Flo?

Vance: I hope so. There are two separate issues here. I think most young children are naturally accepting of differences. Think about it: at their age many things in their world are new and different, they haven’t had many experiences yet. Kids have to learn to be distrustful of differences, and that’s where parents can have the most success, but children are still very subject to social pressure within their peer groups, and it only takes one scared or angry young person to start mocking or bullying. Its sometimes risky to ‘not join in’ when someone is being made fun of, and even riskier to stand up to those poking the fun. It takes a sense of honor. The need to do the right thing even if it is harder than doing nothing. That’s a difficult theme to put in a children’s book without sounding preachy but I’m working on it.

JWB: What are you currently working on?

Vance: I am putting together an Anthology of short stories written by the students in my Advanced Storytelling Class. These are all written within the genres of: fantasy, science fiction and mild horror and all have their roots in Maine. I am very impressed with the caliber of work done in this class for this project and look forward to getting this book published. I am also submitting a short story of my own within this collection and all stories will be fully illustrated.

Vance Bessey is a published author, illustrator and cartoonist as well as an inventor with registered patents. A graduate of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Narrative Art, he learned much of what he knows about storytelling from industry greats like Joe Kubert and Greg Hildebrandt. Bessey is the author of the young adult novel, Orphans of the Storm, soon to be released by Dreaming Big Publications. He authored Only in Maine and the comic strips The Edge and Only in Maine as well as comic books that he illustrated. In addition, Bessey, an award winning graphic designer, teaches courses in script writing, narrative art and storytelling. For more information about the author and his works go to Vance Bessey's website.

10 Things to Do on the fourth of july in maine

6/27/2018

Ever since we figured out how to launch fireworks, Americans have loved celebrating our freedom from the British Empire with massive displays. But fireworks aren’t all the celebratory events going on in Maine. Here are ten events --- both explosive and not --- going on in Maine this year. Links to the sites are in red and blue.

1. Celebration in Bar Harbor: At six in the morning, the Fourth of July Celebration in Bar Harbor starts with a blueberry pancake breakfast and ends with the fireworks display. The entire day is filled with events. For the full list, click here.

2. Portland’s Fourth of July Stars and Stripes Spectacular: Portland, Maine’s annual fireworks display is a popular attraction for Maine residents and tourists alike. While the Portland Symphony Orchestra won’t be playing this year, the fireworks will still be going off at their usual time. Check out the website as the date grows closer here.

3. Rangeley Park’s Independence Day Celebration: This celebration is family-friendly, with a Children’s parade, a duck race, a silent auction, and more. At dusk, the fireworks display begins.

4. Moosehead Lake Celebration: Celebrate Independence Day at Maine’s largest lake. “With craft fairs, parades, live music, and a fantastic show of fireworks, you’re sure to have a great time!” Look it up on their site for more information.

5. Bath Heritage Days: Bath starts its heritage celebrations on June 29th this year, ending on the Fourth of July with a firework show at 9:15. This website has more information.

6. Camden Harbor Fireworks Sailing: Sail on the Schooner Olad from 7:00 to 9:15. Enjoy a beautiful sunset over the mountains of Camden Hills State Park, then watch the fireworks display over Camden Harbor.

7. Kennebunk Fireworks Show: Kennebunk and Kennebunk port are putting on a firework display that promises to be one of the most spectacular of the night. Look on the website for some information and visit this one too.

8. Ogunquit July Fourth Fireworks: Ogunquit is celebrating Independence Day with a continental breakfast, discounts for the zoo, and a trolley ride to the beach for the fireworks. Click here for more information.

9. Casco Bay: Ride the train during the day, then board the Fireworks Express in the evening to get to the fireworks show. The Express runs from 4:30 to 7:00. Find out more about this event here.

10. Bangor’s Pancake Breakfast: Bangor is having a pancake breakfast from 7 to 10 in the morning. The parade starts at 11. Click here for more information.

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.

Submission Guidelines for Just Write Books

6/13/2018

Just Write books is not accepting new manuscripts. We are working on several projects and are unable to even look at new ones until June 2019. However, once June 2019 arrives below are guidelines to use when preparing your book for publication.

Just Write Books does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. 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 very 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, it will be shredded. The cost of returning the manuscript far outweighs the cost of reprinting.
No reading fee but a donation. Just Write Books asks that you donate to save our swinging bridge.com/donate when sending us a manuscript to review. Upon being invited to submit your manuscript, please send a copy of your check or online receipt (to the nonprofit) with your manuscript. $25 for 1- to 99-page manuscript. $50 for a manuscript of 100-200 pages and $100 for 201-400. *If your manuscript is longer than 400 pages, it is highly unlikely that Just Write Books will publish your book.
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 things might 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 such as 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. Print 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.

Two more things before mailing your manuscript:

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 two months; send a postcard, email or simple letter. That's polite and non-irritating.

I hope this helps clarify things for the authors.

Happy writing!

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.

Join Tom Seymour's plant walk at Topsham Library

6/7/2018

Event Cancelled

Learn to identify Wild Plants of Maine.

Tom Seymour identifies Curled Dock during a plant walk at Crystal Spring Farms several years ago.

Tom Seymour, an experienced Maine forager, will lead a plant walk on June 13th around Topsham Public Library, 25 Foreside Road, Topsham at 11:00am. He will teach
participants how to identify plants as food and medicine. Register with info@jstwrite.com, or call 837.0558, at $15 per person. The walk starts promptly at 10:30 AM, so show up around 10:15. Wear sturdy shoes.

Summer Beach Reading

6/6/2018

Summer is here again, and that means it’s time for day trips to the beach and thunderstorms in the afternoon. No matter the weather or the place, a book is the perfect thing to bring to have a good time anywhere. Check out the updated list of books from Just Write Books to bring with you wherever you go.

Thirteen Moons by Robert Chute

Into poetry and Maine history? Read Thirteen Moons

Thirteen Moons contains a series of story poems based on various sources depicting the life of the Jesuit scholar, Sebastian Rale, beloved priest to the Abenaki Indians near Norrigewock whose life he shared for thirty years.

Into poetry and travel? Read Taking Flight

Travel with poet Diane Schetky from the state of Maine that she calls home to the Arctic and even inside the 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.

Taking Flight: New Poems and Others by Diane Schetky

Check out some of Maine's local history with Topsham, Maine: From the River to the Highlands

The riverside settlement that became Topsham and was once the buffer between the wilderness and Brunswick, became a mill town and now a noted retirement location with a retail and commercial center rivaling surrounding municipalities. Robert C. Williams brings the people of Topsham—yesterday’s and today’s—to us in this very readable history of Topsham.

Topsham, Maine by Robert C. Williams

Driftwood from Popham Sands by Florence, Margaret, and Edith Oliver

Going to the beach? Try Driftwood from Popham Sands

History buffs surely will enjoy the product of Driftwood from Popham Sands, a quilt of recollections illuminated by fine old photographs. Driftwood from Popham Sands is a labor of love. Florence Reed Oliver recorded her observations and her family's memories with loving care and preserved original documents, pictures and heirlooms. After her death, Florence's daughters Margaret and Edith worked to make their mother's compiled notes and memorabilia into a book. After Margaret's passing, Edith completed the work begun decades ago.

Find out how the Gooches got their start in The Seaside House: Maine Innkeeper

Read this fascinating narrative of the Gooch family as they settle in Colonial Maine. Follow them as they continue into the 21st Century. The family purchased an innkeeping business that continues today and is operated by a member of the current generation of Gooches. Through perseverance, back-breaking work, bravery and sometimes luck—the family beat the odds and held onto their land for centuries. The Seaside House tells of trials and triumphs each of these generations encounter while providing for the family. The rich characters will entertain and astound readers with their adventures and struggles. Enjoy them coming to life in the extraordinary events that shaped their lives and offers glimpses of Maine's history.

The Seaside House by Trish Mason

The Spirit of Songo by Norma Salway

Explore a Maine Lake in The Spirit of Songo

For centuries, families have retreated to summer havens on lakes, rivers, and ponds to reconnect with nature while escaping the stresses of everyday labor. The poems contained in this book celebrate the history and allure of the natural marvels that Maine’s Songo lake offers. The book reflects the author’s affection for her year-round home and the influential experiences of rich days spent on the shores of a lake.

Discover treasures like the ones in The Attic and ME: History Uncovered in a Maine Attic

Walk through the childhood days of this Maine native and author reflecting on life growing up before technology. With this book, the author honors her parents and the engaged lifestyle they provided to her and her three sisters on the family farm in Albany Township, Maine, during the 1940s and 1950s. Outside physical play, interactions with nature, opportunities to “make do,” inspiring thought and imagination provided the foundation of her youth.

The Attic and ME: History Uncovered in a Maine Attic by Norma Salway

Lovewell's Town: From Howling Wilderness to Vacationland in Trust by Robert C. Williams

Read the "first professional history record of the town of Lovell in Lovewell's Town

Visit Lovell, Maine and travel in time through the years! Dr. Robert C. Williams has retired to Lovell, Maine, and taken the opportunity to use his educational background combined with his love of history and finely-honed writing skills to produce this first professional history of the town of Lovell. Read this book and follow the settlement from the survey of the Merrimack River in 1652 through the famous battle at Pequawket in 1725 to the current struggle between the forces of development and preservation. Williams haunted local archives, as well as state archive collections of Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire to produce this comprehensive history of Lovell, Maine. The writing is enlivened by current and historical photos and illustrations, for the historical researcher Williams has added a very thorough index.

A Daughter of Francis Martin has returned to the summer reading list

An historic novel set in the 17th century settlement of Falmouth, in the Province of Maine following the life of Mary Martin. This novel is deftly written keeping to historical facts and filling in with an imagination and a sharp pen that allows us to follow the late Virginia Chute on her travels back in time.

A Daughter of Francis Martin by Virginia Chute

Ever wonder about the woods out back? Find out a bit about them in Hidden World Revealed

Hidden World Revealed: Musings of a Maine Naturalist by Tom Seymour

Hidden World Revealed is a collection of short works by Tom Seymour previously published in his blog "Wild Plants and Wooly Bears." In Hidden World Revealed Seymour discusses his interaction with animal neighbors and explores plants and seasonal changes. Each piece reflects Maine rural life. The narratives of his walks in the woods are instructive about the natural environment and revealing of a human who walks lightly on the earth. A humble man with a fine mind invites us to know our Maine woodlands and rural neighbors. A great book to read in summer when the plants and animals are out.

Everyone has a story to tell. These are the stories of Maine-ly People

Read about and see Maine people at their finest—everyday hard at work, ready to lend a hand and creating a better world—right here at home in Maine. Maine-ly People by Paul Cunningham features stories and photos chosen from his nearly two decades of photojournalism at the The Times Record in Brunswick from 1990-2008. Some of these photos and stories were published in that paper and others are from Cunningham’s collection.

Maine-ly People: Short Stories and Tall Photos by Paul T. Cunningham

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.

Guide to Maine Wilds updated

5/25/2018

“Grandma shared with me her age-old knowledge in my quest to learn more about the useful wild plants that grow all around us.” Tom Seymour

Just Write Books announces the release of the third edition of Wild Plants of Maine by Tom Seymour. Wild plants, mushrooms, and new recipes have been added to the information already present in the pages, making a more complete guide to identifying, harvesting and using or eating wild plants. The book contains 80 wild plants, some found on hiking trails, some found in garden plots and backyards. Many are edible, with recipes that detail cooking methods to make them safe and enhance flavor.

From teas to medicines, any person wandering the Maine wilderness would benefit from having this book with them. Reading it beforehand and knowing how to identify and even taking the book with you, can result in a good and safe harvest for wilds and a delicious Maine dinner afterwards.

The information contained in the book is highlighted by anecdotes by the author, as with the “warning” of the death trumpet mushroom from Seymour’s grandmother, or the note that Joe-Pye Weed is a “precursor to fall.” These quips bring the plants to life on the page as much as they are in the woods.

Tom Seymour has been writing professionally since 1973, for local newspapers. He has since published multiple volumes on Maine: its natural bounties, outdoor pursuits, living in Maine and enjoying all the state has to offer.

Tom's Grandmother cautioned Tom against these tasty edible mushrooms.

Tom holds a harvest of mushrooms.

Joe-Pye Weed is the harbinger of fall.

Author

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 cochaired 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 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

Archives

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

Just Write Books
14 Munroe Lane
Topsham, ME 04086

Phone: 207-729-3600
Fax: 207-729-4600

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