Category Archives: Literary Miscellany

Final blog post – saying goodbye to begin a new chapter

Well, readers, by now you’ve probably begun to wonder if I’ve dropped off the face of the earth. I have not been posting or updating the blog’s Facebook page in several weeks now. Have no fear, it’s all been for a good reason. Let me tell you a story. A little over two years ago, […]

Curtis Memorial Library hosts Fireside Writers writing group

There are a few things every serious writer needs. A good pen. Working knowledge of proper grammar. Vodka. And, to borrow a phrase: a room of one’s own. Many writers do not earn enough from their work to secure that ideal writing room. So when a free room is offered to a writer, even if […]

10 Maine bookstores you should visit in 2017

And here I present to you, dear reader, a perennial list of Maine bookstores you should check out in 2017. Each of these shops has its own literary kind of vibe, and all of them are great places to immerse yourself in the pages of a good book. What more could a bibliophile want? Lippincott […]

2017 Reading Challenge: A word nerd’s resolutions for a new year

“What are your resolutions for the New Year?” I’ve always been of the “strive-to-be-better-every-day-rather-than-one-magical-day-a-year” school of thought; but hey, I’m a writer. I get the sentimentality of the thing, the inherent wish that a new year can magically bring about great change, ushering in a new chapter of our story. So to answer the question, […]

The importance of independent bookstores

In a recent interview with PBS, Ann Patchett, bestselling author of books like Bel Canto, State of Wonder and the just-released novel Commonwealth, discussed her involvement with Parnassus Books, an independent bookstore in Nashville. (The entire interview is great, but skip ahead to about 5:18 to hear specifically about the store.) When asked why independent bookstores […]

The right one at the right time: the beauty of bookish fate

Certain books come to you only when they are meant to, when you are ready to receive whichever message they carry within their pages. However these books appear, they show up at a time when you need them most. That’s one of the most magical things about books. It’s as if they possess intuitive powers, […]

3 more bookstores to visit in Maine this summer

Summer in Maine is perfect for hitting the road and discovering new shops, ice cream stands, drive-in theaters, restaurants… and, of course, bookstores. Because what is summer without good reads?