POETRY, ESSAYS & OTHER WRITING

What happens when the last son leaves the farm, and the farmer grows old? Do the stories of six generations whisper into silence, as dust darkens the windows of the empty barn? Or can a young boy, running in yellow boots through abandoned fields, bring new life back to the farm? There is much to explore, and time to wonder. There is also, for a short while, a gentle old man, atop a faded John Deere tractor, and the possibility of connection... An unforgettable true story of history and hope on a small family farm in Somerville, Maine, from its settling in the early 1800s to its perilous transfer to a new farm family in 2008. Chronicling the history of seven generations, it is a reminder of the role small farms have played in our national and family histories, and a challenge to find innovative ways to re-connect our communities to this rich but threatened resource. Hardcover. 223 pgs.

This edition comprizes Millay's first three books, "Renascence", "Second April" and "A Few Figs", as well as a biographical and critical introduction and indexes both by title and by first line. Paperback: 240 pages

The poetry of Leo Connellan is the poetry of perserverance. He survived the loss of his mother as a child, and, forgoing a college degree, he entered the arena of American literature, whose territory isoften overseen only by academics. However, his books continue to speak for themselves, and more importantly, not just for poetry, but for America herself.

A few short decades ago, fishermen used to stalk herring through moonless nights among the wild outer islands off the coast of Maine. Deep in the night, with surf close at hand and phosphorescence firing in the depths below, they would work for that one good haul that could spell the difference between lean times and a prosperous winter. "Herring Nights" is a memoir of nighttime passages by radar through rock-strewn waters, and of David, a purse seiner who had powers, who could find fish in the heart of a storm when no one else dared venture forth. Originally published in 1986 as "Amaretto" this new edition, with a new epilogue from the author to bring the story up to date, "Herring Nights" speaks with the urgent, haunting intensity of a voice from a lost world. Black & white photos and maps throughout. Paperback. 223 pgs.

Quoting from Mark Cox "The unassuming widsom and humanity of this excellent book stem from Sholl's conscience and endurance. In the very best sense, these penetrating poems don't know when to stop. They stay tenaciously focused, accruing and celebrating the people and details of contemporary life". 98 pgs. paperback.

From one of the finest scientist/writers of our time comes an engaging record of a life spent in close observation of the natural world, one that has yielded “marvelous, mind-altering” (Los Angeles Times) insight and discoveries. In essays that span several decades, Heinrich finds himself at home in Maine, where he plays host to visitors from Europe (the cluster flies) and more welcome guests from Asia (ladybugs); and as far away as Botswana, where he unravels the far-reaching ecological consequences of elephants’ bruising treatment of mopane trees. The many fascinating discoveries in Naturalist at Large include the maple sap harvesting habits of red squirrels, and the “instant” flower-opening in the yellow iris as a way of ensuring potent pollination. Heinrich turns to his great love, the ravens, some of them close companions for years, as he designs a unique experiment to tease out the fascinating parameters of raven intelligence. Finally, he asks “Where does a biologist find hope?” while delivering an answer that informs and inspires. Hardcover. 288 pgs.

Published in 2016 by Moon Pie Press, Jeri Theriault's "Radost, My Red" reminds us the play of which the mind is capable, of language's resiliency and its brave joy - it takes us into dark places but it's fitting that its last word is "light". (Chris Bursk). Betsy Sholl, "of the many pleasures in Jeri's writing, perhaps the one I treasure most is her sense of language. Her English draws into its wide musical range the sounds of Eastern Europe, and the tonalities of her French Catholic childhood. In Theriault's deft hands - or ears - this language once again makes us human, becomes a marvelous lens through which to view our humanity". Paperback. 74 pgs.

Sen. Angus S. King Jr.―whether hosting a bipartisan barbecue as a U.S. Senator, traveling the country in his RV, riding the back roads of Maine on his Harley, or waxing poetical about his civil war hero Joshua Chamberlain―prides himself on having an eye and an ear for both the historic and the gloriously familiar. In recent years, he has regularly captured his work and daily adventures on his smartphone and shared those pictures on social media to provide a wonderful and rare insider's look at the workaday life of a senator, whether he is in D.C. or his home state. From the formality of the Capitol Rotunda to a glorious sunrise off the coast of Maine, A Senator's Eye: Celebrating Maine, Washington and the Joys of Scraping the Windshield is a fascinating collection of these informal photos, including King's personal insights and captions. Paperback. 167 pgs.

How can cicadas survive—and thrive—at temperatures pushing 115°F? Do hummingbirds know what they're up against before they migrate over the Gulf of Mexico? Why do some trees stop growing taller even when three months of warm weather remain? With awe and unmatched expertise, Bernd Heinrich's Summer World never stops exploring the beautifully complex interactions of animals and plants with nature, giving extraordinary depth to the relationships between habitat and the warming of the earth. Black & white illustrations and color plates. Paperback. 253 pgs.

This book gathers Wesley McNair's two most important collections into one handsome volume. In "The Town of No", McNair blends sadness and comedy to remind us of Robert Frost's notion that poetry should make us "very sorry" or "very glad". In "My Brother Running" fifteen short poems on rural life are counterbalanced by the extended title piece, a memorial to a brother who died too soon and for reasons that can never be reconciled. 161 pgs. paperback.

When America entered World War II in 1941, we faced an enemy that had banned and burned 100 million books. Outraged librarians launched a campaign to send free books to American troops and gathered 20 million hardcover donations. In 1943, the War Department and the publishing industry stepped in with an extraordinary program: 120 million small, lightweight paperbacks for troops to carry in their pockets and rucksacks in every theater of war. These Armed Services Editions were beloved by the troops and are still fondly remembered today. Soldiers read them while waiting to land at Normandy, in hellish trenches in the midst of battles in the Pacific, in field hospitals, and on long bombing flights. They helped rescue The Great Gatsby from obscurity and made Betty Smith, author of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, into a national icon. When Books Went to War is the inspiring story of the Armed Services Editions, and a treasure for history buffs and book lovers alike. Paperback. 267 pgs.

Published in 2015, this volume of poetry includes more than 30 original works in Martin Steingesser's unique voice. Paperback. 61 pgs.