Books

Authors on the Bay – Jeanne Gribbin

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It’s time to introduce a new author to our occasional series about authors associated with Casco Bay islands, Jeanne Gribbin! Jeanne is the sister of Ellen Harford, a year round Long Island resident, and has recently published her first novel, A Place of Herons, which takes place in late 19th century Maine, including Casco Bay. I caught up with Jeanne a few months ago to ask her a few questions about her novel:

How would you describe this book – historical fiction? Historical romance? The setting is historical, but the characters seem quite modern and informal in language and behavior.

I would say it’s Historical Romance. In some of the activities I had to do to get published there was usually not a ‘check off box’ for Historical Romance. There is also a new category called Womans Fiction which I thought it could fit too. Ultimately, my male readers like the history while the women like the romance. 

I loved the descriptions of traveling in the greater Portland area and Portsmouth (where I used to live) –  how did you do your research into 19th century coastal Maine and New Hampshire? Are Stony Manor and the Goddard Mansion based on real places? And there is still a boatyard in the same place?

I am very familiar with Portland. My dad worked at the Grand Trunk Steamship office down on the corner of India. He was a private investigator for Canadian National Railroad. Starting at age 6, I would walk with him around the train yard and the warehouses on the wharfs. I did take some Portland tours, looked at historical books on Portland and met with people in historical societies.

Stony Manor is a real place on Cumberland Foreside. It was abandoned when I was in high school. That was when I first went through it and I knew I would write about it someday. It was turned into condos maybe in the 80’s and the area around it was cleared out and developed with affluent homes.  

There were boatyards in Yarmouth and at the Cumberland town landing which was actually much closer to the manor. I’m not sure why I chose Yarmouth other than I knew that boat yard better. There were a lot of sea captains in both those areas back then. 

The Goddard Mansion is the big ruin on the water in Cape Elizabeth at Fort Williams. 

Some novels put dates in the chapter headings, but I noticed that you didn’t – I would guess ca. 1850s?

I had more like 1890 in mind. I left it a little loose. Being a new writer I wanted to be able to take liberties if I didn’t get details just right. I’m hoping to improve my skills. 

How long was this story in your mind before you started writing it? How long did it take to write? I understand it’s a trilogy?

I was about 16 when I saw the manor and started writing about 40. Having a full time career and raising children didn’t leave me with much time for self indulgence. I piddled away at it for a long time. Mostly at South Beach on Long. I never really liked the ending, it was too cliche. I changed the ending and made such a mess trying to go back through the whole thing and lean toward a different ending. I’d say I have learned not to do that again. When I retired in 2018 I cleaned it up and sent it to an editor just to see if it was viable. She loved the story; she did not really like the ending but she got it. She gave me places to fix as well as pointed out places that she really loved the writing and the scenery. That gave me encouragement to go to a publisher. Also somewhere in there I joined Maine Writers Alliance and took a lot of classes. Anyway getting published is another whole job. I ended up going with Maine Publishers and they are a great bunch of people and writers.

By the way, Maine Authors thought the ending was nebulous as well. I tweaked it a little and just let it rip. That sort of made me feel like I had to write a sequel. I think the first book leads well into a trilogy. The next one is Samantha’s story when her mother is found. It will come out this year and a lot of it takes place in the Phippsburg area, the north end of Casco Bay. The third book will follow Camilla and probably take place more around Cape Elizabeth, the south end of Casco Bay.     

I love that the main character is Italian, but lived in France and was married to a Dutchman? Maybe that’s where the more modern behavior comes in -the meeting of 19th century Europe and 19th century New England. Starting the novel with a shipwreck is brilliant, and a wonderful way to draw the reader in. Mariah is a survivor!

Thank you. They say write what you know. My Mom came from a large Italian family. I wanted Mariah to be a painter so studying in France fit. The Dutch husband got thrown in as a way to get her leaving for the U.S. I have been to Europe and all those countries are really like moving from State to State here. Camilla’s story will start in Europe and the second book will lead the reader to where she is going.  

The speech is definitely more casual than it would have been in that time period. It was really just a hard thing to do to stay in a formal language and sound natural. I am hoping the casual ease works better for adult readers of today. All the crazy stuff that happens, I am positive happened regardless of speech. 

I’ve spent a lot of time on boats. My whole life, all kinds of boats. I had some early critique that it didn’t seem realistic that Mariah was not more freaked out in the dinghy. It was a good point. I tried to add some backstory around. Basically I am comfortable on the water and so, there are people who are.

Interesting about Eli and his associations with the Native Americans – I would love to hear more about where that came from.

Funny. A history teacher came over to talk with me at one of the fairs. I told him you can’t write history about New England without running into Indians. He agreed. But that just all happened by chance. I ended up falling in love with my Eli character. He was so much fun to write.

Tell me more about Pella, Iowa? Have you been there? My grandparents came from the Netherlands, and while I’ve not been to Pella, I am familiar with it as a place where many Dutch landed.

I did go to Pella to do research. It’s a very pretty town that still has a Dutch influence. I could have spent way more time there but the book was really about Maine.  I wanted to be grounded in the area and their historical society had some videos. I bought a historical book about it that was written by a Scholte. It is called A stranger in a strange land.    

Is the island based on Long Island? Although I thought there may be people living on the island in that period, but perhaps not quite yet. I’m amazed that the water was warm enough to swim in (brrr), in the novel.

The island is based on Long Island but in 1890 Long was not deserted. So I kind of left it loose. I also think islanders may not be happy if a bunch of readers show up and bombard our favorite spots. Alas I lost the battle and in book 3 Mariah is building a house on Long.

The water, LOL like I said, I’ve been here a long time and do swim in our frigid waters. The water is the warmest in September. Warmer by Mainer standards. 

How was your experience in publishing your book (a friend of mine just published her second book with the same publisher). Where have you been selling your books?

My experience with Maine Authors Publishing has been fantastic. Otherwise, it was very hard to first figure out what the requirements are for each different publisher and even get them to look at the book. Submitting to get an agent is just as hard. For me, I’m not a professional writer or at least I’m a new writer and following the lingo of publishing that also constantly changed was disheartening. 

The book is on Amazon which I think is a must. I am selling through The Maine Authors Website, my website, my Facebook page, word of mouth with groups I belong too, like even my high school page and a lot of fairs. Having a signing at Bookstores does well.  Maine Authors has a spring and fall magazine of their new books for the bookstores to pick them up.  This winter I will do a book club campaign then back to local events, libraries and more stores. I’m even going to brave the cruise ship shopping lines.  

I notice you used the last name “Harford” for the lawyer in Portsmouth – did you use names of family and friends in your book? (I think I saw an Ellen in there too 😊)

Yes, naming the characters can be fun and sometimes challenging. Even if I don’t name people I know, sometimes I use their persona. It makes it a lot easier if the character’s persona is someone I know then I can predict how they would react. It is harder to create a fake persona and stay true to it. 

Congratulations to Jeanne on her first novel, and we look reading the rest of the books in the trilogy!

Books, Films

Mary Poppins forever!

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How many have seen the original Mary Poppins movie! (hands go up)

How many have read all the Mary Poppins books? (not so much)

I admit to being a Mary Poppins fan, enjoying both the movies, and the books. Starting in 1934, P. L. Travers wrote eight books with Mary Poppins as the centerpiece to the stories. I happily absorbed each one (I think I was in my early 20s when I read them), and found them completely magical.

Mary Poppins cover

I recently had a chance to reconnect with Mary Poppins when my friend Susan shared her beloved copy of Mary Poppins, the first book in the series. Some of the stories overlap with the original movie, including “Laughing Gas” (which brings to mind the song, “I love to laugh“) and Bird Woman (which brings to mind “Feed the birds“) And the book starts out with “East Wind” (how Mary Poppins arrives) and “West Wind” (how Mary Poppins leaves). But there are more characters in the books, such as the twins, Barbara and John, the little brother and sister of Jane and Michael, who have adventures of their own. But Mary Poppins is the same – prim and proper, and somewhat vain, and “practically perfect in every way.”

Bird woman chapter

Pamela Lyndon Travers (1899-1996) is an interesting character herself. Born in Australia, she eventually ended up in London. During the second world war she worked for the British Ministry of Information. She also spent some time living among the Navajo, Hopi, and Pueblo peoples. In her later years she edited Parabola: the Magazine of Myth and Tradition. But mostly she’s known as the creator of Mary Poppins.

Jane, Barbara, John, Michael

The books were illustrated by Mary Shepherd, who did a marvelous job of bringing Mary Poppins to life in a visual way, not only in the illustrations in the book, but also on the end papers and covers. Her father, E. H. Shepherd, illustrated the Winnie-the-Pooh books by A. A. Milne, as well as the 1931 edition of Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame. He was initially approached to illustrate the Mary Poppins books, but he was too busy. Travers discovered Mary Shepherd’s work on a Christmas card, and hired her instead. And the rest of history!

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So, whether you picture Mary Poppins as Julie Andrews or Emily Blunt, or from the charming illustrations of Mary Shepherd, she will be a special character in the genre of children’s books, that uplifts and brings a smile (or maybe a laugh that will make you rise up to the ceiling).

Laughing gas
Books

Notable books read in 2024

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According to Goodreads, I read 45 books in 2024, and here are some of the ones I enjoyed most:

The frozen river, by Airiel Lawton

This was my favorite book of 2024 – a choice of the Long Island Community Library book group. The novel, based on the real life person of Maine midwife Martha Ballard, brings  this late 18th century historical period in Maine history to life in such a vivid way, with humor, good writing, and exceptional storytelling. I was riveted!

Northern lights, by Desmond Holdridge

This is an amazing true tale of three lads who sail a small sailboat in the early 20th century from Nova Scotia to Labrador.  I read this book out loud to Michael and we both loved it – the writing, the story, the drama, the setting. Of course, I always wonder about books like this, that are written after the fact, with total recall of details and conversations. But still, a rollicking good yarn!

The Paris novel, by Ruth Reichl

This book came into my life at the perfect time – I needed something light and delicious. I have mostly read Ruth Reichl’s non-fiction, but was eager to read this novel about a young American woman who experiences the culinary delights and experiences of Paris and the French countryside.  I loved every page, and the characters and setting. I made me really want to go to France. It was also fun to read the author’s note about who in the book was real – it’s a good sign when a novel makes me want to do more research.

Stability: how an ancient monastic practice can restore our relationships, churches, and communities, by Nathan Oates

This wonderful book introduced me to an idea that was new to me: stability, especially in the concept of the Benedictine vow of stability. As someone who has been married to the same man for almost 30 years, lived in the same house for about 28 years, and has had the same job for over 27 years, this resonated with me. In my younger years I did move around a bit, and while I can still be somewhat restless, I am very content to stay in my home and community – and church! for the rest of my life. Evergreen is a very small island church, but there is a core group of us who show up every Sunday – I am so grateful for those who make that commitment. When we did our independent studies at Evergreen last summer I shared this book, and the concepts within, with my church group. I found the book to be very readable, insightful, and charming.

New girl in Little Cove, by Damhnait Monaghan

I came across this title somewhere and recommended it to the Long Island Community Library to purchase.  I am so glad they did, because I ended up really enjoying his wonderful tale of a young woman who arrives in a small outport village in Newfoundland to teach French at the local school. Definitely my kind of book! I especially love the setting – we have been to Newfoundland three times and it’s one of my all-time favorite places on the planet. The author did an amazing job of telling this story, based on her experiences. She hit the right notes of plot, characters, pacing, wit, and the local flavor. I’m also very glad this book is in paperback, as it was perfect to carry on my commute on the ferry.

The sea around us, by Rachel Carson

We had recently read James Stavridis’ The sailor’s bookshelf : fifty books to know the sea, and this was one of the ones he recommended. I was more familiar with Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, although I had never read it. But this book, originally written in 1951, was so elegantly and beautifully written, and sheer poetry at times. I read it out loud to Michael, and we loved the enchanting names of geographic places, real and imagined. It’s a timeless classic (although interesting to think of the knowledge we’ve gained since then about the “sea around us”).

Simon the fiddler, by Paulette Giles

Paula Johnson recommended this book to me – I had read “News of the world,” and didn’t love it as much as most people did. But this book is truly magnificent – the characters, setting, and writing. Perhaps it was the music that really pulled it all together. I play the “fiddle” (violin) – poorly, but I still love playing. So this book, about the adventures of a fiddler at the end of the Civil War, really struck a chord. After I finished it, I found out that Simon and Doris were characters in “News of the World,” so I may have to look at that book again to find out how they first appear. I’m so glad the author created this book around them. It was fun to learn that Paulette Giles is also a musician and plays with a band.

Blooming of Delphinium, by Holly Varni

Like The Paris novel, this book came at the right time in my life, when I needed something light and lovely. The characters are wonderful, and the chemistry between the two main characters, Delphinium, a florist, and Elliot, the director of the assisted living facility in Moonberry Lake, was engaging. I loved the seniors who camp out at Delphinium’s flower shop, and the overall warmth and generosity of spirit in the novel. I’m a sucker for most novels about flowers, and people who love flowers, and this one hit the right notes.

Libraries

Borrowed Christmas

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Currently on exhibit at the Long Island Community Library is another brilliant display from the clever mind of Karen Boss, the small glass case curator: Borrowed Christmas, which showcases part or all of creches or nativity sets belong to Long Islanders. This is a great exhibit on many levels, especially for those of us who have incomplete creches, or have figures that are broken. But put together we can create a complete creche – very symbolic of life itself. Not all of us have perfect creches, or perfect lives, so it’s lovely to think of a mismatched ragtag group gathering around the baby Jesus.

Nigerian creche scene

Also, for those who celebrate Epiphany, the wise men are often placed far from the creche, and as Epiphany draws near, so do the wise men. As Advent progresses, through the birth of Jesus, the scene is incomplete until all draw near, and 12 days later, all are together, worshipping the Christ Child.

The wise men, waiting their turn

To make this display even more interesting we have a menorah. Even though Hanukkah isn’t the Jewish Christmas, there are definitely connections that could be made, to add an extra layer to the month of December.

Festival of lights

Come see these lovely manger scene figurines and menorah, contributed by Carlene Barron, Rose Barter, Cheryl Boss, Karen Boss, Mary Caliandro, Candy Dale/Jim Schine, Linda McCann, Nancy Noble, Diane Watts, Betsy Whitman, and Dave Singo (see the December 2018 blog about Dave Singo’s lovely exhibit of his ceramic nativity scene that he created).

The Holy Family

Books

British Raj : in literature

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I recently read two books that take place in India. One was a novel, The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese, which our island book group read. The other one was a biography, Rumer Godden: a storyteller’s life, by Anne Chisholm. Verghese’s novel is mostly about Indian characters, but their lives are intertwined with British (Scottish) characters, including a woman who grew up in India. To her, India was home. Author Rumer Godden also grew up in India, and spent much of her early adult life there, including in Kashmir, a place I have always been interested in visiting, especially if it includes staying on a houseboat. Several of Godden’s books take place in India, including Black Narcissus, which takes place in the Himalayan foothills.

This led me to think about novels about the British in India. The Guardian has a great list of 10 books that take place in India, including books by Rudyard Kipling, E.M. Forster, and Paul Scott. Emily Eden’s Up the country looks especially appealing: “If Jane Austen had gone to India, these are the letters home she might have written.”

Goodreads has the term, “British Raj,” to describe this period of history, and created a list of books to read. Wikipedia also has a list. The British Raj was the period of British Parliament rule on the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947, for around 89 years of British occupation.

One of my favorite children’s books is “A little princess,” by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Sara Crewe, the main character, is the daughter of an officer in the British Army, stationed in India. In another book by Burnett, The Secret Garden, the central character Mary Lennox was also born in India. Both children end up in England in somewhat miserable circumstances, but find their way into a better life.

In the early 1990s I had the opportunity to visit a friend who was living and working in India. While India was never on my bucket list of places to visit, I was thrilled to spend a few days in beautiful Simla (Shimla) in the Himalayan foothills. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of British India. We met an older British woman, named Pat, who had grown up in India, and it was home to her.

Regardless of the lasting impact of the British Raj on India, the literature to come out of it is worth further investigation, and adding to my growing list of books to read.

Books

Happy 100th anniversary, Winnie the Pooh!

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I found out that this year is the 100th anniversary since the publication of “When we were young,” where we are first introduced to the endearing sweet little bear, Winnie the Pooh. This book of poetry by A. A. Milne launched the literary career of “tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff” Winnie the Pooh. Coincidentally, Bette Jane lent me her copy of “The House at Pooh Corner,” which is the second book to feature Winnie the Pooh (the first being, “Winnie the Pooh“). Amazingly, I don’t think I have ever read any of the Winnie the Pooh books, but was well acquainted with the characters in the classic children’s stories by A. A. Milne, thanks to television shows and movies, such as the recent “Christopher Robin,” which I watched on our way home from Brussels in the spring.

Enjoy this classic song by Kenny Loggins, in honor of the 100th anniversary of our beloved Winnie the Pooh.

Books, Uncategorized

Dave Singo: Vietnam Conflict Medic

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There is a new display in the glass case at the Long Island Community Library, courtesy of Long Islander Dave Singo, who served in the Vietnam Conflict from 1968 to 1969 as a combat medic and laboratory technologist. Come see this amazing exhibit of items from Dave’s time in Vietnam, including photographs, books, awards, flags, and banners.

Appropriately, this exhibit is up through Veterans Day.

Books

Printers and printing presses in Portland

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If you are interested in the history of printing in the Portland area, then the Portland Room at the Portland Public Library is the place to go. In addition to the current exhibit, Printed in Portland, there are a lot of wonderful examples of the works of printing presses in Portland, which has had an abundance of smaller presses throughout its history.

One of these great little presses is Shagbark Press, which began in 1985 in South Portland. David Wolfe, who started his career in Maine at the famed Anthoensen Press, teamed up with the general manager at Anthoensen, Harry Milliken, to launch Shagbark Press. Harry N. Milliken was the President, David Wolfe the Vice-President, and Gwendolyn Milliken the Treasurer. Harry and David were printers, and Gwendolyn, Harry’s wife, was the proofreader and secretary. They created books, periodicals, pamphlets, folders, bookplates, stationery, and broadsides, among other things. They later sold the press to Scott Vile of Ascensius Press. David Wolfe currently has his own press, Wolfe Editions, at the Bakery Studios on Pleasant Street.  

It’s a small but magnificent circle of printers intertwined in Maine, with a rich history of printing behind them.

Books, Libraries, Music

Art and Soul 2024

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It’s that time again! The biannual fundraiser of the Long Island Community Library. Where else can you buy books, flowers, and baked goods, as well as bid on artwork and purchase raffle tickets for beautiful themed baskets created by island organizations and individuals. There were even opportunities to listen to great music and create paper flowers. Mostly it’s a fine time to gather with island friends and neighbors and celebrate our wonderful island library, on a gorgeous July (20th) day.

Books

The literature of Norway

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Last fall our island book group read “Out stealing horses” by Per Petterson, which was recommended to me by my friend Kari-Lise, who grew up in Norway. I invited Kari-Lise to join our book group, to give her perspective on the book, life in Norway, and Norwegian literature in general. It was Kari-Lise’s first visit to the island, and her first visit to any island in Casco Bay. She shared the background of other books by Petterson which related to the characters in “Out stealing horses.”

 We asked Kari-Lise for books by other Norwegian writers that she enjoys, and here are two of her recommendations:

The unseen, by Roy Jacobsen, which takes place on an island!

The bell in the Lake, by Lars Mytting, a historical epic novel.

This book is not by a Norwegian author, but it takes place in Norway (and is at LICL):

Norwegian by night, by Derek B. Miller, a debut novel.

And if these selections leave you wanting more, here’s a great website, Books from Norway

For those lucky enough to be traveling to Norway, here are some suggestions of books to read before you go.

And for the rest of us, until Norway is in our travel plans, we can enjoy reading about this beautiful northern country.

A small library on an island on the coast of Maine