THOMASTON – Maine Authors Publishing will host the 5th annual Maine Authors Book Festival on Saturday, August 24, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at a new location – the Thomaston Public Library.
The festival is open to the public and admission is free. Parking is available at the library and nearby (please note parking signs).
Maine Authors Publishing provides the following event description for the event.
Meet more than 100 talented authors from across Maine (full list available at www.MaineBookFestival.com) from a variety of genres ready to sign and sell their books. This year’s pirate-themed event (costumes optional!) promises fun for the whole family. Kids will love the treasure hunt and the Coastal Children’s Museum’s children’s area, while everyone can enjoy live music from the Shank Painters and a pirate costume contest at 12:15 p.m. (win great prizes for kids and adults). Food will be sold at Station 118, and ice cream will be provided by Stone Fox Farm Creamery. A portion of the proceeds from book sales and all raffle ticket sales will be donated to the Coastal Children’s Museum and the Thomaston Public Library.
From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., children’s author Susan Vaughan presents “Piracy and the Maine Coast.” Most pirate adventures took place in the waters far south of Maine, but did you know that long ago there were pirates who sailed the waters of Maine? Join author Vaughan for a quick look at piracy on the Maine coast, pirate hat making, and a reading from her new book, “Stowaways: A Maine Pirate Tale.”
From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., author Philip C. Baker presents “How to Write a Novel; It’s Easy!” All you need is a “what if machine.” Just type “what if?” What if a frail old Cuban fisherman hooked a huge fish and fought against nature to land the fish? Ding! Pulitzer Prize. What if right and wrong were reversed and morality turned on its head while celebrating an Italian-American family and the family business? Ding, ding! A runaway best-selling novel that was then turned into one of the greatest trilogies in film history. Hemingway and Puzo merely fired up the what if machine. Baker explains the simple methods needed to write the novel of your dreams. Drawing on the learning experiences of writing Hunger Hill, Philip offers humorous insight into writing a book, specifically the novel.
From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., author Deborah Gould presents “Historical Fiction: A Conversation with Deborah Gould.” What is historical fiction, anyway? What turns it from a dry narrative of dates and achievements into a fascinating, vibrant work of literature? In other words, what makes it come alive? Let’s talk about the interweaving of social history, archival records, and the power of imagination in a novel about the people who lived before us.
Local restaurant Station 118 in Thomaston will offer a custom menu for the event. FMI: www.station118.com. Searsport-based Stone Fox Farm Creamery will offer homemade ice cream for purchase. FMI: www.stonefoxfarmcreamery.com.
Shank Painters are a pirate trio from Portland, Maine. Their repertoire consists of accordion, guitar, vocals, banjo and drums and includes traditional sea shanties, tavern songs and originals. FMI: www.shankpainters.com.
Maine Authors Publishing has been bringing local businesses, readers and authors together since 2009. As a cooperative publisher, their goal is to support local independent authors throughout the publishing process with affordable services such as editing, design, printing, a trade catalog, distribution and marketing support. Only a percentage of books are accepted under the Maine Authors Publishing imprint after review. For more information, visit www.MaineAuthorsPublishing.com.
For more information, visit www.MaineBookFestival.com.
