May 15-17, 2008, Monument Square, Downtown Portland

Three days, more than 50 authors, illustrators and performers.  The Maine Festival of the Book brings together writers, readers, and families – young and old alike – to enjoy readings, panel discussions, book signings, and performances.  With the exception of Opening Night, festival events are first-come, first-serve, unticketed seating, and are free!

Festival headquarters on Friday with be at the Portland Public Library and on Saturday at the tent on Monument Square, where there will be authors signings and children’s activities.  Festival information, books and merchandise may be found there unless otherwise noted. Programs are held concurrently at locations on Monument Square, downtown Portland.  Programs are one-hour long with an author signing immediately following.  Books by presenting authors may be purchased at the program site.

Festival Schedule at a Glance
Author/Presenter Biographical Information

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Thursday evening May 15
Opening Night to benefit Maine Reads
Merrill Auditorium

David Baldacci

6pm   A Reception with the Authors
A chance to socialize with the authors presenting throughout the weekend! Heavy hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, and complimentary orchestra seating for the 7:30 pm readings. Tickets ($50pp) are limited and available by calling Maine Reads 207 871-9100 or responding by mail with the RSVP Card

7:30pm  “Life Between the Pages,” bestselling author David Baldacci shares anecdotes from the author’s literary life. Also, Longfellow-inspired dramatic readings by poet Annie Finch and performer Michael Maglaras and remarks by Governor John E. Baldacci and First Lady Karen M. Baldacci.  For general admission tickets to the 7:30 pm readings only ($10pp) go to www.porttix.com or the box office at Merrill Auditorium.

FRIDAY, May 16

Noon  Portland Public Library, Rines Auditorium
Seeking the Sacred Inside the Secular with Rev. Peter Panagore
After reading from his book, Two Minutes for God, the Rev. Peter Panagore will discuss his broadcast work and the art of writing inspirational stories based on life experiences.

Noon   Maine Historical Society
Ships of Mercy: The True Story of the Rescue of the Greeks, Smyrna, September 1922
Christos Papoutsy will present a reading with slides highlighting the key points of the rewrite of history. (Presented by Paideia of Maine.)

1:45 pm   Portland Public Library, Rines Auditorium
Dig Into the Sands of Ancient Babylon
Peter Clenott reads from Hunting the King, his new thriller set in Iraq during the American invasion.                       

1:45 pm   Maine Historical Society
What Crazy Rose Gardeners Can Teach Us About Obsession
Aurelia C. Scott, author of Otherwise Normal People: Inside the Thorny World of Competitive Rose Gardening, will share some of her literary and horticultural adventures, and discuss what she learned about all kinds of obsession after spending time with rose-addicts.  

3:30 pm   Portland Public Library, Rines Auditorium
New Fiction from India:  Servants and Masters
National Endowment for the Arts award-winning translator Sagaree Sengupta will discuss the soar in popularity in new fiction from India and read from the English version of the new Hindi novel by Krishna Baldev Vaid, The Diary of a Maidservant, a teenaged domestic maid’s delicate and sensuous diary entries.                                  

3:30pm   Maine Historical Society
Picturing Local History
As the latest of five Arcadia pictorial histories which Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr. has either authored or co-authored, Victorian Augusta (2008) provides useful insights into the researching, writing, and presentation of local pictorial histories in Maine.  A slide show accompanies this talk.

SATURDAY, May 17

9:30 am – 4 pm   Portland Public Library, Portland Room, 3rd floor
Abraham A. Schechter, Special Collections Librarian, will be restoring books and maps and answering conservation questions.

Amy Sutherland

9:30 am   Portland Public Library, Rines Auditorium
What Shamu Taught Me about Life, Love and Marriage:
A Reading with Q & A
Amy Sutherland reads from her new book based on her entertaining New York Times essay that launched an outpouring of responses, a movie option, and an appearance on The Today Show.

9:30 am   Portland Public Library, Room 316
Dishing up Maine
Author Brooke Dojny will describe how she went about researching her newest cookbook, which focuses on using Maine’s new artisanal products as well as traditional and classic dishes.  Sample tastings accompany this talk!                                 

9:30 am   Maine Historical Society
Down to the Sea in Ink: Today’s Maritime Writing
A panel discussion about maritime fiction and nonfiction with four authors manning that literary boat.  Join authors James Nelson, William White, William Hammond, and Lincoln Paine for a lively discussion.

Crystal Zevon

        

11:15 am   Portland Public Library, Rines Auditorium
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon
Crystal Zevon will read from her biography of the late, great Warren Zevon, her life-long companion. Janet Maslin of the New York Times listed the book on her Top 10 Books of 2007.

11:15 am   Portland Public Library, Room 316
Literary Adventurers: A Reading and Discussion with Ellen Cooney & Ron Currie, Jr.
Ellen Cooney and Ron Currie, Jr. will read from their new novels Lambrusco and God Is Dead and discuss their adventures as literary trailblazers.

11:15 am   Maine Historical Society
At Home by the Sea: Houses Designed for Living at the Water’s Edge
Writer Bruce Snider and photographer Brian Vanden Brink celebrate seaside living in a slide show and talk about their new book, At Home by the Sea: Houses Designed for Living at the Water’s Edge.

Elizabeth Strout

1:30 pm   Portland Public Library, Rines Auditorium
A Reading with Elizabeth Strout
Elizabeth Strout, bestselling author of Amy and Isabelle, will read from her new fiction Olive Kitteridge, a collection of linked stories that are set in a small coastal town in Maine.

1:30 pm   Portland Public Library, Room 316
Dysfunction Junction
Carrie Jones (Tips on Having a Gay (Ex)Boyfriend) and Robin Merrow MacCready (Buried) discuss what draws them to the edgy side of young adult fiction.

1:30 pm   Maine Historical Society
Poetry Then and Now
Enjoy a contemporary/classic poetry combination as poet Annie Finch and recording artist Michael Maglaras present a reading of Finch’s award-winning poetry interspersed with selections by Longfellow.

Brian Wood

3:15 pm   Portland Public Library, Rines Auditorium
Comics and Conversation with Brian Wood
Brian Wood, the Eisner-Award-winning creator of the comics works Demo, DMZ, and Local, will discuss his work in a slide presentation.  (Presented by Casablanca Comics.)

3:15 pm   Portland Public Library, Room 316
Mystery Writing Panel: Sinister Secrets of Mystery Writers’ Research
Mystery writers J.S. Borthwick, Jerry Boyle, Rosemary Herbert, and Lea Wait share the secrets of their research, and other insights into how to plot a gripping Maine mystery.                                               

3:15 pm   Maine Historical Society
Off the Grid Press Reading: Henry Braun and Lee Sharkey
Maine poets Henry Braun and Lee Sharkey read from their recently-published poetry collections.                                   

Poetry Party
5-7 pm  Eastland Hotel
Join us for readings and a reception (cash bar) to celebrate the launch of  the WMPG Poetry Series radio debut with Rob Rosenthal and Betsy Scholl and friends.  (Presented in conjunction with WMPG, Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance, and Port Veritas.) 

7- 10pm   Eastland Hotel
Poetry Slam (Presented by Port Veritas.)

Children’s and Young Adult Program Schedule: Saturday, May 17

All children’s and young adult special author presentations will take place in the Youth Room of the Portland Public Library on Saturday, May 17. Most programs are 45 minutes long and will be followed by author signings.  Throughout the day, under the tent on Monument Square, children’s authors will be signing and free activities for children will be offered. 

10 am   Author Rochelle Draper will read and discuss The Stone Wall Dragon.

Phillip Hoose

11am   Author Phillip Hoose will give an hour-long presentation for children with music, storytelling, and conversation focused on his award-winning book Hey Little Ant (www.heylittleant.com).

1 pm   Author Lynn Plourde will read from her new picture book biography Maine’s Own Margaret Chase Smith.

3 pm   Author Maria Padian will read from her new book, Brett McCarthy:Work in Progress, a young adult novel. 

Signing Schedule: Saturday, May 17
Under the tent on Monument Square.
Presenting authors may also be signing under the tent following their program signings at the Portland Public Library and Maine Historical Society.

Ongoing:

Rotating signings and children’s activities under tent on Monument Square on Saturday, May 17.

Little Festival of the Unexpected, Portland Stage Company
The Little Festival (May 12-17) is a week-long event dedicated to the public readings of innovative and new plays. 

Directions to Monument Square
Take the Maine Turnpike/I 95 to Route 295. Exit Route 295 at Franklin St. (Exit 7). Go up Franklin St. to the fourth light.  Turn right onto Congress St.  Take Congress St. to Elm St. and Monument Square will be in front of you. Several parking garages surround the Square (two on Elm St.) and there is street parking available too. 

View Larger Map

Watch for festival programs to air on MPBN! (http://www.mpbn.net/press/The-Maine-Festival-of-the-Books.html)

The Maine Festival of the Book gratefully acknowledges the support of its sponsors.
Sponsors
Ocean Properties, Ltd
FairPoint Communications
Irving Woodlands
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local Union 567
Casella Waste Systems
Brookfield Power
Plum Creek
National Semiconductor
Dead River Company
Maine Arts Commission
Maine Humanities Council
Portland Magazine
Shipyard Brewing Company
Martin’s Point Health Care
Maine Credit Union League
Friends of Scarborough Library
MaineHealth
L.L. Bean
AirTran Airways
Portland Harbor Hotel
Maine Office of Tourism

Bookstores
Longfellow Books
Books, etc.
Casablanca Comics

Media Sponsors
Maine Public Broadcasting Network
Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram
Bangor Daily News
Kennebec Journal
The Forecaster

Poster art: Siri Beckman

FESTIVAL OPPORTUNITIES

Participation Information 2008
Authors and Other Presenters
Presenters for the 2008 Maine Festival of the Book are set, but there will be opportunities next year. 2008 author forms will be placed on the web site in fall 2008. Book Signing Author Form 2008 (full)

Volunteers and Sponsors
We always welcome new sponsors and volunteers.  Please go to the appropriate web pages on Maine Reads for further information.
Be a Sponsor
Be a Festival Volunteer

Details about the Maine Festival of the Book 2008 will be posted starting this winter. In the meantime, learn more about the Maine Festival of the Book by reading about our past success.

Past Festivals

Maine Festival of the Book 2007
Thanks to everyone who attended the Maine Festival of the Book 2007 and to our wonderful presenters, volunteers, and sponsors for making the event possible. More than 2000 people attended the festival in this our inaugural year.

If you missed the festival or wish to revisit it, go to the website of Maine Public Broadcasting Network and watch tapes of selected festival programs.