“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” ― L.P. Hartley, The Go-Between “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” ― William Faulkner, Requiem for a Nun […]
Can we understand the past? Tip #5 of writing historical novels
When carpal tunnel strikes a writer: Cat Valente shares her pain
As someone who writes extensively on a keyboard and who has experienced the numbness, buzzing, and pain of early phases of carpal tunnel syndrome, I still can’t imagine how advanced stages feel. […]
Somewhat Annual Valentine Poetry Reading
As the moon waxes toward full, the somewhat annual Valentine Poetry Reading coalesces with Stone Boat Poetry’s February meeting for a Wednesday, February 12th event. Thanks to Suzanne Parrott, Jesse Mantsch, and […]
Archive diving: Third of five tips for writing a historical novel
Inspired by an interview with Nicole d’ Entremont about her WWI novel “A Generation of Leaves,” Peaks Island Press is offering five tips to get you writing your historical novel. The first […]
Tip #4 on writing a historical novel: Sort through secondary sources
The first three of five tips on writing a historical novel focused on primary sources – Tip #1 family stories (oral history), Tip #2 historic sites, and Tip #3 archives. This article […]
Jim Hayman: Looking back at the island
What makes an island community gasp, collectively? When an islander sells their dream house or cottage and becomes — cough — a mainlander. Author Jim Hayman has made that plunge (pardon the […]
Visiting Historic Sites: Nicole d’Entremont and 5 tips for writing a historical novel
If you plan to write a historical novel, then also plan on fueling your writer’s imagination with a number of historical sources. Following an interview with Nicole d’Entremont, Peaks Island Press decided […]
Nicole d’Entremont on family stories and 5 tips for writing an historical novel
Stories. Family stories. The ones spoken across dinner tables and at bedsides. These have the power to send us on journeys of mind, body, and heart. While my father’s WWII stories of […]
Feed your muse: plenty of inspiration awaits in Maine
My last post spoke of new beginnings in our literary lives and I’m clinging to that spirit with this piece on New Year inspiration. Since many of the online resources on Peaks […]
Book Love: An island tradition welcomes babies
New Year is a time for sweeping gestures that clear off the surfaces of our lives, clarifying what we could have done, if only our daily habits hadn’t hijacked our best intentions. […]
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