The Maine Authors Book Festival, hosted by Maine Authors Publishing, celebrates the state’s local, independent authors. Cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, the 2nd annual Maine Authors Book Festival returns returns in 2021. Set to resume its original program from last year, there’s also the addition of fellow publisher, Tisbury House. Proceeds from the event will be donated in support of the Coastal Children’s Museum and the Harriet P. Henry Center for the Book, the programming arm of the Maine Humanities Council.
Authors & Activities
Although the list of authors is pending, the event is sure to please literary fans from near and far. In keeping with tradition, tents will be set up to host author signings, presentations, and a special children’s area. In addition to books for sale, the organizers have invited local food trucks to provide refreshment, and local musicians, Castlebay, to provide entertainment.
Over 30 local authors were present in 2019, and plans call for at least that many this year’s event. A presentation by Jeffrey H. Ryan, author of “Hermit: The Mysterious Life of Jim Whyte”, was one of the highlights of that fest.
Maine authors, those native to the area and the many who visited or relocated to the region for inspiration, span the genres from children’s and young adult to poetry, anthology, memoir, fiction, non-fiction, thriller, and Maine-themed. Among Maine’s most famous authors, of course, are Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, born and raised in Maine, along with Stephen King, well-known for his horror and suspense novels.
Though not native to Maine, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry David Thoreau were both inspired to create noteworthy works of literature as a result of spending time in the state. Stowe’s former home in Brunswick, now owned by Bowdoin College, is a popular destination for historic walking tours of the area.
Closer to home, the board of directors of the Edna St. Vincent Millay House in Rockland Maine, is currently forging a fund-raising effort to preserve the birthplace of its native poet. Plans include restoring the interior of the home. Eventually, partnering with universities and cultural organizations will offer educational and literary programs.
Time & Location
Held in Thomaston, Maine, the festival runs from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 28, 2021, with parking complements of the Henry Knox Museum.
Festival Lodging
Be sure to book your stay with us at our Rockland Maine bed and breakfast soon if you plan to attend. We’re located in the heart of Rockland’s lovely historic town. We’re conveniently close to the action on Main Street and the harbor front. Pick up a signed copy of a native Maine author’s book at the Book Festival. Then grab a comfy spot on the porch or in the yard and read to your heart’s content.
July 2021