Photo by MAP graphic designer Michelle Hodgdon

Fiction

Bear on the Lake

A Maine Adventure Novel

by Charles Duffy

An elderly man recounts his Cold War adventure back in 1953. In a sealed-off government lake in Maine, he and his companions—a young Canadian vying to be the first female Mountie and a part-Abenaki Maine Guide—stumble upon a mysterious intruder. In 2014, the narrator revisits the lake and his old companions. They reminisce, debate, and deepen their memories.

Charles Duffy has published a biography of Pulitzer Prize winner Edwin O’Connor, author of The Last Hurrah. Forty years of vacationing in northern Maine prompted Mr. Duffy to write a Cold War thriller set on a mysterious off-limits lake.

Irish Timber

by Irene M. Drago

Inspired by true events, Irish Timber is a standalone novel and a follow-up to Lavinia Wren and the Sailmakers. In the summer of 1931, Susie Rowley travels to Ireland with her cousin, a friend, and the undoubtable Eliza Willey Walker. Eliza convinces the band of Yankee scholars to investigate the wreck of her grandfather’s ship, the Alfred D. Snow. When Susie falls for Hugh Larkin, a medical student from County Wexford, their quest takes a detour. Later, she returns to Dublin and takes a job at the national library working for Dr. Richard Hayes. The librarian is soon drafted by Irish military intelligence, and Susie, a gifted linguist, is asked to join him to catch a German spy. As war engulfs their world, Yankee and Irish families alike demonstrate the power of love and the enduring value of Irish timber.

Irene M. Drago resides in Bath, Maine, the City of Ships. She is the award-winning author of three historical novels, Daughters of Long Reach, The Maine Point, and Lavinia Wren and the Sailmakers. She also speaks three languages. During the Cold War, Drago honed her Russian skills by working for the DOD. Later, she taught Spanish in Chicago. Irene Murtagh Drago learned how to tell sea stories from her father, a chief petty officer who served on U.S. Navy ships from 1940 to 1980. Her paternal grandparents were born in Ireland, immigrating to America by way of Ellis Island when they were young adults. Her maternal grandparents were the children of Irish immigrants who crossed an ocean to escape the Great Hunger. Their voices bring a lilt to Irish Timber.

Biography/Memoir

On a Spiritual Path

My Labyrinthine Journey

by Carolyn Sanzone

The book portrays an evolution from established religion to a vibrant spirituality and the discovery that no one has a monopoly on goodness or faith. Readers are guided to seek their own path and find healing and forgiveness through careful examination of key life experiences. The author’s story will inspire those seeking to understand, embrace, and deepen their spiritual journey.

Carolyn Sanzone has spent a lifetime seeking her own spiritual center and helping clients discover pathways to their own transformation, make more intentional choices, and overcome limiting beliefs that shut them down. She has a master’s degree in theology and is certified both as a coach and labyrinth facilitator. She lives in Maine with her husband of 55 years.

These titles are available on the Maine Authors Publishing website! Click the titles or cover images above or select the link below to shop now.

Through the Eyes of Grief by Dona J. Parker

This title can be purchased from the Indie Author Books website!

by Kayla James, author of

The Chronicles of a Guinea Pig (Maine Authors Publishing, 2026)

Transitioning from teacher to author was more than a career move; it was a lesson in humility and the power of the "red pen."

For years, my life was defined by being at the front of the classroom. There is a certain kind of performance that comes with teaching; you are the one directing the energy, the one with the lesson plan, and the one holding the "red pen." I spent my days designing graded rubrics and encouraging my students to "embrace the process," telling them that growth often comes in pieces and that feedback is what gives our work meaning. It is easy to deliver those pearls of wisdom when you are the authority figure in the room. But when I signed the contract for The Chronicles of a Guinea Pig and officially transitioned into life as a full-time author, the roles flipped. Suddenly, I wasn’t the one giving the assignment; I was the one turned around in my chair, hoping I’d done the homework right.

Stepping into the publishing world felt like a total identity reassignment. I found myself on the other side of the desk, and let me tell you, the view is much more vulnerable from the student's perspective. This transition has been a humbling reminder that the most important part of being a student isn't just about absorbing new facts; it’s about the willingness to be unpolished at something until it becomes polished. It’s about accepting that being a beginner is simply the first step toward mastery.

I used to tell my students that feedback is what makes us appreciate our work and gives it meaning and accountability. Then, I received my first round of professional edits, and I suddenly found myself practicing what I always preached. Seeing my manuscript covered in suggestions and "track changes" felt exactly like getting a high-stakes term paper back in college. It was a stark reminder of how vulnerable it feels to put your hard work out there for critique. I realized that my students weren’t just being "sensitive" over the years; they were being brave. Publishing forced me to find that same brand of bravery, to see a critique not as a failure, but as the study guide for my next draft.

Now, I’m back in that "study hall" mindset. Instead of a classroom, I have a desk in my cozy home office here in Maine, surrounded by my own writing and a growing to-do list. I’ve had to master a brand-new curriculum: the complexities of distribution logistics, the strategy of marketing, and the specific art of the author's visit.

Just like a student prepping for finals, there are moments of total overwhelmingness where the learning curve feels like a mountain. But then, there are those "lightbulb moments"—the thrill when a chapter finally clicks into place. It reminded me that being a student isn't a life stage you outgrow; it’s a mindset you maintain. Being an author has stripped away the comfort of being the "one who knows" and replaced it with the daily, chaotic excitement of being the "one who grows."

Don't Drop Dad (Maine Authors Publishing, 2024) by Dena Polko is one of the Maine Public Book Club: All Books Considered picks for 2026. Don't Drop Dad will be the featured read during the month of December.

Short story “A Grandma Finds a Little Mission in Life” by Kathy Eliscu, author of Not Even Dark Chocolate Can Fix This Mess (Maine Authors Publishing, 2015) and Brain Tumor: A Love Story (Maine Authors Publishing, 2024) is featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Being Grandma.

The Maine Authors Publishing office had a surprise visitor during the first week of March! The porcupine, whom the staff named Quilliam, enjoyed eating bark and buds off the pear tree that overhangs the parking lot. He has been a consistent visitor this month, so we are waiting for his book pitch... Any book title ideas?

(Photos by MAP graphic designer Michelle Hodgdon)

Interested in getting your book published? Join us for our Welcome to Cooperative-Style Publishing with Maine Authors Publishing class, held via Zoom on the first Friday of each month! During the class, attendees meet other emerging authors, get to know some of our staff, and learn about the publishing process.

Upcoming Class Dates

Friday, April 3rd at 10:30am until 12:15pm

Friday, May 1st at 10:30am until 12:15pm

Friday, June 5th at 10:30am until 12:15pm

Friday, July 10th at 10:30am until 12:15pm

Friday, August 7th at 10:30am until 12:15pm

You may also request an estimate for printing and design costs at no charge nor obligation via the submission page on our website.



Please reach out to info@maineauthorspublishing.com to sign up for an upcoming class or for more information.

"I want to thank you and your team for bringing such excitement and joy to my dream of publishing a book. The orientation class [on] Friday was fantastic! The whole staff was informative, patient, and kind."

—J. L., 2025 class participant

Think back on a memory. It could be good, bad, bizarre, or mundane. If there are other people in this memory, write from one of their perspectives. How did they perceive the situation? What were their emotions surrounding the situation? Did their viewpoint differ from your own? If so, in what ways and why? Now write about the memory through their perspective. The more you expound on and understand the situation through their eyes, the closer you come to creating a sound and fleshed-out character.

Write on, Maine!

MAP authors: If you see your book in a local bookstore, snap a photo, send it to us, and we may include it in our monthly newsletter and on social media.