Here it is: the cover of fifth book in the Mike Bowditch series, The Bone Orchard, coming July 15, 2014.
Toronto Star: "Meticulously Observed and Gracefully Written"
The Toronto Star has published an absoluting glowing review of Massacre Pond, which came as an early Christmas present. I even got top billing over Michael Connelly:
The new book is Doiron’s fourth in his meticulously observed and gracefully written Bowditch series. Massacre Pond’s difference from the earlier books is a matter of degree. It packs more power in describing the tensions between Maine’s environmentalists and its ordinary residents who pillage the landscape in order to feed their families.
Doiron is so persuasive in explaining the mindsets of Maine’s rugged individualists of all inclinations that even city slickers among his readers can’t help feeling dragged into a conflict that could save or doom the state’s natural character.
Thank you for the kind words, Jack Batten.
I'm Not Dead
Not a day goes by when someone doesn't arrive at this Web site by typing in "Paul Doiron Obituary." This leads me to believe that across North America men named Paul Doiron are dropping like flies. The alternative is that someone is fearing (or maybe hoping?) that I recently came to a bad end. I'd like to clear up any confusion in the latter instance:
Update on 2013-12-24 16:03 by Paul Doiron
I feel happy! I feel happy!
Here's what I sound like giving an interview way too early in the A.M.
In case you've ever wondered. This was my recent appearance on 94.9 WHOM's Morning Show with Sandra and Teddy, talking about Massacre Pond.
I even look sleepy in the photo.
The Battle Over a Maine Woods National Park
If you've read the author's note in Massacre Pond, you know that the controversy over whether the federal government should create a national park in the Maine North Woods is a real one.
The area around Grand Lake Stream (i.e. my fictional Moosehorn National Park) has been conserved by the Downeast Lakes Land Trust. But the fate of the region between the East Branch of the Penobscot River and the Quebec border remains a subject of heated debate.
Maine Public Radio's "Maine Calling" recently tackled the subject. Here's the program.
Ever since Massacre Pond came out, people have asked me my opinion on the matter. My answer has been the same: you should read the novel. Not being a politician, I am under no obligation to give yes or no answers to anyone who demands me to take a partisan stance for his or her own political purposes.
But if it helps, I subscribe to Andre Gide's observation: "“The color of truth is grey.”