50 Galleys in 50 Minutes

I visited my first American Library Association conference in Boston to sign Advanced Reader Copies (in other words I went to the ALA to autograph ARCs).

The only glitch I encountered was that I was scheduled to sign in the Macmillan booth while Al Gore was giving a speech in the ballroom upstairs. (Thanks a lot, Mr. Vice President.) Nevertheless I managed to sign 50 ARCs in 50 hyperactive minutes.

I didn't get to see much of the event beyond touring the exhibition hall. But I spoke to several librarians about how their profession continues to change as the computer eclipses the printed book and more and more of our conversations about reading take place online. There's no question we're living through bibliotechnical times. You do wonder what the future of libraries will be as e-books proliferate.

The librarians I met were, without exception, interested and interesting people. If there's hope for libraries to remain important community centers and repositories of learning, I trust these bright minds to find the way. We authors are counting on them.

Maine Guide Tip

I got out of the habit of posting my Registered Maine Guide tips, but here's a fun one you can try in your own kitchen.

Say you're on a camping trip and you forget your toothpaste. As counterintuitive as it seems, you can use strawberries to clean stains from your teeth and keep them white. 

You can also use ashes from a wood fire to brush your teeth, but that's a considerably less tasty alternative. Hardwood yields more potassium hydroxide than softwood, so toss a piece of oak on the fire pit.

Monofilament fishing line can also work as dental floss, by the way.

Publishers Weekly Pick of the Week

How do you know you're having a run of amazingly good luck? When Publishers Weekly chooses your debut novel for a ★ starred review from among tens of thousands of other new titles submitted for their consideration—and then decides to make your book its designated Pick of the Week:

Down East editor-in-chief Doiron takes a provocative look at the ties between fathers and sons, unconditional love, and Maine’s changing landscape in his outstanding debut....Equally a story of relationships and an outdoor adventure, this evocative thriller is sure to put Doiron on several 2010 must-read lists

I have been overwhelmed by the positive early reviews of The Poacher's Son. This experience is what most first-time authors dream about. I've worked hard, but I've also been tremendously fortunate.