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See my brand new autographed gift book click here

Mother Come to the Window

Written by John Perrault

window_winter

SEACOAST POETRY

A new poem by Portsmouth laureate John Perrault composed for the poet's mother as she approached a century on this earth. (Read poem below)

Christmas Reflections from Mrs Partington

Written by BP Shillaber

toy_top VINTAGE CHRISTMAS

This little chestnut comes from Portsmouth-born writer BP Shillaber whose literary character Mrs. Partington was among the best known women in 19^th century America. Except that, like Mrs. Doubtfire, she was a man in petticoats. Shillaber’s “carpet bag” of humor includes this long forgotten holiday memory with her mischievous nephew Ike, dredged up for your reading pleasure. (Continued below)

Ballad of Bloody Fight Point

Written by BP Shillaber

Bloody_Fight_Point SEACOAST POEMS

What if they gave a war and nobody fought? It happened here early in the 17th century. The first white settlers in the Piscataqua region almost had a big battle over who owned what land. The battle almost took place at what is now Hilton Point in Newington, NH. THe name is ironic, and there is even a marker on the spot. The poem is by our old buddy BP Shillaber. (Continued below)

Thomas Laighton was Lord of the Isles

Written by Anonymous

SEACOAST POEMS

They called him the emperor of the Shoals, but his life story is still sketchy. Visitors who ferry to the Isles of Shoals today aboard the M/V Thomas Laighton may not give a thought to the enormous man with the same name who is buried there. His gigantic hotel is gone, but his huge influence still looms over these nine rocky islands. This anonymous poem appeared in his honor just before the Civil War. (Continued below)

Speaking of a Space for Faith

Written by Paul Wainwright
NH BOOKS Paul Wainwright shoots ancient spaces with an old view camera. His large-format photography (no digital, no color, all natural lighting) perfectly matches the colonial meetinghouses in his newest book. In this interview Wainwright talks about how and why he prefers to go slow ina fast world. (Continued below)

Hurricane Mia Launches

Written by Donna Seim and Susan Spellman
SEACOAST BOOKS Join local author Donna Seim, author, and Susan Spellman, illustrator, at the Dragon’s Nest, 31 Market Square, Newburyport, on June 26th from noon – 4:00 pm for the launch of the new middle reader novel, Hurricane Mia: A Caribbean Adventure. (Continued below)

Sand Sculpture Masters of Hampton Beach

Written by Seacoast Books

Sand Sculpting Masters of Hampton Beach

SEACOAST BOOKS

Take 300 tons of sand, add the talents of the most accomplished sand sculptors, mix in a generous helping of old-fashioned community hospitality and what do you get? You get a new book and calendar by the former editor of the Beach News of Hampton. (Read more below)

VISIT HAMPTON IN JUNE: This year's Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Competition begins Friday, June 18 when 300 tons of sand is delivered to Hampton Beach, and runs until June 30th, when the sculptures are taken down. The competition will run from June 24 to June 26.

For over ten years this signature June event on New Hampshire's Hampton Beach has grown in size and fame. The first professional sand-sculpting event in New England is currently among the Top 10 places on the globe where the winners go on to compete in the World Championship of sand sculpting.

John Hirtle, former editor and production manager of the Beach News has covered the event since the beginning. Those years are now collected in “Arti-Sands at Hampton Beach” highlighting the history behind the popular summer event. The now vanished art is the centerpiece of this 56-page book.

“There are not many books about Hampton Beach,” the author / photographer explains. “An event like the Master Sand Sculpting Competition, really needed something to show off all the really great sculptures that were made over the years.”

“Sand sculptures are monochromatic in nature,” Hirtle explains. “Just one color with a lot of shades and shadows that change as the sun rises and sets.”

“The trick is to adjust them [the photos] so the fine details in each sculpture show up just right.” Hirtle notes that the weather in June may not always cooperate, so some photos that look the best in black and white are drab when seen in color.

“Actually, overcast days work the best for taking photos of the sand sculptures, since color is not an issue,” Hirtle says. “Finding colorful photos that almost everyone could enjoy, now that was a challenge.”

But the challenge A companion full-color 16-month calendar featuring author's favorite photos is also on sale. During the twelve years he spent covering events at Hampton Beach, Hirtle says, this is the one event that stands out. Everyone can enjoy it.

“The businesses, the volunteers, the sculptors -- it's a group effort that pulls it all off. You don't see that happen very often any more.” The book is dedicated to all of the people who make the event possible.

And now, for the first time, the ephemeral art of the Hampton Beach are permanently preserved. Hirtle has conquered the sands of time. He has self-published the book and calendar using Lulu.com, a popular print-on-demand company. Each online order is individually printed and shipped from the publisher.

TO PREVIEW & PURCHASE Sand Sculpture book or calendar click here

SEACOAST BOOKS

In a Dry and Thirsty Land

Written by Duane E. Shaffer
NH BOOKS New Hampshire farmer Nehemiah Folsom is a decorated Civil War veteran and a loving father, but is he a murderer as well? Historian and author Duane E. Shaffer offers this sample chapter of his new novel on SeacoastNH.com. Click to read and then click to buy. (See sample below)

New England Wine Books Ripen

Written by Seacoast Books
SEACOAST BOOKS Few NH residents may know that the original settlers of Strawbery Banke set up a plantation in Portsmouth for the expressed purpose of searching for precious metals and growing grapes for wine. That experiemtn didn’t fly, but today New England (NH too) is gaining a reputation for its grape affairs, as these two books prove. (Continued below)

Seacoast Poems of John Albee

Written by John Albee
SEACOAST POETRY Talk about obscure! Submitted for your approval, 10 history poems by the Massachusetts snowbird who also penned the history of New Caslte, NH. Due largely to his association with Ralph Waldo Emerson, Harvard-educated John Albee moved from the ministry to writing history, poetry and nonfiction in the romantic style of the times.(click for 10 poems)