SEACOAST BOOKS

It has finally happened. We are receiving press releases for new books, not from publishers and promoters, but from the authors themselves. Case in point is the new novella When Two Women Die, a history-paranormal-romance-crime novella about Marblehead, Massachusetts. You can own it for $2.99 and receive it wirelessly in 60 seconds on devices that sell for as little as $115 -- or your phone. No agents. No editors. No trees. We asked the author about her experience. (Continued below)

SEACOAST BOOKS

Historian Jeremy D’Entremont has a new book and we have the introduction.  This volume, first of a planned series, focuses on a dozen dramatic shipwrecks from among 700 in the Gulf of Maine. In the tradition of Edward Rowe Snow the author tells salty tales of Maine wrecks including The Nottingham Galley, The Angel Gabriel, the Penobscot Expedition, Royal Tar, Steamer Bohemian and more. (Continued below)

RiverRun Bookstore and the Portsmouth Athenaeum present local author Rodney K. Watterson.  Rodney will talk about his new book, 32 in '44: Building the Portsmouth Submarine Fleet in World War II. The Portsmouth Athenaeum will hold a reception across the street after the event that begins at 7pm on March 31, 2011. (Continued below)  

NH BOOKS

Veteran political reporter Shirley Elder Lyons, working with Elizabeth MacGregor Bates, has produced a book acclaimed as “fascinating” and a “great read”. It’s called Over the Hill Hikers, and is published by Peter E. Randall Publisher of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. (Continued below)

SEACOAST POETRY GUIDE

The more we delve into Celia Thaxter’s poem about little Piccola, the more we discover how popular this poem used to be. We’re trying to bring it back. So here is a bonus Web page with additional illustrations from books that featured the holiday poem. Below you’ll also find a detailed study guide for homeschoolers who may wish to use the poem with students.  (Continued below) 

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)  

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)

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)

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)