Moxietown pix

[The Moxie Man and I, giving "the finger" (the "Moxie finger" that is]
[Moxie world h'quarters in Lisbon Falls, aka Moxietown"]
[No, please don't take my picture (dig that Moxie orange]

[Moxie window at Maine Art Glass Studio, Lisbon Falls]

Was in Lisbon Falls (aka Moxietown) a week ago, involved in a photo shoot, for the new book. These are some digital shots that my son took. I'll have some much better photos that were taken by a professional photographer that will probably be used for the cover, the book, as well as marketing materials.

Photos of Central/Western Maine

[The view from Route 27, in New Sharon]
[Creative spelling in Norridgewock]
[The economic realities of many in rural America]

One of the privileges of the work that I do, is being able to travel to the various communities I serve in Area III, outside of Lewiston/Auburn.

Each of the five counties that make up Central/Western Maine is so very different than the others. In Androscoggin, primarily because the twin cities of L-A (It’s Happening Here), optimism abounds. The economy is better here, than probably any other part of Maine, save the greater-Portland area. A case could be made, in fact that L-A has experienced the state’s most dynamic economic growth over the past five years.

Leaving my office in Lewiston and driving west to Rumford, Farmington, or Skowhegan, the economic challenges and the struggles of rural America to adapt to the changes in the 21st century economy become apparent.

[A Skowhegan landmark]

While some choose to highlight the negative aspects of our state, I still find reason to be optimistic, and I’m not a “glass half full kind of guy.” Maybe my optimism is fueled by the opportunity I have to meet people that care deeply about Maine and the communities they represent; the passion of a chamber director in Waterville, an economic development director in Somerset County, whose quiet confidence and unassuming ways have won the respect of the people he represents. In Rumford, a core group of people are doing their darndest to turn things around and root out those who care more about power, than the people, as well as counter the deliberately false reporting of the daily newspaper, by becoming the media. Maybe it’s nothing more than having the chance to walk around downtown Skowhegan and see the wonderful architecture, the ruggedness of the falls and then, having a few free minutes to visit the Margaret Chase Smith Library for the first time.

[A library visit to learn more about one of Maine's great people]

College professors, TV talking heads and NPR reporters can sound Maine’s death knell and paint a bleak future for our state, but I choose to believe that the special quality of people that don’t always make the evening news will be the ones that help turn things around.

Stories about Moxie

I am in the midst of a new book project that will be tied to Moxie, the soft drink. Like the first book, which tapped into the fondness people had for baseball from another era, this one will capture life in a small Maine town.

Since the town that I know best is my hometown of Lisbon Falls and Lisbon Falls is the epicenter of the Moxie universe at the moment (with its annual Moxie Festival, in July), what better way to entice readers than to blend aspects of Moxie, memoir and a little Maine history thrown in, to boot?

Moxie Matters: Life's Beginnings in a Small Maine Town will be out in full-length in September. I am also planning to release a commemorative, 25th anniversary book during Moxie Festival. This will include the first concise and semi-comprehensive history of all you'd ever want to know about Moxie, including for the first time, how Lisbon Falls got dragged into the Moxie vortex.

I am currently seeking stories about Moxie that might end up being included in a chapter that will gather the best of these. So far, I've already gotten some great stories/anecdotes about Moxie from a variety of Mainers (and a few outside of our fair state), with a couple being of the semi-famous variety.

If you have a worthwhile Moxie story that you'd like to share, please send it to moxiestories08 (at) yahoo (dot) com. I'm particularly interested in stories from people who don't live in Maine, but love Moxie all the same.

I look forward to reading them and choosing amidst the Moxie bounty.

On the road again (think Canned Heat)

Back in Waterville, at my favorite library. Actually, I've warmed to the place and realize that you don't bite the hand that provides free Wi-Fi.

Just finished a work-related post and thought I'd have a bit of fun and update Words Matter.

I think I'm 'gonna find some BBQ in Waterville and report out at a later date.

Another Titlepage.tv episode

I just completed my second episode of Titlepage.tv (their actual episode #2), which highlighted four provocative young writers; Julie Klam, Sloane Crosley, Keith Gessen (Franzen's a fan--I'm impressed) and Ceridwin Dovey, who had her first book published while a doctoral student, in anthropology.

All had an interesting take on books, particularly Klam (who actually had a gig at one point before writing her book, doing pop-up videos on VH1), talking about the completion aspect of writing a book. She spoke about books being different than other things (blogs, music videos, MP3s), “…a book actually happens; there’s something so satisfying (in the process) … if you sell your proposal, you actually have a book.”

It might end up on the remainder table, or discounted at Reny’s, or Marden’s, but you have a physical product that is validation of your efforts.