ALIVE TO THIS:  ESSAYS ON LIVING FULLY BY 20 MAINE WRITERS

Edited by Kara Douglas and Erin O’Mara

Described by novelist Susan Conley as “a tender, trenchant collection,” Alive to This is an anthology of essays by writers from all parts of Maine who share their experiences of living fully –  moments of joy, exuberance or transcendence, places that restore their spirits, work that engages them, hardship and sorrow they have endured. Present throughout is the state of Maine – its history, landscape, and people.

“Alive to This is a literary welcome wagon that introduces us to a community of writers who share their joy and grief, their youth and age, their attachment to the landscape and to those who cohabit this wonderful space we call Maine. How lucky we are to be “alive” with them in the essays that light up these pages.

– Ellen Goodman

Contributors to Alive to This include:

Photographer Cate Power (formerly Wnek)

Novelists Dave Patterson, Kate Kennedy and Nicole D’Entremont

Memoirists Michael Burke and Mary Cushman

Short story writers Reza Jalali and Robert Diamante

Poets Gibson Fay-LeBlanc, Kathleen Sullivan, and Kara Douglas

Essayists Joan Silverman, Annaliese Jakimides, and Jennifer Craig

Filmmaker and lyricist Kerem Durdag

Architect Ben Jacks

Art writer Carl Little

Science writer Dana Wilde

Columnist Erin O’Mara

Children’s book author Katie Coppens

Chainsaw sawyer  j.j. bolton