Nancy Griffin – författare

As Down East Books celebrates 50 years of great book publishing, it seems appropriate to reflect uponthe contributions Maine has made that have had significant cultural and historical impacts on both theUnited States and the World. Did you know that the caterpillar tread, common on bulldozers and tanks,originated from the design of Lombard’s steam log hauler; or that the dry plate photographic process wascreated by the Stanley brothers, who also invented a speed-record setting steam powered car and whosesister, Chansonetta, was a well-known photographer in her own right? Maxim’s machine gun foreverchanged the practice of warfare. The humble peavey is a simple tool well-known to any forester orlumberjack. The ubiquitous lobster boat, the microwave oven, earmuffs, and Monopoly—all came fromthe minds of Mainers. This book is a celebration of Maine’s creative ingenuity—from the very large, suchas Portland Head Light and the Penobscot Narrows Bridge to the very small, such as the toothpick and theBean boot.

Mainers are known to be fiercely loyal, to their culture, history, and heritage, and to their favorite hometown sports heroes. Many of these heroes have gone on to have legendary careers on the national stage from Louis Sockalexis, the first Native American to play professional baseball, to Joan Benoit Samuelson, the first woman to win gold in an Olympic marathon. There’s Carlton Fisk, the great Boston Red Sox catcher; Seth Wescott, Olympic gold medal snowboarder; and Joey Gamache, junior lightweight world champion boxer. For every household name, there are countless local legends that are just as revered. Journalist Nancy Griffin presents a surprising range of athletes in this collection of short profiles and achievements. You’ll find superstars in everything from baseball and hockey to golf, shooting, and bowling.

Whoopie pies could be declared the official Maine dessert, and many assert that the rotund chocolate confection originated there, although Pennsylvania actually has a an equally strong claim to that honor. No matter-aficionados in both locales never tire of the giant sandwich cookies, and the comfort-food treats are enjoying a renaissance as bakeries offer gourmet versions on the Internet. This little book is a wide-ranging, lighthearted look at whoopie pies and the folks who love them. This book contains 16 recipes including healthy, gluten-free, and zucchini whoopie pies!