News
September, 2025
The MWPA’s annual “Crime Wave” was held in Portland’s iconic Mechanics' Hall (an appropriate venue, as the building is said to house ghosts on the vacant fourth floor). The event featured Maine Crime Master and author Paul Doiron, who shared that one of his driving motivations to write was his frustration with not seeing Maine authentically represented in fiction. As with all of us in attendance, it’s so critical as Maine authors to share with readers that our state consists of many distinct and unique communities, people, and experiences.
The conference also featured several roundtables, facilitated by Maine authors, on topics ranging from The Blueprint for Murder, Choosing Your Weapons, and First Drafts that Kill, to High Stakes Thrillers and the Supernatural. Our Crime Wave wrapped up with a large—and rather raucous—author panel, with participants grilling each other on the worst advice they’ve ever received, superstitions, and what favorite villain they’d like to become.
The biggest takeaway I gleaned from the day—in addition to making some wonderful new connections—was the repeated reminder to bring our own true self to our writing. We are unique as writers, and that distinct voice should always be reflected in what we bring to our readers!
Summer, 2025
This season’s Book Club kicked off at Saco’s Dyer Library with members sharing our favorite summer reads. Our tastes were decidedly eclectic, ranging from Asimov’s classic Foundation and Schwab’s Darker Side of Magic, to the much lighter Stuck up and Stupid by Angourie & Kate Rice and anything by the amazing author Freya Sampson.
Not surprising for a group of Maine readers, water was a predominant theme for many of our books: The Covenant of Water (Abraham Verghese), A Marriage at Sea (Sophie Elmhirst), Deep Water (James Bradley), and The Sirens (Emilia Hart).
Our group’s favorite books? The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune and How to Read a Book by Monica Wood (a Maine author!). I would add to that list my two summer favorites: the very timely Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu, which explores many of the challenges educators are currently facing in today’s polarized environment, and the darkly humorous Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Australian humorist Benjamin Stevenson.
Happy Reading!
