An insider’s look at the daily lives of Maine’s lobster fishermen. What is it like to live and work in a lobster fishing village in one of the most remote parts of Maine? The extreme weather conditions of the Maine coast, unreliable fishing seasons and an ever-present element of danger are just a few of the challenges encountered by lobster fishermen. They must adapt to constant change and balance exploiting the natural resource for personal profit with a duty to conserve lobster stocks for future generations. Despite the challenges, most would not trade the benefits of their job—from the independence it offers to unique pastimes like lobster boat racing. These fishermen aren’t just the masters of their ships, they are the captains of their souls. From a family of four generations of lobster fishermen, Christina Lemieux Oragano provides a glimpse inside these lobstering communities and celebrates it for those lucky enough to live it—the trials, triumphs and even a few of her favorite lobster recipes. “Her first book is a comprehensive, authentic, and honest insider’s look at the life of a Maine lobsterman. The book covers the strategy involved (they don’t just plunk those traps anywhere), the complexities of the market, the perils of the profession, the finer points of lobster-boat design, and even the unwritten rules that lobstermen use to police their waters (they are strictly, if unofficially, enforced).” —Colby Magazine “With an abundance of romanticized and dramatic fishing stories on the shelves, Christina wanted to tell the story in an accurate way and felt a responsibility not just to the fishermen but to her family also.” —Machias Valley Observer “Christina lived in Cutler, worked in the industry and then interviewed a number of people to make this book possible. My first question for her is when will the next book come out?” —Maine Coastal News

In Downeast, Gigi Georges follows five girls as they come of age in one of the most challenging and geographically isolated regions on the Eastern seaboard. Their stories reveal surprising truths about rural America and offer hope for its future. “It’s almost impossible not to care about these fierce young women and cheer for their hard-won successes” (Kirkus) in this “heartfelt portrait” and “worthy tribute” (Publishers Weekly). Nestled in Maine’s far northeast corner, Washington County sits an hour’s drive from the heart of famed and bustling Acadia National Park. Yet it’s a world away. For Willow, Vivian, Mckenna, Audrey, and Josie—five teenage girls caught between tradition and transformation in this remote region—it is home. Downeast follows their journeys of heartbreak and hope in uncertain times, creating a nuanced and unique portrait of rural America with women at its center. Willow lives in the shadow of an abusive, drug-addicted father and searches for stability through photography and love. Vivian, a gifted writer, feels stifled by her church and town, and struggles to break free without severing family ties. Mckenna is a softball pitching phenom whose passion is the lobster-fishing she learned at her father’s knee. Audrey is a beloved high school basketball star who earns a coveted college scholarship but questions her chosen path. Josie, a Yale-bound valedictorian, is determined to take the world by storm. All five girls know the pain and joy of life in a region whose rugged beauty and stoicism mask dwindling populations, vanishing job opportunities, and pervasive opioid addiction. As the girls reach adulthood, they discover that despite significant challenges, there is much to celebrate in “the valley of the overlooked.” Their stories remind us of the value of timeless ideals: strength of family and community, reverence for nature’s rule, dignity in cracked hands and muddied shoes, and the enduring power of home. Revealed through the eyes of Willow, Vivian, Mckenna, Audrey, and Josie, Downeast is based on four years of intimate reporting. The result is a beautifully rendered, emotionally startling, and vital book. Downeast will break readers’ hearts yet offer them hope, providing answers to what the future may hold for rural America.

From the first explorers, to the century of ships, to our modern fisheries and diversification, Maine's maritime story is told in engaging detail. Lincoln Paine has laid down the framework for an understanding of Maine's maritime history by relating the population and landscape of today to their historic foundations. This engaging overview of Maine’s maritime history ranges from early Native American travel and fishing to pre-Plymouth European settlements, wars, international trade, shipbuilding, boom-and-bust fisheries, immigrant quarrymen, quick-lime production, yachting, and modern port facilities, all unfolding against one of the most dramatic seascapes on the planet. Down East can be read in an evening but will be referred to again and again. When the first edition was published in 2000, Walter Cronkite—a veteran Maine coastal sailor as well as The Most Trusted Man in America—wrote that “Paine’s economy of phrase and clarity of purpose make this book a delight.” Paine went on to write his monumental opus The Sea and Civilization: A Maritime History of the World (PW starred review), but now returns to his first and most abiding love, the coast of Maine, to revise and update this gem of a book. The new edition is printed in a large, full-color format with a stunning complement of historical photos, paintings, charts, and illustrations, making this a truly visual journey along a storied coast.

Adventure Guide to Maine’s Down East Sunrise Trail tells you everything you need to know about the 87-mile long reclaimed railroad bed that spans Maine’s scenic Down East from Ellsworth to Pembroke. The Down East Sunrise Trail is open to ATVs, dirt bikes, bicycles, hikers, horseback riders, snowmobilers, skiers, and dog sledding. The Adventure Guide to Maine’s Down East Sunrise Trail is a full-color book with over 40 pages of detailed information and maps of the entire route. Maps show parking locations, fuel stops, picnic tables, outhouses, campsites, campgrounds, and natural landmarks along the Down East Sunrise Trail. Each map also includes additional ATV and snowmobile trails that branch off of the Down East Sunrise Trail giving you access to thousands of additional miles of trails! Adventure Guide to Maine’s Down East Sunrise Trail Includes: Detailed directions by mile marker number with fuel, food, lodging, parking, campsites, outhouses, and picnic tables available at the location. Seven pages of full-color trail maps showing parking locations, fuel, picnic tables, outhouses, campsites, campgrounds, and natural landmarks along the way. Maps also show additional ATV and snowmobile trails that branch off of the Down East Sunrise Trail and where they lead. Contact information for local and surrounding area ATV and Snowmobile Clubs. Nine additional close-up maps of significant towns along the route marking fuel, food, lodging, and outdoor gear businesses, as well as parking lot locations. Close-up town maps include addresses and phone numbers of local businesses. Maps of hiking trails that branch off the Down East Sunrise Trail including in-town Machias, Machias River Preserve, Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land trails, and Franklin area trails. Hiking trail maps include parking locations, outhouse locations, and campsite locations. Complete list of parking locations by town and mile marker. All locations include GPS coordinates of each parking lot with a description of the type and size of the lot. List of restroom locations by town and mile marker. List of lodging locations by town and mile marker. ATV & Snowmobile trail access routes listed by town and mile marker for thousands of additional miles of adventure Full-color photos of points of interest, scenery, parking lots, and typical trail conditions. ***PLEASE NOTE*** The information in this book and maps are intended for trip planning purposes only and are not for navigation. Maine’s trails and routes can change daily without notice due to weather conditions, logging operations, landowner requests, etc.