I love the concept for the book Coastal Maine in Words and Art that features 27 stories by various writers and artwork about our coast, focused on Rockland.

The Solon Center for Research and Publishing sponsored a contest where writers submitted 88 stories for the book. I’ll bet it was tough to select just 27 of those. Many of those stories will put you right out on the ocean near Rockland. They range from serious and insightful to witty and humorous. I really enjoyed all of them.

When Linda and I were writing weekly travel columns for the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel, we wrote a bunch of columns about inns, restaurants, and activities in Rockland, all of which we enjoyed.

The cover of the book features the long walkway to the lighthouse in Rockland Harbor, a walk Linda and I have made several times. I even took my grandsons to the end of the walkway to fish one time.

This book was published by SCRP’s Polar Bear & Company and is widely available including in many bookstores and The Gallery Fukurou in Rockland. The Maine Humanities Council even provided a grant so these books can be donated to libraries throughout our state.

The SCRP is a nonprofit that helps build community in Maine through educational, literary, scientific and artistic means, with publications, research, exhibits, events and other initiatives. Very impressive.