Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, a Maine author, delves deeper into her bestselling book Blueberry and Jam and explains her affection for Maine.
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I love Maine. I'm living my best life in Maine and have included many of our own family adventures in my new book, Blueberry and Jam - Adventures in Maine.
We moved here in 2004 with our four boys, then ages 2, 4, 6 and 8. We also had cats and over 25,000 pounds of "stuff" that we moved across the country. We've never looked back. (Our sons are now 22, 24, 26, and 28!)
We absolutely love living here in Falmouth, Maine and seeing all of the sights Maine has to offer. So it brings me great joy to write a book about the state I love so much. It means the world to work on a project like this for over a year and a half and then receive such high praise from readers, organizations that participated, and the book industry's finest: Publisher's Weekly.
Blueberry and Jam - Adventures in Maine features several landmarks and destinations within the Vacationland. Their adventures include visiting beaches, lighthouses, and parks, engaging in activities like lobster fishing and hiking. The story is both entertaining and educational, enriched with beautiful illustrations. It captures the essence of Maine's natural and cultural landmarks, making it a captivating read for kids, encouraging exploration and curiosity about new places.
This is much of what we have experienced from our adventures and "staycations" here in Maine while raising our boys here. I started Blueberry and Jam's journey in York, Maine as it is a place where we will always have great memories. Each time we had a celebration, whether it was a graduation or anniversary, we celebrated at York Harbor Inn. So it was fitting to start in York and have the Blueberry and Jam work their way around the state of Maine and ultimately return home.
"This inviting story serves primarily as a celebration of what makes the Pine Tree State so special, but it is also a testament to the power and importance of novel experiences and strong friendships." - Publisher's Weekly
One of the places we discovered first when we moved here was of course, Old Orchard Beach! In real life, it, as well as Ferry Beach, remain two of my favorite beaches in Maine. I love finding sand dollars and other treasures on these beaches. Here are a few I've found personally.
Our family visits the Portland Head Light at least once each year, if not more. It's iconic and I can't ever get enough photos of it. Many of the illustrations Irina has used in the book are based from photos I have taken over the years of the various landmarks.
I won't spoil the adventure of where they go and what they see, but I feel I must thank everyone at L.L. Bean and the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens as well as artist Thomas Dambo for the eager participation in the book. Blueberry and Jam visit these spots along the way and have a better trip as a result. I'm very grateful for everyone's help, including Bruce, who helped with Pine Tree Store and Grand Lake Stream. Thank you to Pine Tree Store for being the first to order the book and carry the book in your store!!
When we moved to Maine, I said to my husband, "We've got to go to Acadia!!" And so we did - many times over the years. Bar Harbor and Acadia are spectacular spots!! I've been blessed by the bookstore Sherman's, which is legendary in Maine. Their oldest store is in Bar Harbor and I've done book signings there for my other books. You can pick up a copy of Blueberry and Jam at any Sherman's Bookstore location. If you're at the one in Bar Harbor, make sure you visit Acadia and follow Blueberry and Jam to the top of Cadillac Mountain.
If you're looking for a moose, we've got one, as well as plenty of lobster in this tale. If you find the moose in the book, feel free to take a screenshot or draw a moose of your own and post in social media with the hashtag #blueberryandjam.
Whenever we drive around our great state of Maine in the summer, we're always on the lookout for a great farm stand. We're also always eating blueberries, probably every day.
Maine wild blueberries are famous and the back of the book contains some fun facts. Maine has many amazing festivals in the summer, including The Machias Wild Blueberry Festival.
I hope you enjoy my book and your adventures here in Maine. Please contact me and let me know what you thought of the book or leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
With love from Maine,
Elizabeth
About Blueberry and Jam - Adventures in Maine
Join Blueberry the cat and Jam the mouse in Vacationland as they explore the great state of Maine! Blueberry and Jam love blueberries and leave a trail of blueberry prints wherever they go! This delightful adventure is perfect for children and adults of all ages and is filled with fun, facts, and beautiful illustrations that capture Maine's charm and your imagination.From bustling coastal towns to serene blueberry fields, readers accompany Blueberry the cat and Jam the mouse on a colorful tour of Maine's most iconic landscapes.
Blueberry and Jam - Adventures in Maine promises to be a delightful addition to any bookshelf, offering a taste of Maine's magic and sparking the imagination of readers of all ages!
Available in eBook, paperback and hardcover formats. Available wherever books are sold. This book is carried at all Sherman's bookstores in Maine.
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