Edited by Steven Long
Introduction by Ret Talbot
softcover 978-1-961905-38-2 | 978-1-961905-20-7
e-book 978-1-961905-39-9
December 2024 | 172 pages
Introduction by Ret Talbot, Award-Winning Journalist & Writer
This anthology brings together the voices of 38 Maine writers as they explore the magic and mystery of the state’s largest forest under the cover of darkness. Through poems, stories, and essays, readers are invited into nighttime camping adventures, encounters with wildlife, and moments of solitude beneath star-filled skies. Each piece captures the transformative power of Maine’s wilderness, offering a profound connection to nature’s nocturnal wonders.
$1 from every sale will be donated to the Forest Society of Maine, supporting their efforts to conserve Maine’s forest heritage for future generations.
How to use North Winds at Night in learning
North Woods at Night: Literary Reflections on Maine’s Largest Forest is a rich anthology featuring contributions from 38 Maine writers, capturing the magic and mystery of the state’s vast wilderness after dark. This collection offers a unique opportunity to deepen your connection with nature and explore the nocturnal beauty of Maine’s North Woods.
How to Use North Woods at Night
For Educators:
- Curriculum Integration: Incorporate the anthology into literature, environmental science, or creative writing courses to explore themes such as nature writing, ecological awareness, and regional storytelling.
- Discussion Prompts: Use diverse poems, stories, and essays to spark conversations about human interaction with nature, the significance of wilderness preservation, and the cultural importance of Maine’s forests.
- Creative Assignments: Encourage students to craft their own nature-inspired writings or art projects, drawing inspiration from the anthology’s vivid imagery and themes.
For Book Clubs:
- Thematic Discussions: The anthology explores solitude, adventure, and the unknown aspects of the natural world, fostering rich conversations about personal experiences with nature.
- Guest Speakers: Invite local environmentalists, authors, or contributors to the anthology to provide deeper insights and enhance the reading experience.
For Personal Enjoyment:
- Reflective Reading: Immerse yourself in the tranquil and mysterious narratives, perfect for evening reading sessions that mirror the book’s nocturnal themes.
- Nature Companion: Bring the anthology on camping trips or outdoor excursions to enhance your connection with the environment and see the natural world through the eyes of seasoned writers.
- Supporting Conservation Efforts: By purchasing North Woods at Night, you’re contributing to the preservation of Maine’s forest heritage. $1 from every sale is donated to the Forest Society of Maine. This partnership underscores the anthology’s commitment to celebrating and protecting the wilderness it portrays.
Retailers and schools, bring our transformative stories to your community. Wholesale inquiries welcome via our Contact page. Schools receive a 10% discount on all purchases.
12 Willows titles can also be purchased from all major bookseller platforms.
“North Woods at Night brims with wonder and the ‘splendid darkness’ of a part of Maine that stays with all lucky to spend time there. We hear about ten-year-olds sneaking out at night to paddle a lake, the particular dark of Moosehead, hiking the 100-Mile Wilderness alone, the magic of fireflies, the sudden appearance of a moose, and what it’s like to truly be lost, among many other experiences and observations. In a wide range of forms, the writers in this collection render the North Woods so vividly and in all its glory. “
—Gibson Fay-LeBlanc, poet and nonprofit leader
“This collection, lush and lyrical, so full of insight and awe, reminds us that Maine’s largest forest is a place of wonder, reflection, and transformation. As reverent as a prayer and as delicate as a dream, the poetry and prose in North Woods at Night transport readers to a world of vernal pools and moonglow, towering pines and starshine. In a deep-tree world unpolluted by light, we are invited to witness what truly shimmers.“
—Hollie Adams, author of Things You’ve Inherited from Your Mother
“These poems and stories shimmer and highlight Maine’s beauty, peace, and liminal spaces. Strung together by the garland of pine trees that is Maine’s North Woods, this collection forms a love letter to Maine that opens the hearts of all of us who have the privilege of living here. The amazing work within this anthology finds roots in the darkness that Maine has to offer, beauty in what can be an isolating space, and beauty in the horrors of living. A great read and a beautiful glimpse into the North Woods!“
—Victoria Hood, author of My Haunted Home and I Am My Mother’s Disappointments
“Alive to the majesty and mystery of the forest, the poems and stories of North Woods at Night plumb memories of idyll, capture poignant and gripping moments of transformation, inhabit the creaturely life, and chart the sublime terrain of Maine’s vast kingdom of trees, revealing a world just beyond our ken. An essential collection and guidebook for the spirit, it invites readers to experience one of Maine’s greatest treasures.“
—Gregory Howard, author of Hospice
