May Davidson, co-founder of North Country Wind Bells in Round Pond and longtime columnist for The Lincoln County News, is publishing her first book, a memoir about her 90 years of life called “Whatever It Takes.” The book launch will take place at her alma mater, Lincoln Academy, on Wednesday, June 12 from 4-6 p.m. at 81 Academy Hill Road, Newcastle, in the ATEC building.
A 90-year-old can usually boast of a few great achievements during her or his long life. Davidson, newly 90, can probably beat them out, though. She and her late husband, Jim, dabbled in almost every industry Maine offers, from farming to artisan crafts. Now she can add published author to the list.
“Whatever It Takes” is a remarkable and inspiring tale fueled by true love and an unshakable belief in the power of hard work regardless of obstacles. In it, Davidson recounts a life that took her and her teenage sweetheart from lobster fishing to sheep breeding to long-haul trucking and more as they labored year after year to save their dream farm from foreclosure and sustain a way of life they so deeply loved. And despite setbacks that brought them to their knees, the couple, who clung together through ups and downs for nearly 70 years, would eventually find salvation in the woods and on the sea.
“May’s resilience and ingenuity epitomize that of other Mainers who came of age in the 1950s, but those qualities are exactly what will ring true with readers of all ages,” said Dean Lunt, owner of Islandport Press and editor of Davidson’s book. “It’s a triumph to write a memoir at any age, but at 90, it is a remarkable accomplishment. May’s story is especially poignant as she’s able to reflect on the vast changes Maine’s industries and economy have gone through in her lifetime.”
The celebration on June 12 will include a reading, a short talk by the author, a North Country Wind Bells door prize, and refreshments. Books will be for sale at the event and sales will be managed by Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop. The event is free and open to the public.
After its release on June 12, “Whatever It Takes” will be available at bookstores and gift stores across Maine and online at islandportpress.com.
Islandport Press is a dynamic, award-winning publisher dedicated to stories rooted in the essence and sensibilities of New England. For more about the book and event, contact Islandport Press: call 846-3344, visit islandportpress.com, or email info@islandportpress.com.
