Cover from the book “Voyages: A Maine Franco-American Reader” The public is invited to attend the celebration of its publication, October 20 from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn campus.

October 2007

The University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn campus will be the location for a celebration of the publication of a new book entitled “Voyages: A Maine Franco-American Reader”, a compilation of Franco-American experiences and history.  The event will have several of the book's contributors on hand to help celebrate the book's publication, as well as give short presentations.

This collection, which is co-edited by Thomas College Professor Nelson Madore and USM Professor Barry Rodrigue, illustrates the Franco-American experience in essays, stories, poetry, and art. The book’s diversity is demonstrated from its explanation of Quebec-Maine-Acadia Frontier history to community affairs, politics, language and humor. The collection promises to be eye-opening for many. It purposely contains a wide-range of perspectives both past and present to illustrate the diversity of Franco-American life in Maine. The book was published with the generous help of USM’s Franco-American Collection. Congressman Michael Michaud provides the preface.  Lending their voices to the book include Normand Beaupré, Michael Parent, Jean-Paul Poulain, Yves Frenette, Denis Ledoux and many others.

The event will take place on Saturday, October 20, from 9:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on USM’s Lewiston-Auburn campus, 51 Westminster Street, Lewiston, in room 170. The public is welcome to attend. Coffee, cider, donuts and hot ployes will be available and at noon a Franco-American lunch will be served by students in the Franco-American Studies program.  Submissions are being sought for The Third International Tortière Bake-off , which will take place at 11:30 a.m. Participants will include local artist Mercedes Gastonguay, Lewiston novelist Gerry Robichaud, and photographer Jere DeWaters, whose pictures of Lewiston Francos have been exhibited around the world. USM Interim President Joseph Wood will provide the official welcome to the event.

The book is available for purchase at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn Bookstore as well as in other bookstores and online. For more information about purchasing the book you may contact USM’s Franco-American Collection at 207-753-6545 or email franco@usm.maine.edu

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