Matt, Phoebe, and David have a cool man cave in central Maine where they crack open some brews or box o' wine and talk about literary novels. You're like...what? They could be talking about so many other things: cars, lumbersexuals, THC drinks, cryptids found in the North Woods. But literary novels?

Yes, these two burly dudes and this fabulous artist are all about highlighting Maine authors and they are putting out some excellent content on their podcast Paperback Romance.

Here's how it all came about. I met Matt and Phoebe at a craft fair and they told me about their podcast. One thing led to another and I ended up traveling from the coast to their studio where we cracked some beers and jokes and talked about the real part of Maine and how it was conveyed in my 2009 novel-turned film, The Ghost Trap.

Here is a teaser clip here and here of when I was in the studio (we talk about the authenticity of PBR vs. Allagash in the movie). Here's a link to the full podcast where they discuss the book and film by themselves.

Here's how it felt listening:

Picture The Ghost Trap, a 6 x 9 paperback novel, lying on a gurney in a hospital room under surgical lights. A white blanket covers its lower half. Above it, stand Matt, David, and Phoebe in green scrubs and masks. A hot white light shines down. They're all wearing those surgical glasses with magnifying lenses with a magnified, clear view of the surgical site for greater precision.

"Anesthesia?"

"Check. All set."

"Good. Let's begin."

I listened with my headphones on and burst out laughing so many times over their banter. But what astounded me is far down they drilled into the book's premise, plot, characterization, themes, and authenticity to Maine.

They pulled out their favorite dialogue and scenes (Remember Amanda and her "homemade addition" to coffee brandy?) They discussed family dynamics between Maynard, James Senior, and Jamie and how it reflected Matt's experiences once lobstering on an island.

They loved how real Maine was portrayed in the book and how the lobstering scenes, the superstitions, and the lore were all very familiar. They even touched on the vengeful selkie scenario first posited in The Ghost Trap by Maynard and made a mention of my new selkie novel, By the Dark o' the Moon.

They absolutely NAILED the pathos of Jamie and Anja's tragic relationship, even so far as to correctly attribute what the title of the book meant. Phoebe even led the charge with the discussion of Happy's role in the book and movie. And while so many women of varying ages have come up to me over the years at book signings, unhappy with Happy, disliking that she even provided a central conflict, and deeply uneasy with her proximity to Jamie--Phoebe, Matt, and David all "got" what it was between Happy and Jamie. Happy wasn't the villain in their story; she was the relatable friend, the limerence of what was never meant to be.

They got so deep, dark, and down into the book, I thought we were gonna have a Code Red at one point. A dissection of the Finest Kind and I honestly can't tell you how honored I am to have been chosen by this trio.

They review all kinds of classic and modern romance novels with Phoebe "Who Reads the Steamy" providing the insights on the book's smut or spice factor. (Obviously in The Ghost Trap, it's not at all about spice. But it is about love, romance, and loyalty. )

But if you're a Maine author who writes romance or even books with a romantic plot, check out their podcast and get in touch. I promise they will show you a side to your book you (and the rest of their audience) has never seen before.

Follow Paperback Bromance on Spotify.

FYI, the new novel, By the Dark o' the Moon is not a sequel of The Ghost Trap. The new book was inspired by a selkie scene in The Ghost Trap and this is set in 1927, Prohibition-era Maine.

Today marks the second anniversary of the first day we began shooting The Ghost Trap in Maine. I took all of the behind-the-scenes photos of the cast, crew, producers, and lobstermen. It was such an exciting day even though it was cold and wet outside. I’d never been on a movie set before and neither had some of the lobstermen and extras, so we tried to stay out of the cast’s way as they began shooting the scene of Jamie and Anja going out to haul. 

What struck me was how hard it is to be an actor and do the same scene, the same lines over and over for HOURS just to get one solid scene in the can. That meant our shooting schedule only allowed 2-4 scenes a day, and days were sometimes 16-18 hours long. 

I love the instant chemistry Zak and Greer had and you can see them joking around with one another while cameras were reset. You’ll also see lobstermen Ryan Post, Cheri Savage and Dan Merriam, who were absolutely integral to the making of this movie. They provided the boats, the access to wharves, boat houses, and even a lighthouse! 

A big shout out to our camera crew, our costume designers, our makeup artists, and others you’ll see behind the scenes who brought all of the elements together. 

You’ll also see in this video real-life working crew at the lobster coop and wharf where we shot that we turned into extras, along with a shot of Sarah Waterman, the inspiration behind Susie Q., a highliner lobsterman (whom I modeled after the amazing Zoe Zanidakis of Monhegan). 

It was a thrilling day, one of many to come, so stay tuned to more insights behind the scenes.

This video format might be too small to see everything, so hop on over to see it on TikTok:.www.tiktok.com/t/ZTN7N4XW8/

Last November, we published a blog titled “Lobster in Pop Culture: How Lobsters Are Portrayed in Movies.”

Well, once again, Maine and lobsters are the prominent third character in a new lobstering movie, “The Ghost Trap,” which was partially filmed on the Festival grounds back in 2022! The film is set to premiere at the Maine International Film Festival in Waterville on July 17 & 20, 2024.

The novel of the same name by Maine author K. Stephens was published in 2009 by the Massachusetts-based publisher Leapfrog Press. It’s the story of Jamie Eugley, a young lobsterman from the fictional town of Petit Point (set between Friendship and Tenants Harbor) who is forced to choose between right and wrong when his girlfriend suffers a traumatic head injury and a rival lobstering family sabotages his gear, sparking a deadly trap war.

Stephens, who lives in the Midcoast, wrote several scenes in the book about Jamie and his best friend, Thongchai, a Thai lobsterman, wandering through the Maine Lobster Festival as they observe the International Great Crate Races, the carnival atmosphere and the food tents.

“I first moved here 30 years ago and used to go to the Festival every year,” she said. “Those happy moments of the crowds roaring when kids ran the lobster crates and fell off always stuck with me.”

The book was discovered by the producers of Khanlarian Entertainment, based in North Carolina, with an office in Los Angeles. As it happened, one of the producers, Peter Couture, who has family ties from Waterville, was back in Maine visiting in the summer of 2018, when he happened to pick up a copy of “The Ghost Trap” at Beyond The Sea, an aptly named bookshop in Lincolnville. After reading it, he contacted Stephens to option the book, telling her it had all the elements they were looking for to produce and direct their first feature film.

Stephens was hired to adapt her novel into a screenplay and worked with the producers to scout locations, as well as consult on cast selection, costumes and set design. She was also the liaison between her lobstermen friends and the production team.

Local lobstermen Ryan Post; Cheri Savage; Dan Merriam; Kurt Winters (who appears in the film as a sternman); John and Lynn Post; and Charlie, Amy and Drew Philips all provided their boats for pivotal scenes, with crew boat assistance from Aaron Crossman. These lobstermen took off many valuable days in the height of summer fishing to provide their boats, as well as access to wharves, boathouses and other iconic locations. They also served as script, dialogue and set consultants so that the film would be as authentic as possible.

What could be more authentic than actual footage from the Maine Lobster Festival? In the film, there are about three minutes of footage that Director James Khanlarian and Director of Photography Michael Tedford shot with the full blessing of The Maine Lobster Festival.

In one scene, they have a clear shot of a boy running the lobster crates toward Board of Directors member Shannon Kinney. The backstory to this scene is pretty wild. They would have shot more footage on that August day, but a massive lightning storm was barreling toward the Rockland coast. With a $150,000 camera to protect, Tedford and Khanlarian quickly got their shots and covered the equipment, dashing out of there before the deluge.

As films often need to shoot out of sequence to conserve time, another scene from the Maine Lobster Festival had to be recreated long after the five-day event was over. The production got permission to film in Gilbert and Adams Central Park next to the Rockland Police Department and spent the entire day there, with locals patiently filling the role of extras – sitting at picnic tables and pretending to eat lobster. Thanks to the Mac Attack food truck, they also got a giant inflatable lobster for this scene!Other notable Rockland scenes in the film were shot near the Rockland Yacht Club, the Rockland Public Landing, J&J Lobster, O’Hara Lobster Bait, and part of the Dry Dock Restaurant’s boardwalk. See behind-the-scenes photos.

“The Ghost Trap” will not only premiere at MIFF this summer, but additionally at Vermont Film Festival on July 26, the Maine Outdoor Film Festival in Portland on July 28, and Vacationland Film Festival in Biddeford on Aug. 8. Freestyle Digital Media has acquired the North American rights to distribute the film, which will be released nationally in theaters along with video-on-demand on Nov. 1, 2024.
K. Stephens will be on hand to sign copies of “The Ghost Trap” and chat about the making of the film at the

Maine Lobster Festival on Thursday, Aug. 1 and Aug. 4 in the Marine Tent from 11 am to 3 pm.
For more information, visit: www.theghosttrap.com

Did you know there will be many talented local Maine authors and artists at the Maine Lobster Festival this year? Come every day to The Marine Tent and Arts & Crafts Tent to meet the creative people who are inspired by this beautiful state. The Festival, from July 31 to Aug. 4, has FREE ADMISSION every day! Visit https://mainelobsterfestival.com

When we did an audience Q&A for our encore screening in Greensboro, NC, one of the questions I got around the nebulous ending of whatever happened to Neal Ames was: “are the stories about lobstermen taking matters into their own hands true?”

Short answer: yes. The majority of lobstermen are honest, hard-working, and follow the rules that their own great, great grandparents set up on the water hundreds of years ago. Marine Patrol does police the industry as well, but for the most part, lobstermen make and enforce their own rules.

Though some true stories were embroidered into The Ghost Trap, I made a pact with the tellers of those stories I would keep names, dates, and other identifying factors anonymous. So, what you get, is an amalgam of truth woven into fiction. 

That said, I’ll leave you with a public story that was recently posted on a Maine site. Keeping in mind it’s a story heard third hand, you can decide for yourself.

“ I remember a story when I was a kid, I think it was about Friendship. Some guy moved in and wanted to try lobstering. Didn't go over well with the locals, and apparently some army vet (also reportedly a lobsterman) ended up blowing up the guy’s dock.

This would have been mid ‘90s, no real idea if it was true either tbh, but the whole school loved to recite it. There have been a few documented occurrences of people sinking other people's boats there though, so I guess it's plausible.”

And if you’re curious about the lede photo and what happened here’s the news story.www.pottsmerc.com/2012/05/11/lobster-hostilities-lead-to-boat-sinkings-in-maine/

​So, yeah, lobster justice is real.

Story courtesy Maine Lobster Festival

Last month we explored how the iconic crustacean got its close-up in our blog, “Lobster in Pop Culture: How Lobsters are Portrayed in Movies.” To continue the series, this month we’re spotlighting Maine artists who have portrayed lobster and fishermen as the subject in various forms of artwork.

Paintings & Drawings

Many artists draw inspiration from their surroundings, including the following artists who incorporate lobsters into their work.

We’ll start with Maine’s most notable painting family, N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, and Jamie Wyeth — all three artists created multiple paintings featuring lobstermen at work.  N.C Wyeth’s “The Lobsterman (The Doryman)” created in 1944, is set in the coastal regions of Maine, depicting a solitary lobsterman in a dory. Andrew Wyeth’s 1937 watercolor “Lobsterman” tells the story of a hard-working lobsterman tending to his wooden traps. And in 2019, Rockland’s prominent cultural institution, Farnsworth Art Museum, featured an exhibition by Jamie Wyeth that revealed a man enjoying his just-cooked lobster in the 2013 painting “The Lobster Bib-Third in a Suite of Untoward Occurrences on Monhegan Island.”

Belfast artist and educator Susan Tobey White has painted a series called Lobstering Women of Maine featuring women who work in today’s lobster fishing industry. The series, now turned into a book, also highlights Maine’s oldest female lobster fisherman, Virginia Olivera, 103, who still works on a boat and is known worldwide as the “Lobster Lady.”

Native Maine artist Andrew Cook takes a whimsical approach to his art under the name “Lobstering is an art.”  Each design features the shape of a lobster, but every drawing is interpreted through a particular concept — whether it’s sea glass, a NYC subway, or an island. You have to see it to understand.  Hollis believes in the industry’s value to Maine so much that he donates regularly to various organizations, including the Maine Lobstermen’s Association.

Photographs

Ogunquit artist Amy Kelly has a fascinating story: At age 56, she asked a local lobsterman if she could work as a sternman for him to maintain her sobriety. She went from being homeless to working hard on the harbor, gaining back her sobriety, and photographing and printing large-scale lobster tail artworks, which are now sold all over the country. After that, she became a gallery owner of TaleSpinStudio.
JewelryTenley Seiders, a Midcoast jewelry maker, got inspired to make jewelry and ornaments from discarded lobster shells after sterning on a lobster boat when she was younger. Her process involves pulverizing the shells with a mortar and pestle, then sifting the crushed shell with a strainer, according to a profile in PenBay Pilot. Her business, called  Lobster Designs, features vivid, handcrafted jewelry with each piece unique in color, texture and markings.

Wall Hangings & Sculptures

Appleton artist Eric Darling upcycles discarded lobster rope he finds on the shore into artistic wall hangings and sculptures featuring nautical themes. Calling it his “drift rope project” as seen on wmtw.com , this colorful rope, which would have ended up in a landfill, is woven into scenes, which he describes as “painting with rope.” He prefers to work with old rope that’s been handled by lobstermen and has been seasoned in the ocean for a few years. See his work at his website.

MLF Lobster Posters

Beyond Maine Lobster Festival’s support of local working artists with its annual Arts & Crafts Tent, the Festival has commissioned numerous artists over the years to use their paintings in each year’s Festival poster.  For example, Jean Kigel was the artist for the 2023 Maine Lobster Festival poster. Her painting depicted two red lobsters shaking claws. And check out the gorgeous posters from past years in our Poster Store  (only $10 each!)

Come to the 77th Maine Lobster Festival for free again this year (July 31 to Aug. 4, 2024) and you will be sure to meet some of the most interesting local artists, writers, lobstermen, and colorful community volunteers you’ve ever encountered! For more info, visit: https://mainelobsterfestival.com

Story courtesy Maine Lobster Festival

This blog post hits close to home as our film was shot in Maine and features a Maine story about a lobsterman! Stay tuned to our socials for some big news on when the film will debut.

With the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike in the news recently, it seems the right time to talk about “the third character” in a lot of classic and modern movies — the Maine lobster. Mr. DeMille, they are ready for their close-up!

Symbol of Wealth & Indulgence

In many films, lobsters are depicted as gourmet or luxury food items. They are often shown being prepared and served in upscale restaurants, highlighting their high cost and status as a culinary delicacy. Movies may also show characters enjoying lobster dinners as a symbol of wealth or indulgence.

Going back to “Titanic” (1997), the sweeping drama about the ill-fated ship, scenes in the first-class dining room feature lobster being served as part of a luxurious meal. In the modern version of “The Great Gatsby” (2013), the film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, you can also see scenes of extravagant parties with decadent spreads, often with lobster on the menu.  

Slapstick Comedy Prop

In other movies, lobsters have been used for comedic effect. For instance, characters may struggle to crack open a lobster at a fancy dinner, leading to humorous mishaps. Remember in the classic Woody Allen film “Annie Hall” (1977), when the characters Alvy and Annie have a humorous encounter while trying to cook live lobsters?

Perhaps the most memorable scene is in “Splash” (1984) – when Daryl Hannah’s mermaid character is in a restaurant, leading to humorous confusion when she eats a lobster, shell and all.

Deeper Meaning

Lobsters may be used symbolically in movies to represent various themes. For example, they might symbolize the idea of survival, adaptation, or the concept of being trapped, as lobsters are often associated with traps and fishing.* For example, “The Beaches of Agnès” (2008) is a documentary by French filmmaker Agnès Varda, who explores her time spent in a coastal village in France, using lobster traps as a symbol to represent the various influences and traps that people encounter in life.
*see the plot of The Ghost Trap

Another example is “The Lobster” (2015), a satirical and darkly comedic film where single people are sent to a hotel where they are required to find a partner within a limited time frame, and those who fail are transformed into animals or creatures. The protagonist, played by Colin Farrell, chooses to become a lobster if he doesn’t find a mate.

Fun Personality

In many undersea animated movies, lobsters have been given human-like personalities. They can be portrayed as quirky or helpful characters, adding humor or depth to the storyline in animated films such as “The Little Mermaid” (1989) or “Finding Nemo” (2003).

We haven’t even gotten to the topic of lobsters in books and art — we’ll save that for another blog. The next time you see lobsters portrayed in film, think of us and make plans to enjoy the real thing at the Maine Lobster Festival, offering free admission again from July 31 to August 4, 2024! Make plans to visit: https://www.mainelobsterfestival.com

Story courtesy Maine Lobster Festival

The lobstering industry’s work cycles follow the seasons. Although lobsters are harvested year-round in Maine, the majority of our coastal lobstermen catch them between late June and late December.
 Maine lobstermen power down during the winter months due to weather conditions and the behavior of lobsters, as lobsters tend to migrate out to deeper waters when the temperatures get cold.
Most people who work year-round can’t fathom how lobstermen can take six months off from hauling and still pay their bills, but if a lobsterman has earned enough of an income through the summer and fall, often they can sustain finances throughout the winter months. The winter break also offers lobstermen a chance to rest and spend time with their families.

Regardless, the lobstering motto is “Do whatever it takes”—and here is how lobstermen commonly spend the winter:

Gear Retrieval & Preparation

By Christmastime, most lobstermen have hauled out their traps and brought them to their shops or homes. Keeping them out of the water prevents damage and deterioration.
Once the holidays are over, many lobstermen start getting to their “gear work,” preparing new traps or replacing worn-out parts on existing ones. This can involve repairing or replacing trap doors, bait bags and other components.

Maintenance and Repairs

Winter is the time for lobstermen to perform maintenance and repairs on their boats and other equipment as well.  It’s usually too costly and time-consuming to get these repairs done during the height of the fishing season (unless an untimely engine failure or other problem requires it). But typically, all repairs are saved for the winter months, so that everything is in good working order when the fishing season resumes.

Fishing for Other Species 
​
Some lobstermen choose to keep working by doing other types of fishing during the winter, including offshore lobstering, (steaming out to the Greater Banks for days at a time) harvesting clams, scallops or fish.

Off-Season Jobs

Some lobstermen can’t sit still during the winter months, so they seek temporary jobs in other industries or supplemental side gigs, such as snow plowing or selling handcrafted work.

Regulatory Compliance

As those who have been following the trials and tribulations of lobstermen know, there are a lot of forces up against the lobster fishing industry. Lobstermen may use the winter months to attend training sessions, meetings or workshops related to fishing regulations and conservation efforts.

Find out through Maine Lobstermen’s Association how far they’ve come to protect the industry and working families this year.

When summer rolls back around, lobstermen will be hard at work providing you with your favorite seafood once again at the Maine Lobster Festival, offering free admission July 31-Aug. 4, 2024. Visit www.mainelobsterfestival.com for more info.

You know who is going to thank you for serving lobster as the main dish this Thanksgiving?

Turkeys and Maine lobstermen.

With everything up against Maine’s lobstermen lately (as discussed in our recent blog on the mounting challenges facing the lobster industry) and the biggest price drop seen in years, this is the year to switch up your traditional Thanksgiving menu.

As the first Thanksgiving meal eaten by pilgrims in November, 1621, it’s wholly appropriate to serve lobster as the main dish or as one of the sides.  We have included a few recipes below.
If you live in Maine buy lobster directly from a lobsterman or from a reputable seafood store. Or if you live out of state, buy them online from a sustainable fishmonger like Luke’s Lobster or Maine Lobster Now.

Main Dish: Stuffed Lobster Tails
A more sophisticated (and lighter calorie) main dish uses stuffed lobster tails in place of the traditional bird with one tail per person. This video shows you the most humane way to dispatch a lobster and this tutorial shows you how to separate the tail from the body and butterfly the meat.
The Thanksgiving flavors come out when stuffed with herbed breadcrumbs and drizzled with white wine reduction, as described by Cooking Light’s Executive Food Editor Ann Pittman. Broil one to two minutes and drizzle with sauce.

Get The Full Recipe

Side: Lobster Stuffing
Instead of traditional stuffing—let lobster take center stage! Combine center-cut bacon, one loaf sesame semolina bread cut into half-inch cubes, and seven ounces of fresh-picked lobster meat. With sautéed yellow onion and garlic lending a savory fragrance to this dish, a little lobster goes a long way in this comfort dish, serving eight people.

Get The Full Recipe

Side: Lobster Mashed Potato
Talk about decadent! This will be the dish your guests dig into the most. Start with a 1½ pound boiled lobster—and save the stock. After shelling and chopping up the meat, put some of the shells in a new pot of boiling water with 1½ pounds of chopped Yukon Gold potatoes to enrich the flavor.  The additional step of lightly browning the cooked lobster meat in butter adds a rich layer to traditional mashed potatoes.

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Side: Green Bean and Lobster Casserole
Lobster is like the little black dress of the culinary world—it can be dressed up and accessorized with just about any food. In this case, with a plain old green bean casserole, it’s not just a side dish—it’s a statement.  This side calls for two cups of fresh, sliced green beans, ½ cup button mushrooms, and 1 pound cooked lobster meat. Layer in a can of cream of mushroom soup with the crunch of Ritz crackers and fried onions, and you’re good to go.

Get The Full Recipe

This Thanksgiving, put lobster on the menu and you will be supporting Maine families when they need it most.
The Maine Lobster festival (August 2-6, 2023) will be free again next year. Follow our website for more details:  https://mainelobsterfestival.com/


Reprinted from the Maine Lobster Festival blog.