The first of several events planned at the Southport Memorial Library this summer is an author’s talk by Betsy Wing, an East Boothbay resident who will share her insights on her latest book: “Now History: One Home Front in World War II.”

The talk, sponsored by the Library Aides, will take place on Wednesday, July 8 at 2 p.m. The author will read a few short excerpts from the book, talk about how she wrote the book and had it published, and ask the audience to share their own memories of living through World War II.

The Southport Memorial Library is located at the end of Southport Island in the village of Newagen. Cross the Southport Bridge, immediately turn left on Route 238 and continue 3.5 miles south to the library. Iced tea, lemonade and cookies will be served.

Betsy Wing has worked for many years as a translator of books from French to English and has published more than 20 volumes of translation with editors at Harvard, the University of Minnesota, the University of Nebraska and, more recently with Dalkey Archive Press.

Her new novel "Now History: One Home Front in World War II" is, indeed, a translation of distant voices, echoes of a time. She structured the novel around the information her characters, isolated from the actual events, had available to them on a daily basis — essentially the censored version of the war that they read in the daily paper.

Lurking in the background is what we now know about the events of WWII, but the story on the pages of "Now History" comes from long hours of reading the local paper (in Virginia where the author grew up) on microfilm and imagining their lives around this information. The result is a subtle, poignant story of discovering the many losses that war entails, even at a distance, as well as the empowering knowledge that comes from learning to deal with difficulties on one’s own.

Wing’s earlier fiction, a novella and short story collection, "Look Out for Hydrophobia," deals in many touching and yet funny ways with the various stages of a woman’s maturity. More recently Betsy Wing has been exploring the art of printmaking as a form of art that produces singular, original pieces rather than the repeatable images for which most forms of printmaking are known.

Her prints have been exhibited at the Caffery Gallery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and at the annual show of work by “The Illuminateds” at the Barn on Paradise Point in East Boothbay. Some of them may be seen at the gallery on www.betsywing.com.

Christmas in July

That weekend the Library Aides will hold its famous Christmas in July craft show on Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

The show includes crafts by Cindy Heil, jewelry; Sanny Norton, sea glass/pottery/painted trays; Ann Hedgecock, pottery; Harbor Quilts purses, bags, eyeglass cases; Ursula Smith, woven scarves; Sweenyridge, tin art; And Candy, Too, chocolates and more; Jack and Bonnie Allen, carved cutting boards and horseradish jelly; Georgi Thompson, origami jewelry and ornaments; Blair Snyder, cards, notebooks, ornaments; Sue Karns, jams and jellies; Barb Lally, ornaments, quilted items, scarves; Vintage Annie’s jewelry; Helen Bates, vintage items; Mary Nicholls, folk art, collectibles; Doug and Diane Zyskowski, stained glass; Suzi Whittemore, ornaments, wooden bowls; De Amplo, calendars; Maria Doelp, cards; Holly Houston, cards, balsam pillows; Charlee Curtis, knitted hats and Don’s Day Lilies. All items will be available both days; cash or checks only, please.

Book and bake sale

The Library’s annual Book and Bake Sale will take place on Friday, Aug. 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Many wonderful used books will be available for sale, including a special table of Maine history and literature, children’s books, movies, puzzles and more. You don’t want to miss this one, so put it on your calendar now. Folks line up at 9 sharp for the baked goods. Books are available throughout the day. 

Andrew Vietze speaks

On Aug. 26, the library will host a talk by author Andrew Vietze at the Southport Town Hall at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. This is a peninsula-wide event. All are welcome.

Vietze is known as the author of "Becoming Teddy Roosevelt," and also as a long-time editor of Down East Magazine. He will speak on his latest book, "Boon Island: A True Story of Mutiny, Shipwreck, and Cannibalism," which chronicles the shipwreck of the Nottingham Galley on Boon Island and the resultant rumors of insurance fraud, mutiny, treason and cannibalism that comprised one of the most sensational stories of the early 18th century. Vietze is also a Ranger and works at Baxter State Park in the summer.

Please join us in celebrating summer at the Southport Memorial Library with these special events. The library is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7-9 p.m. All Boothbay peninsula residents and summer visitors are welcome to visit the library and take out books and movies free of charge. For further information, call Librarian Linda Brewer at 207-633-2741.