Selling Books at the Damariscotta Pumpkin Fest

The idea for my third book, Death by Pumpkin, came from the pumpkin drop at the Damariscotta Pumpkin Fest, so this year – instead of visiting Maine in the summer – we decided to come up for the Pumpkin Fest. Tomorrow I will be selling books outside the Sherman’s in that town. Sherman’s stores in Maine carry my series and are happy to have authors hawk their wares.

There are lots of activities in this small town, just up the Damariscotta River from the ocean, during the fest. In addition to the pumpkin drop, where they lift their heaviest pumpkin by crane and drop it on a car, there are pumpkin pie eating contests;pumpkin slinging from catapults and sling shots; live music; a pumpkin float where contestants race down the river in giant, carved out pumpkins; food, food, food, a Pumpkinfest parade; and a derby with pumpkins on wheels.

Today we drove to Damariscotta from Boothbay Harbor, where we are staying, to check in at Sherman’s. People are already crowding the downtown area, to watch artists carve and decorate HUGE pumpkins, sponsored by various town businesses.

Here are some of the works in progress or already done:

This first one is my favorite, because it really is death by pumpkin!

We’ll take more pictures tomorrow when all the pumpkins are carved and painted. My table will be right next to a huge blue and green painted pumpkin the artist is making into a peacock!