By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
ALLAGASH — Louis Pelletier reviewed his just published book December 1 and said, “we couldn’t do much better than this.” The non-fiction illustrated hardback is a collaboration between the 90-year-old Allagash native and his daughter Cathie Pelletier, a successful novelist and screenwriter.
Louis’ memoir, “A is for Allagash, A Lumberjack’s Life,” spans more than 20 years of interviews that Cathie did with her father and mother. “This is an exciting day. The press is coming,” explained Cathie Pelletier as her father was busy inspecting and reading his book. “It’s very good,” said Louis Pelletier.
According to Cathie Pelletier, the writing and eventual publication took about 18 months and is suitable for young readers as well as adults due the alphabetical format style that takes the reader from A through Z as Louis recalls his past. Louis says in the book: “It seemed we would always stay that young. That’s so many years ago now.”
Some of the family’s high-profile friends wholeheartedly endorsed the book. Maine Attorney General Janet Mills wrote the foreword describing it as “an entertaining, inspiring and unforgettable memoir.” Country music artist Tanya Tucker asserts that it “is a testament to (Louis’) strong spirit.” Full-color illustrations by Lulu Pelletier, not a relative, complement Louis’ various stories about growing up in the Allagash as he recalls log drives, his father’s ferry service across the Allagash River and the simple joys of a time gone by.
Cathie Pelletier invites readers to visit her father on Facebook or at northernmainebooks.com where they can also purchase signed copies of “A is for Allagash, A Lumberjack’s Life.” Orders for signed copies of the book are also being taken by Allen Jackson at 834-6221.
