NORWAY— Maine author and artist Louis Page recently published “Max, A Maine Island Dog,” which has been accepted by Amazon.com as a Kindle ebook.
A native of Caribou, Page lets Max narrate the story in a fun and innovative change from the typical novella. The story, re-written from the original version from 1993, is filled with vivid and pithy stories about life on Mouse Island, a 10-minute boat ride from Boothbay Harbor.
Page worked as caretaker for the owners of the island for more than 10 years and he and Max became well-known favorites over the years to both Harbor residents, business owners and also summer visitors.
A common sight among the sloops and working boats moored in the harbor was Max patiently waiting in the island boat as “The Boss” bought supplies and ran errands.
Page is an Army veteran and former state liquor inspector who, among other career achievements, developed a statewide photo ID program to reduce underage drinking and help businesses more easily comply with Maine liquor laws.
Now retired, Page penned Max’s story in a way that people of all ages could appreciate and enjoy. Although Max died in 1998, Page ends the book with a scene about him and Max watching the sun set on a warm summer evening on the island.
“I wanted the story to be funny while giving readers a glimpse of life on a Maine island,” Page said. “Although I wrote the story to appeal to readers of all ages, as a grandfather and animal-lover, I especially kept children in mind and chose not to end the book on a sad note by telling people about Max’s last days.”
The sunset ending was meant to be a metaphor for both Max’s death and the hope of a new day, he said.
Page, who has been writing as a hobby most of his life, adopted Max from the Boothbay Harbor Humane Shelter, where staff found him one morning leashed to a door with a sack of food at his side. Max was a mixed-breed golden retriever-husky who sometimes struggled to keep up with Page as he tended to the island homes, docks and grounds.
Page is now working on a manuscript about growing up in one of Maine’s most rural areas and the hilarious and sometimes heart-wrenching memories from his childhood.
He lives in Norway with his wife, Tina and can be reached at loupage@roadrunner.com.
