Tom Crowley to Host Poetry Reading for 'The Maine Thing: Trout Slippers'

Tom Crowley will present his poetry collection, The Maine Thing: Trout Slippers, at a book launch and reception on October 8, starting at 6:30 p.m., at the Lincolnville Community Library. The event will also feature an open mic session for poets.

Crowley, a writer residing on the coast of Maine, finds inspiration from the local environment, including its waters, neighbors, and fisherfolk. His writing journey began during his time in the United States Navy, and he has continued to craft short stories and poetry while living in various states, including Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Maine.

According to a library news release, Crowley's works often explore themes of historic preservation and personal challenges, including his experiences growing up with an alcoholic parent. His life experiences encompass roles as a child, teenager, convicted felon, hitchhiker, sailor, captain, husband, father, and grandfather.

His debut fictionalized non-fiction novel, Provenance, tells the story of paintings smuggled from Europe to Cuba and later to the United States by his grandfather, who served under Fulgencio Batista in Cuba and later as the Cuban Consul General in the U.S. In addition to Provenance, Crowley has published a children's book titled Gulls and Crows and his poetry collection Trout Slippers through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, available in both Kindle and paperback formats.