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Maine Native, Jack Hargreaves,
Publishes Book of Lifestories:
Panning Gold, A Maine Memoir
Lisbon Falls, Maine, April 7, 2003: Jack Hargreaves of Madison is quick to tell you how proud he is of his first book: Panning Gold: A Maine Memoir. The book which was released in March has been so popular among his family and friends, that it is into its second printing. It's a terrific accomplishment -- a lifetime of family stories about a Maine way of life remembered, written down and produced into a beautiful finished book.
"I wanted to show my family how 'I panned gold.' It's been a great life," says the 89-year-old Hargreaves, who lives with his wife of 63 years, Etta, in Madison. While he doesn't consider himself a writer, Hargreaves started putting together his manuscript in 1999 with the intent to capture his lifestory for his family. He says he had no idea he could produce a book or that it would be so well received. Friends in the community are not surprised. "He's a special guy with a lot to share," says Madison local, Jeff Sprague, who read Hargreaves book.
Hargreaves worked with lifestory writer/mentor Denis Ledoux of Lisbon Falls to get his manuscript into book form. Ledoux, who operates Soleil Lifestory Network, an organization devoted to helping people "turn memories into memoirs," coached Hargreaves with his stories and then edited the work. Soleil's graphic designer Martha Blowen designed the book cover, formatted the layout and managed the production and press run. While Hargreaves paid for the book production and printing, he says he has sold enough copies to cover all his costs and even pay for the second printing -- something he never dreamed would happen.
"We're very excited for Jack," says Ledoux. "He should be commended for devoting such energy to his family and community's stories and for his perseverance in seeing them into a finished book that will be of great importance for generations. His work is a testament to anyone who has ever thought about writing their memoirs. You don't necessarily need to be a writer to master how to record personal and family stories AND enjoy doing it."
Ledoux, BA Lit., MA Ed., is the author of Turning Memories Into Memoirs and The Photo Scribe. He received the Maine Fiction Award and has twice been awarded the Maine Arts Commission Writing Fellowship. He conducts workshops on lifestory writing and is a nationally recognized resource for lifestory writing professionals. For more information, contact Soleil Lifestory Network, 1-888-80-STORY, or access the web site at http://www.turningmemories.com
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