Author to present essay workshop at Windham Public Library

By Kira Pilot

Budding writers take note: Windham Public Library has invited prolific local author Andy Young to lead an essay writing workshop on June 18. Young, an essayist from Cumberland who has been published in several New England newspapers including The Portland Press Herald and The Windham Eagle, will be participating in the hour-long workshop in support of the library’s summer reading theme, “Level Up at Your Library.”

Local author Andy Young will lead
an essay writing workshop on
June 18 at the Windham Public
Library in support of the library's
summer reading theme 'Level
Up at Your Library.' Young is a
high school English teacher and
he also writes a column for
The Windham Eagle newspaper.  
FILE PHOTO

Reference and Technology Librarian Ray Marcotte, who booked Young, says of the theme “Level Up means to improve your knowledge or skills. We expect anyone to attend who’s interested in writing and wants to learn from a seasoned essayist.”

Those wishing to match Young’s productivity as a writer might first have to cultivate some life experience, as his long and varied career has afforded him ample material for his craft. Originally hailing from Easton, Connecticut, Young’s obsession with team sports led to many roles coaching, publicizing, and commenting on games in locations like Fairbanks, Alaska, and Durham, North Carolina. In his 30s, Young joined the Peace Corp’s Youth in Development program and spent time coaching basketball while stationed in Guatemala.

As he recounts his work history, his dedication to writing consistently is the thread of connection that ties together his diverse past. Young fosters that consistency by habitually rising early and writing in the morning hours. This routine enables him to balance his writing practice with his family and career as a teacher.

For over 20 years now, Young has taught English at Kennebunk High School, where he tries to instill a love of writing in the younger generation.

“I have them writing every day. I want them to know that writing can be fun,” Young says. “Or at least cheap therapy.”

Young’s own writing frequently focuses on routine interactions between people in everyday life and he elevates his subject material through wry humor and careful study of the human condition. His nuanced yet unfailingly generous characterizations of those around him reveal an optimism one is heartened to see in a high school teacher.

He says, “The more people you meet the more you realize, yes, every one of us is unique but we’re not that different. The stuff that makes me laugh makes a lot of people laugh.”

This belief in community held values is apparent in many of his pieces.

Young’s short essay “The Scourge of the Neighborhood”, in which he sketches a tongue-in-cheek portrayal of a kind neighbor, is exemplary of his comical and observational style. He cites Miami Herald columnist Carl Hiaasen as an author he enjoys reading. Hiassen is similarly known for his irreverent commentary.

When asked about his preferred 600-word essay length, Young repeats advice he retained earlier in his career: “Nobody wants to read more than 800 words.”

Indeed, Young’s love of the 600-word essay is so profound that one of his three books, Life in 600 Words (2024), contains only works that meet this criteria.

To fledgling writers looking for advice, Young unsurprisingly stresses the importance of the editing process and suggests finding a good proofreader who will read a draft with some scrutiny and provide relevant feedback.

“You need honesty tempered with kindness,” he advises and then says, “You’ll never have a meaner critic than yourself.”

Young’s essays have been published in three collections: Young Ideas (2017), Works in Progress (2022), and Life in 600 Words (2024).

He will be speaking at the Windham Public Library from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 18. Those looking for more information may call Ray Marcotte at the library’s Help Desk at 207-892-1908 ext. 5 or by email at rmarcotte@windhammaine.us. <

Book-signing event a success for newspaper columnist

By Ed Pierce

Columnist Andy Young of The Windham Eagle had little idea what to expect when he agreed to appear at a book-signing event at Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop in Windham last weekend, but says he was pleasantly surprised to meet readers there while promoting his new book “Work(s) in Progress.”

Andy Young, a columnist for The Windham Eagle newspaper,
autographs a copy of his new book 'Work(s) in Progress'
for Windham High School student Lillian O'Brion during a
meet the author and book-signing event at Sherman's Maine
Coast Book Shop on Sept. 17. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE 

Young, a Kennebunk High School English teacher and a columnist for The Windham Eagle newspaper, penned the collection of essays contained in “Works(s) in Progress” over the span of 17 years and derived them from columns that he’s written for newspapers in Maine. His first book was called “Young Ideas” and came out in 2014.

He wanted to have his new book, issued by Jackanapes Publishing of Cumberland, available sooner, but circumstances and the global pandemic postponed its publication until this year.

“I wanted to have it for Christmas two years ago,” Young said. “Fortunately, someone put me in touch with a woman in Portland, Lori Harley, who puts together books and she was very helpful with all the layout stuff and even helped proofread it.”

Young’s column focusing on humorous observances about life has appeared in The Windham Eagle since May 2020 and he formerly wrote for the now-closed Maine newspapers Falmouth Community Leader, Yarmouth Notes and Biddeford Journal-Tribune.

According to Young, his favorite subject to write about is something all readers can relate to.

“I like to write about life and what life does,” he said.

His least favorite thing to write about, Young says, are “things everyone else writes about.”

He said for him, the best time to write his selected observations about life is before 7 a.m.

“Let me specifically say I do my best work between 4 and 8 a.m.,” Young said.

Among his personal favorite authors, Young says he enjoys the writing of novelist and newspaper columnist Carl Hiaasen and esteemed author and Pulitzer Prize winner David Halberstam.

“When it comes to non-fiction there is nobody better than Halberstam,” he said. “I could read his work all day.”

His appearance at Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop was a success for several reasons, Young said.

“I sold some books and two of which were to people I hadn't previously known,” he said. “All copies were suitably inscribed, so everyone got 6.3 percent off the cover price.”

He said the exposure at Sherman’s was fantastic, he enjoyed meeting people there that day and for readers who couldn’t make it there, Sherman’s has a supply of “Works(s) in Progress” available for purchase.

Plans for yet another book are already in development, Young says.

“Yes, I’ve got one more and I’m already picturing what the cover will look like,” he said.

And for readers who seemingly can’t wait for the publication of his next book, Young said he hopes to continue to write his column for The Windham Eagle newspaper for as long as he can.

“I’m truly grateful to The Windham Eagle for including my column in the paper and I’m thankful so many readers like it,” he said. <