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ELLSWORTH — John McDonald wanted
a different title for his latest book. The
Portland storyteller wanted to call it “Get
Lost! A Different Kind of Travel Book.”
 How
apropos a name for a “storyteller’s guide to
Maine?” he argued to his editor. And, it’s
funny.
Nope. Nice, try, John. Apparently
too many negative connotations, McDonald
lamented.
The former executive director
of The Grand and a longtime Cherryfield resident
was vetoed, and the book, geared specifically
toward tourists and published by Islandport
Press, was titled “Down the Road a Piece.”
But, McDonald isn’t complaining a
bit.
“Down the Road” sold briskly
in the days leading into the holiday season. A
recent stop at Mr. Paperback in Ellsworth drew a
crowd of about 100 on a Saturday afternoon
(presumably locals — not the intended tourists,
mind you). Then, just a few days later, McDonald
spent several hours reading from and
autographing books at the Mecca of everything
Maine: L.L. Bean in Freeport.
When McDonald’s first book, “A
Moose and a Lobster Walk into a Bar,” came out a
few years ago, he sold several hundred copies of
that book while sitting at a table in L.L. Bean.
This time around, he said, he was signing an
equal number of both books. (Again, given the
time of year, presumably to locals.)
So what’s the big draw? It
comes down to this: McDonald knows a lot about
Maine, and he finds a lot of what he knows about
Maine is pretty darn humorous.
McDonald had a column in the
Portland Press Herald for eight years in the
1980s; he still writes a syndicated Maine-based
humor column; he has a talk show on WGAN in
Portland; and he still does storytelling gigs
whenever he has time. (He’s been doing it
professionally for 25 years.)
Juggling all of those balls,
McDonald has gotten to know a lot of Mainers
from all four corners of the state. As a result,
he has a lot of material.
In the case of “Down the Road,”
none of the material is terribly helpful,
though.
Except, that’s intentional.
“This isn’t a AAA guide,”
McDonald, 62, said recently during an interview.
“It won’t get you anywhere, but once you’re
there, it’ll entertain you.
“When a storyteller does a
book, we want it to be as fact-free as
possible,” he said. “That’s just what you get
here.”
The book — a series of anecdotes,
quips, quotes and glossaries — explains what you
might be hearing (and where), as well as what to
say (and where) when you’re in need of something
important as a guest.
Yes, McDonald makes fun of
Maine. Yes, the book makes fun of tourists. Yes,
it makes fun of New Hampshire. (Huh?)
He offers “advice” on what to
wear, what to buy and even “The Proper Way to
Break Bad News When on Vacation.” Scattered
throughout the book are McDonald family yarns
and tall tales, and even, what must be despite
McDonald’s better judgment, a list of online
resources and some historical information (that
is, in fact, true). Even his parting thought is
somewhat heartfelt while humorous.
“Storytelling is about being
amusing, entertaining and instructive,” McDonald
said, giving much credit to Garrison Keillor of
National Public Radio fame, whose “Prairie Home
Companion” stories have been entertaining radio
audiences for decades.
“It makes you more observant of
your experiences,” McDonald said of
storytelling. “It makes you want to tell them,
share them.” McDonald
has been telling stories a long time. Even back
when he was living in Downeast Maine (and later
when he lived in Maine’s foothills of Otisfield),
he was weaving yarns.
When he was a boy, whenever the
family returned from a trip or event, John was
called upon to tell the tale, even if the adults
were standing around.
“Let John tell it” became the
mantra. “I used to hang around with a lot of the
old-timers who really knew how to tell a story,”
he said. “I listened to them carefully. I paid
attention to how they were telling the story;
what they were saying; but, more importantly,
what they weren’t saying.”
Now, years later, McDonald still
is listening — and writing. And telling stories
“I’m glad I’m doing this,”
McDonald said. “Otherwise, I’d have to work.”
“Down the Road a Piece” is
available in local bookstores, online at major
book sellers and at islandportpress.com. It
costs $15.95.
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