Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Happy Halloween from Strange Maine!

Photo by Michelle Y. Souliere
Hi everyone! I hope you are enjoying Halloween week in spite of the blustery weather. It really feels like October now! This past week I spoke with Courtney Lanning of WCSH, and the results appear in a fun article about all things spooky, alongside Loren Coleman and Jamie Kingman-Rice from the Maine Historical Society, so I'm in great company. 

 You can read the article here: https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/community/spooky-maine-stories-to-know-in-time-for-halloween-bigfoot-mythology-folklore-scary/97-42bd9339-3b17-405d-869e-19230b09b49e

I'm also excited to announce that there's a new Lewiston-based podcast, The Dirty Lew Podcast, which is available on YouTube.  Duke, the host, interviewed me a few months ago, and now the episode is live to kick off their Halloween season, so... have fun listening to it, and do check out their other episodes.  They're trying to make something awesome happen right where they are, and they're doing a great job!

You can check out the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCg4JvSy9w8 

Happy Halloween everyone!!!  🎃

Thursday, October 14, 2021

Bigfoot in Maine: Q&A

 


Hi everyone! We had a great talk last night hosted by the Maine Historical Society on Zoom. I'll be posting a link to the recording as soon as it's available for those who missed it.

I will probably be receiving questions from attendees over the next few days, and I thought other folks might be interested in hearing the answers too, so I'll be posting them here as well as emailing responses directly.
 
Here's the first one:
 
Q: Have any remains have ever been found, or a skeleton, of one one of these 'creatures.' Any fossil evidence by chance?
 
A:  In answer to your question, to my knowledge no one in Maine has unearthed a known Bigfoot skeleton here. 
 
You may be interested to know that in the 1886 book An Historical Sketch of the Town of Deer Isle, Maine on page 10 mention is made of the discovery of a giant skeleton some years before. We talked about that early on in the discussion. You can see that account on Google Books using this link -- just scroll ahead to page 10 and start reading from the top of that page.
 
Discovery of remains is a compelling question for those of us inquiring into the existence of an unknown species in Maine. Does it mean that they bury or otherwise dispose of their dead in places where they won't be found? Or is it simply one more large animal that the efficient natural process of devouring and decomposition takes care of in the normal course of things?
 
Big questions! 

Sunday, September 19, 2021

Bigfoot in Maine update, upcoming events!

Hi everyone! Well, the air is getting crisper, and with October my work schedule at the shop will settle down, and with any luck I'll be able to take some fieldtrips out into the Maine woods again. I haven't been out to hike and explore since last February (see my posts Maine Wildlife in the Snow Part 1 and Part 2). It's going to be great to get out there again after too many months of too many hours of retail work (ahhhh, the joys of Maine's seasonal economy). 

But somehow along with all the rest of that nonsense, I've managed to squeeze in some awesome, fun interviews to talk about my book, and set aside time in October for some Zoom library talks. I've also continued to interview eyewitnesses for volume 2. 

Here are some links to some of the stuff I've been doing and other events I will be doing soon. Enjoy! 


Fresh out of the gate is the latest episode (#35) of Cryptid Creatures with Brian Brock and Todd Stevens, where they quiz me about what the heck is up with Bigfoot in Maine: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1MquFOgCHXepI2aglnDzhL 

 

 


A little earlier in the summer I had a great chat with Ryan Knights on Episode #14 (darn it, missed Lucky 13) of The Chaos Effect. Hopefully this is one of many! https://youtu.be/qDhTb7AoLDo

 

 

I also had the pleasure of talking with Paul Bestall on episode 140 of his very intriguing UK podcast, Mysteries and Monsters.  You can listen to it here -- definitely add the show to your list if you're looking for a lot of great conversations to binge!

https://audioboom.com/posts/7936192-mysteries-and-monsters-episode-140-bigfoot-in-maine-with-michelle-souliere 

 

 

And waaaaaayyyy back in May I got to visit with Aleks Petakov (and Nate Brislin!) before Aleks and his team went deep into the Maine woods to explore for Beyond the Trail: Sasquatch in the Pine Tree State.  You can find the episode here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvZnrDdgiAQ&t=1004s

 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

On Oct 13, 2021 at 7:00pm, I will be very excited for my Zoom conversation with Kathleen Neumann, the Curator of Education & Public Programs at the Maine Historical Society, about what makes this corner of New England such a perfect place for this cryptid to live.  Guests will learn about the ecology and geography that support the legend, and the people forever changed by close encounters with these creatures.  You can register at the link below. https://mainehistory.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ilAlA11PTMyhem5BlGnvhA

 

Later in October, at 6:30pm on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, we're going to give things a little tweak and peek over the border into neighboring New Hampshire.  I'll be doing a Zoom talk for the Fortier Library at the White Mountains Community College.  This program is a free Zoom event, and all are welcome.  Preregistration is required at https://www.wmcc.edu/fortier-library/ (click the “Register for WMCC Library events here” button).



I'm sure there will be more, but I hope you all enjoy at least a few of these when you have the chance!

Monday, August 23, 2021

Bigfoot in Maine update, and ... next up - ghosts!

 Hi everyone!

Rare quick trip to OOB in early August!

I've been working 6 days a week running my shop, working overtime across the board like so many of the rest of us in this seasonal economy, fielding the waves of tourists that come to Maine for safe harbor.  I have somehow been squeezing in interviews where I can, either with reporters and podcasters about Bigfoot in Maine, or with eyewitnesses themselves for volume 2.  

I must say that I am very much looking forward to autumn's approach when things slow down and I can get back out in the field again, not to mention find time to think, research and write about all things Maine.

In the background, at the same time, I am pondering the next project that I've been piecing together for some time now, which I've been looking forward to (before volume 2 of Bigfoot in Maine began demanding to be heard).  And that is... ghost stories!  

When I wrote Strange Maine, I minimized the amount of spooks in the book (although there are a few) because at the time I thought Maine had some good ghost story books already out there for folks to choose from.  But the more I've dug around, and the more people I've talked to, the more I've realized that Maine really has a lot more little spooky bits that haven't been recorded for posterity yet.

So... if you have odd or eerie experiences or things that you've encountered while here in Maine, be it in an old farmhouse or a downtown apartment, fifty years ago or just last year, do drop me a line, and we can talk about what happened.  You can always find me at michelle.souliere@gmail.com -- don't hesitate to contact me, I'd love to hear about your own Maine ghost story.

In the meantime, please enjoy this little interview feature that WCSH's 207 show did with me earlier this summer!  Big thanks to Amanda Hill and Kirk Cratty for making it a fun and memorable experience.

https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/207-interview/is-there-a-bigfoot-population-in-maine/97-ee58c047-154d-4349-ad5e-3ca2b2564941

And, if you like to look at Bigfoot's possible existence from a more quirky viewpoint, here's a lighthearted take on the matter from an interview I did with John Mitchell from NECN:

https://www.necn.com/on-air/as-seen-on/is-bigfoot-in-maine/2537474/ 

Stay tuned for my interview with the charming Paul Bestall from the UK podcast Mysteries and Monsters, and the new Dirty Lew podcast outta Lewiston.  Mixing it up a little, trying to reach a local audience and the greater world at large.  I did get to talk to Howard Hughes of The Unexplained live on UK radio last month too, sad it didn't make it into his podcast, but it was still really cool, since I've listened to his podcast for years!  Very surreal to have his familiar voice asking me questions instead of just listening to him ask someone else.  Heh!

 Thanks for all your support, everyone!  I hope to bring you many more intriguing Maine stories in the future, once my dang workweek is not so completely bonkers!!!

Thursday, July 22, 2021

For fans of Maine deer!

 This comes from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife today!  Check it out, sounds like two fun ways to get involved! 

1.  Join us for an informative virtual presentation by Maine's White-tailed Deer Biologist Nathan Bieber as he discusses the history of deer management, the status of Maine's deer herd, and the current strategies used to manage deer in Maine.

Streaming live on YouTube Tuesday, July 27 at 6pm. The presentation will be recorded and available at the same link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr_-ksS5xxw

 

2.  Enjoy watching deer?

Become a citizen scientist for the Maine Deer Spy project! Volunteers are needed across the state and everyone can participate.

 

Participating is easy! When you see deer between August 1 and September 30,  all you need to do is make simple observations:

  • Location
  • Date and time
  • The number of does (adult female deer with no antlers), bucks (deer with antlers), and/or fawns (young deer).

You can submit data online or by postal mail. Data recording instructions and examples of how to correctly record data are available online at mefishwildlife.com/deerspy

Friday, June 25, 2021

For those who have missed the Bigfoot in Maine library talks...

 Here are the links to the virtual talks I've given recently about my book, Bigfoot in Maine, in case you missed the chance to attend them.

Enjoy!!

I talked to librarian Jon Knepp at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft last night, here is the video:   https://youtu.be/21Jo0VUj-mo

And back on Thursday, June 10, I spoke to librarian Andrea Kazilionis at the Falmouth Memorial Library.  That video conversation is located here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt1mFslXABA
 
They've all been great conversations so far, with excellent questions from the moderators and the audience.

Signed copies of the book are still available at the Green Hand Bookshop, and online here: https://greenhandbookshop.com/products/preorder-bigfoot-in-maine-by-michelle-souliere-signed

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

EVENT: Virtual talk June 24 at the Thompson Free Library

 

WHAT: A virtual author talk about the book "Bigfoot in Maine"

WHERE:  Via Zoom https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/84699881006

Event info is also posted on their Facebook page:  https://fb.me/e/LYOeioe2

Hosted by the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft, ME.

WHEN: Thursday, June 24 at 7:00pm

FMI:  Contact the library at 207-564-3350 or via email at thompsonfreelibrary@gmail.com

Come join us!  Jon Knepp is going to interview me and I will discuss the book (and more!) with him.  We'll wrap up with some audience Q&A at the end.

Thursday, May 20, 2021

EVENT: Bigfoot in Maine virtual talk June 10!

 Hi all!  Both myself and Nate Brislin will be part of a virtual talk at Falmouth Memorial Library the evening of June 10th. Hooray! You can register to attend here:


 
It should be fun!  Come for a great conversation, stay to ask questions.  😃

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

A little podcast interview about Bigfoot in Maine

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to put this link out there -- I did an interview with an author podcast which my publisher puts out, and it was really fun.  Hope you enjoy listening!

https://authorconversations.podbean.com/e/bigfoot-in-maine/

Don't worry, if you haven't read the book yet, there aren't any spoilers, we were really careful about that.  Just some interesting conversation, and a good Q & A session!

If you'd like to buy a signed copy of the book from me, you can do it through my website here:

https://greenhandbookshop.com/products/preorder-bigfoot-in-maine-by-michelle-souliere-signed

Hope you're all having a great week!

Friday, May 14, 2021

It's here! BIGFOOT in Maine - the book! Signed copies available

 

Wow.  I never would have thought, back in October 2005 when I did my first blog post about the idea of Bigfoot in Maine, that someday I would write a whole book about it.  

All these years later, it seems wild that this book exists.  Big thanks to all the folks who helped me along the path!  I couldn't have done it alone.  

If you are wondering, "What the heck do you mean, there are Bigfoot in Maine?!" or if you have friends or family who have had their own inexplicable encounters, then this book will give you some good reading.

 You can buy a signed copy directly from me (no charge for that extra bit of commemorative ink) here:

https://greenhandbookshop.com/products/preorder-bigfoot-in-maine-by-michelle-souliere-signed

And with any luck, someday in the future, there will be a volume two to follow it up, because the story of Bigfoot in Maine is a living, evolving history.

Be well, everyone, and stay safe!

Monday, May 10, 2021

Call for info: old 1970s WBZ audio?

Here's a real shot-in-the-dark -- does anyone know someone who collects audio of old WBZ shows? I'm looking for some of Larry Glick's midnight radio shows from around 1971.  Please email me at michelle.souliere@gmail.com if you think you can help!  Thanks, all!

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Tomorrow (FRI)! Black Bear coffee chat

 Do you live near black bears in Maine?  Probably.  Wouldn't you like to know more about them?  I know I do!

Join MDIFW's Black Bear + Canada Lynx Biologist, Jen Vashon, for coffee tomorrow morning (Friday)! Jen will be discussing Maine's robust bear population and how to avoid conflicts with bears.

 Click here to watch, or set a reminder to participate in this live video chat on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBx7Pj_D79w

WHAT: Coffee chat with Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Biologist Jen Vashon about Black Bears and how to avoid conflict with our big neighbors

WHERE:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBx7Pj_D79w

WHEN: 9:30am on Friday, Mar 26, 2021

COST:  Free!

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Bigfoot in Maine: release date and BDN article!

Well, the cat's out of the bag now! Here's the first article about my upcoming book, Bigfoot in Maine. 😃https://bangordailynews.com/2021/03/23/news/portland/mainers-frightening-encounters-with-bigfoot-highlighted-in-new-book-and-film/ 
 
You can preorder a signed copy here on my site, it will be shipped for its release date of May 24th! https://greenhandbookshop.com/collections/new-arrivals/products/preorder-bigfoot-in-maine-by-michelle-souliere-signed

 I'll post the final cover art as soon as the design department at History Press gets it to me.  Thanks everyone!

192 pages of manuscript, done!

NOTE: 
While the article reports that "Bigfoot’s story in Maine begins with ancient Wabanaki traditional stories about a giant, manlike creature, known as the Wendigo, who frequents the Maine woods," in my book I specifically refrain from any lengthy discussion of Native American traditions since I don't have any authority or knowledge to speak of them. I'm not sure where that information in the article was drawn from, as it wasn't from my interview with the reporter, or the sample chapters I sent him.

Friday, March 19, 2021

Spirits Alive winter lecture finale - Maine Bicentennial epic!

Here's something fun to do while the weather is still iffy! It's the last episode in Spirits Alive at the Eastern Cemetery's winter lecture series - Saturday March 27th!! 


The Silent Bicentennial with Herb Adams 

Saturday, March 27 1:30pm to 2:30pm 

COVID-19 burst Maine’s Bicentennial (2020) like it was a battered balloon, but the boisterous years to Statehood (1820) and The Maine Centennial (1920) were anything but a bust. The story will be told in 2 parts: “To Make the Angels Weep! Maine’s Struggle for Statehood, 1820,” the true backstory of Kings and slavery, bad math and bad politics, defiance, and backroom deals that made Maine the 23rd State, and “The Big Parade—Centennial, 1920!” 

Maine’s biggest birthday bash ever included biplanes, submarines, silent movies, native encampments, cavalry charges, booming parades, and the governor in a canoe in Deering Oaks in Portland. 

Register for the Silent Bicentennial lecture here: 

 https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkcOGuqDwiGtyHDn-McY14xvlvzb3syxbr?mc_cid=e77902a091&mc_eid=a596575a85 

When: Saturday March 27th - Starts 1:30pm and lasts about an hour or so 

Located on Zoom—A different link is available for each event each month. 

Register in advance as the event is limited to 100 attendees

Once you are registered, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

Spirits Alive does this lecture series every winter, you can find more information about it on their website here: https://www.spiritsalive.org/lectures/