Celebrate Gloucester at Cruiseport Gloucester

Some people just have big ideas. And some people have big ideas and the money to facilitate them, that is the advantage that Cruiseport Gloucester has benefitted from. For years people here have been trying to think of new ways to attract business to the area and one investor with the money to spend has come up with an amazing idea, Cruiseport Gloucester.

The Cruiseport is an impressive building that is being polished up this week to open this weekend. It will serve as a welcoming center for cruise hips such as the Rotterdam that have begun visiting our harbor in the summer time. The Cruiseport will have a restaurant, a function hall, rest rooms and many other amenities so that those coming into port on these huge cruise ships can take a break, find out about our city and plan their day.

This weekend there is a big celebration planned to launch Cruiseport. They are calling it “Celebrate Gloucester” and it is a multi-arts event featuring artists and artisans, performers, music, and (ta-DA!) a collection of local authors. I am very happy about this because it is the first arts festival held here that I am aware of that plans to include authors in the festivities.

Throughout the weekend the authors will be available in the upstairs ballroom to sell their books, meet and greet, sign books, read, and participate in discussions about writing. Among those scheduled are Peter Prybot, author of a number of books including Lobstering Off Cape Ann; Ronald Gilson, author of An Island No More; Joe Orlando, Gloucester’s own John Grisham, a local maritime attorney who has written two successful legal thrillers about the challenges faced by Gloucester fishermen, The Fisherman’s Son and The Bastard’s Weapon. Mark will also be there with F/V Black Sheep.

And so will I! Originally I had hoped to introduce The Old Mermaid’s Tale at this event but the books aren’t ready yet. Hopefully I will have one copy to show and maybe take orders for. I will have My Last Romance and other passions available as well as Lila Monell’s book of poetry, Split-Image Focus, and Level Best Books’ latest collection Seasmoke, in which I have a short story.

This is all very exciting even if I don’t have my book to present. I am sad about that because it would get a lot of publicity but I was late getting it off to press so I can’t blame anyone but myself.

As I have been working on the text for the NSAA’s book The Past & The Present: Time and Space Cannot Separate Them I realize what a rich, long, remarkable history this little island has where the arts are concerned. I already knew that but it is just more incredible all the time. So it makes me feel wonderful to know that the tradition of Gloucester celebrating the arts is continuing and that I can be a part of it.

I was watching an interview last night with writer Margaret Atwood and she was talking about the novelist as a born romantic. As she said, “Romantics write novels, non-romantics write reports.” I love what she has to say because she is so accomplished at creating her own worlds and re-arranging reality in her stories. I love that she can do that. It made me realize that it is a very good thing to be able to live in the world as a writer or an artist and to see the world with new eyes day after day after day. And to live in a town where you have the companionship of your fellows is even better.

Celebrate Gloucester this weekend at the Cruiseport. We are blessed.

Thanks for reading.