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About

Kevin C. Mills has been an award-winning journalistfor over 20 years. During his career he has written for the Lewiston SunJournal, The Boston Globe, The Portland Press Herald and the Lynn Daily EveningItem, as well as freelancing for various newspapers and magazines.

He has been recognized multiple times by the MainePress Association as well as the New England Press Association, the MaineAssociation of Basketball Coaches and the Maine Interscholastic AthleticAdministrators Association.

In addition to his work as a journalist, hepublished a novel, Sons and Daughters ofthe Ocean in October 2010. He followed that with a nonfiction work called Sidelined, based on his career as asports journalist.

Sonsand Daughters of the Ocean is based loosely on themaritime history of various ancestors. The characters are rooted in true lifeexperiences from the age of sail and portray an accurate account of life manygenerations ago. It is about three teens growing up in small Maine coastalvillage in which all lives are impacted by the fortunes of the sea.

Sidelinedlooks at journalism in a unique way. Reliving his own experiences with some ofNew England’s top newspapers, Mills presents strange but true episodes from hisown career. He chronicles some of his favorite incidents with humor and witwhile presenting the finished product, which barely hint at the story behindits publication.

Description

Laura Hoopes takes you along as she tries to enter science in the 1960's in the post-Sputnik science education frenzy, only to find doors closed to women. She persists, makes a career of molecular gerontology and insists on making space for marriage and children in her life. This inspiring read says, "Yes, you can," to women who have dreams of their own.

Story Behind The Book

Sons and Daughters of the Ocean follows the lives of three young teens growing up on the working waterfront of a small Maine coastal village, Brooks Harbor. A close proximity to the sea defines the community and shapes the lives of its people. The community is filled with merchant mariners, shipbuilders and crew. Those that don't earn their keep directly off the sea-faring life either profit or benefit from it. The story is based in the 1870's and takes readers back to the age of sail, where fortunes were made and lives were shaped by the fickle winds that raged across the oceans. Albert Miller, Sammy Jones and Sarah Dyer are all products of that environment. Their families have rich maritime histories and all three characters are about to embark on a distinctive course in their lives that will change them forever. Mills is an Owls Head resident and both his parents were born and raised in Rockland. His grandfather was a former assistant lighthouse keeper at the Rockland Breakwater. His ancestors were shipbuilders, merchant mariners and lighthouse keepers. Sons and Daughters of the Ocean is based loosely on that heritage. Two of his ancestors, poetess Celia Thaxter and maritime author George S. Wasson, were integral parts of Maine's early literary heritage.

Reviews

""Your gift of writing is so smooth, powerful and graceful. I keep wanting to just sit and keep reading." ... Maryann, Portland, Maine "Sons and Daughters of the Ocean is the first of a three-part trilogy that is based on the author's own family history. The story is told in various voices. Mainly those of Albert Miller and Sarah Dyer; each chapter is dedicated to one character and nicely done in a voice of that particular era of 1850s. Kevin Mills writes with such authority on the subject of sail, that you feel safe in his hands as he guides you through the lives of his characters living on the coast of Maine. The story opens on the high seas where we meet Captain George Fuller at the helm, and his dying wife in a cabin having just given birth to their first child. I am immediately drawn by the emotion that Kevin Mills writes in, and attention to detail. By chapter three we are introduced to the wealthy David Watson, this time inshore at his home, and it is so well written that I found myself disappointed that I am pulled away from Captain George Fuller and his newly dead wife. But I'm entranced by Albert's story at sea, and Sarah's (the main characters), as she continues her life on shore away from her beloved Albert. In my view the story is about destiny, rather than sailing. Superbly written." ... Louise, author of a Proper Charlie, England "I really enjoyed reading this book. I felt like I was taken back to this small coastal village in Maine in the late 1800's. The book is about the lives of three teens in a Maine town where shipbuilding is king. All three characters are wonderful and intriguing. Bouncing back-and-forth between their first-person accounts really takes you into their lives and thinking. I loved feeling the excitement of Sammy Jones going off to sea. I could feel Albert's search for destiny. Sarah's strength as well as her pain and longing for her love at sea was enduring. It just gave me a great look at life in those times and put me in that place through the eyes of these characters. Even the characters around them drew me into the story and helped create this world at the sea's doorstep. It was exciting to be at sea with them while the drama at home was just as gripping. With the finish of each chapter I wanted to read the next to see how Albert, Sarah or Sammy were doing. It really is more than a historical novel or a book about sailing. It is a story about life, love and destiny and how young people evolve and shape themselves and their purpose. It made for an exciting and heart warming book and one I'd recommend to readers of all kinds. " ... Casey, Rockland, Maine "I don't even like stories about life at sea!!! I read this book because I know the author. I loved the story!! I enjoyed every chapter; felt like I was a friend or family with the characters; and I worried and thought about them when I wasn't reading the story. Kevin's descriptions make the reader experience life at sea. I felt compassion for the families at home. I sincerely loved every word of this book. I wish there would be a sequel, please?" ... Jeanne, Searsport, Maine "With my own heritage steeped along the coast of Maine I could understand the deep love for the ocean and the way of life depicted in this book. Mills has certainly caught the essence of coastal Maine life, and weaves an excellent tale chronicling the intertwining lives of the main characters. Whether you love the sea or not, this book is well worth the reading. " ... Jerry, Georgia "I found this a great book to read. It was written from the viewpoint of 3 different characters. You can tell just by reading the chapter which character is doing the writing. If you enjoy the sea, history, sailing or just a book about families on the Maine Coast, you'll love this book. " ... Cheryl, Rockland, Maine "Thank you. Thank you - for sending your book to me. I WAS reading Clive Cussler but got into your book and I find it a great read. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to have your book and look forward to future works. Keep up the writing. You've got a great gift." ... Marcia, Scotia, New York "I enjoyed your book very much and liked the style it was written in. Writing in the first person gives one a better perpective in knowing the character. I liked your vivid description of the wind, waves and rain of the heavy weather. I read that part of the book in my kitchen with a hot cup of tea to keep me warm and comfortable. " ... Leonard, Clark, New Jersey "I recently completed a new novel by Kevin C. Mills, and yes, he is a relative. Now let's be clear, I didn't just read the book because Kevin wrote it, although that would be reason enough. I read the book because I already knew that it chronicled the lives of our ancestors in the late 1800's. In the words of the author, Sons and Daughters of the Ocean ... “ is a historical look back at a small coastal village – Brooks Harbor, Maine. A close proximity to the ocean creates an environment in which the shipping industry is the lifeblood of the town. The community is filled with merchant mariners, shipbuilders and crew. Those that don't earn their keep directly from the sea-faring life either profit or benefit from the shipping industry. Sammy Jones, Albert Miller and Sarah Dyer are products of that environment. Their families have rich maritime histories and all three characters are about to embark on a distinctive course in their lives that will change them forever. They are not only products of their environment but also have their fortunes shaped by the ocean's impact.” <div style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"> </div> <div style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;">The story would have been interesting enough, and certainly stands on it’s own with out the rudiments of family history wound all through it, but the added excitement of tracing family history and heritage through the lives of Albert Miller (my great grand father Albert R. Mills) and Sarah Dyer (my great grandmother, Sarah Douglass Mills) made it a book hard to put down. The story is set in Brooks Harbor, Maine, which is actually Brooksville, Maine roots are wound around most everything. You can pick up the history on the book itself from the author at <a href="http://www.kevincmills.com/">www.kevincmills.com</a>. </div> If you love history, especially of life along the coast of Maine, this is a must read. Amazon has it, but Kev makes more money if you order it from his web site. ... Paul, Georgia - from the blog <a href="http://apps.millspf.com/Blog/">http://apps.millspf.com/Blog/</a>

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Breaking Through the Spiral Ceiling: An American Woman Becomes a DNA Scientist

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