The Franco-American Centre presents

An Evening with Franco-American Author, Lorraine Dutile Masure

Maine author, Lorraine Dutile Masure, invites you to join her at the Dana Center at 6:30 pm, Tuesday, November 28. There, she will talk about her book, GROWING UP FRANCO-AMERICAN (WITH NO BLACK PATENT-LEATHER SHOES), read a short excerpt, answer questions (no math, please), and be available to sign copies.  Although both the title and the book’s contents narrowly detail growing up in an “orthodox” Franco-American environment, readers will agree its gist could truly apply to any ethnicity.

Seniors too will see themselves in her stories.  And younger people will be amazed (that’s code for “wicked”) at how quaint life was not so long ago.  Informative and, as the author reflects back through the rear-view mirror of her own life, some of it’s pretty funny too.

Intended for all, Growing Up… is the intriguing story of courageous grandparent and parent immigrants who heartily embraced their new country, the United States, yet remained inherently true to many of their cherished Old World traditions.   Acting as a cultural tourguide, Masure tells stories of what it was really like growing up with a rich Franco heritage across multiple venues of home, family, church, school, and other settings. As part of the book’s dedication, she cites her parents whom she names “fiddlers on the roof,” whose Old World traditions imbued their children’s lives with mission and harmony.

Lorraine Dutile Masure, a former university administrator, has lived in Maine most of her 83 years with a salty ardor she avows is incontrovertible.  She joyfully enjoys presenting oral paraphrases of her book and leads Senior College classes about Broadway musicals. 

Although this is her first attempt at “book writing,” she has been published a number of times locally, regionally, and once nationally.  Otherwise she delights living in Maine, often penning observations of a more current nature under the supervision of her little cat, Molly.

The book will be available for sale at the event. 

Want to read the book prior to meeting Madame Masure? Click here to purchase it online.

This free event is open to all and presented in English.

Send inquiries to [email protected] or call  603-641-7114