BRUNSWICK

Times Record readers may easily recognize the name Sarah Smiley.

Smiley, who currently lives in Bangor with her husband and three sons, has been a columnist for the Brunswick paper since 2004, in addition to her work appearing in the Bangor Daily News, even before she came to live in Maine.

Next month, Smiley will be releasing a new book titled “Got Here As Soon As I Could: In Search of the Way Life Should Be,” published by DownEast Books. Her new memoir is a collection of columns she wrote about her family’s first seven years in Maine after moving from Florida in 2008.

She has written three other books including “Dinner with the Smileys,” “Going Overboard: The Misadventures of a Military Wife” and a collection of essays titled “I’m Just Saying…”

Smiley and her family will also be at the Mustard Seed Bookstore in Bath for a book signing on April 12 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

The Times Record: What has your experience been like as a newspaper columnist?

Sarah Smiley: When I began, I lived in Florida, but because I often wrote from a military wife’s point-of-view, other papers around the country — particularly ones near military bases — picked up my column too. In fact, the Brunswick Times Record was the first newspaper to publish my column outside of Florida. Many of my Times Record readers didn’t realize that I lived in Florida and they’d write me and say, “I hope I run into you at the grocery store some day,” and I’d reply, “Me too, but it’s doubtful … I live in Florida.” When I announced in the column that the military was moving us to Maine, my Times Record readers were so excited. They sent me great advice about preparing for our transition.

When I was teaching a class at University of Maine a few years ago, I mentioned that I write for newspapers. A freshman male in the back said, “Wait a minute, you write for the Times Record! I’m from Brunswick. My fifth grade English teacher used to make us read your column.” Boy, that made me feel kind of old. But I love that I have such a history with Times Record readers. Many of them have watched my children grow up in the pages of my column.

TR: Tell us more about your new book.

SS: Although I came to Maine kicking and screaming, I fell in love with the state the first month we lived here. So I consider this book as sort of a love letter to Maine. It is a collection of columns I’ve written about moving to Maine, falling in love with Maine and eventually settling our family here. Taken together, it’s the story of how I found the greatest place on Earth to raise children and how I know that were I to leave Maine now, I’d spend the rest of my life trying to get back here.

The columns in the book also show how living in Maine changed my philosophy about parenting. I was an uptight parent in Florida. But it’s hard to contain your children in Maine where there are so many mountains, forests and lakes to explore.

TR: How do you hope readers will relate to your essays and stories?

SS: I hope people outside of Maine will read these stories and realize that while Maine may seem like it’s “stuck in the past” to outsiders, our way used to be America’s way too. Most neighborhoods used to operate the way Maine still does now. I really believe that is why so many newspapers and readers have stayed with me even though my column has shifted to being very Maine-focused since our move in 2008. When people hear my stories about Maine, I think it reminds them of their childhood. Maybe they mourn that wherever they live today just isn’t like that anymore. But it can be! The rest of the country could learn a lot from Maine – about our sidewalks, neighborhood, schools and parks, and our commitment to keeping so much of nature available to everyone.

TR: Why did you get into writing, and how did you balance that with family life?

SS: I started writing during my husband’s first deployment. I had a newborn (Ford, my oldest son) and wanted something of my own. I’d write at night while he was asleep. I used to do a lot of writing at night when the kids were asleep. Now that they are older and in school, I write while they are gone during the day.

TR: If you could share one piece of parenting advice with families, what would it be?

SS: Let go and let them be bored. We schedule too much for our kids today. Boredom is a wonderful thing because it prompts creativity. Stop scheduling so many after school activities. Let them go outside and play — without you.

Also, little boys who don’t take small risks grow up to be adult men who take more dangerous risks. I read that in a psychology paper somewhere along the way. It’s so true. We think we are protecting our boys by not letting them climb to the top of the monkey bars because we are afraid they’ll get hurt. But the small risks of childhood are where bigger learning happens.

dkim@timesrecord.com