They wanted a pilot to steer them up the Kennebec, stopping at forts along the way. They weren’t novices, but they knew what they were in for if they tried it on their own, without a local. So they came out of the woods and threw a coat on his head.

Buy in Maine:

    “Maine, 1774. With searing emotional clarity, Ellen Cooney explores the fear and doubt experienced by ordinary people at the approach of war. Cooney masterfully weaves together the experiences of characters coming to terms with anguish and dread, and the staggering uncertainty war represents. Gun Ball Hill is a beautifully realized novel of ordinary people being drawn into terrible conflict.” From the jacket

    “Cooney’s painstaking historical details add weight to the authenticity of her characters’ experiences. She adds another dimension by imbuing her characters with a spiritual sense...This novel truly brings history to life. The historical period is specific, but the human themes are universal.” ForeWord Magazine

    “Ingenious and effective. The great thing about Gun Ball Hill is its empathy for the people of (eighteenth-century) Maine. A finely crafted narrative, a keen and sympathetic grasp of human nature, a convincing portrayal of place and time.” Downeast Magazine

    “Cooney’s prose is lively and often surprising. Each of her characters is fleshed out, earthy, and full of quirks.” Historical Novels Review

    “A careful, intelligent account of personal motives behind historical events. Dramatic and instructive.” Kirkus

                    From “Modern Writer Repays a Debt to Early Mainers,” An Interview with Ellen Cooney, Portland Press Herald: