MONHEGAN — Matt Weber, a resident of Monhegan Island, is celebrating the publication of his debut book Making Tracks: How I Learned to Love Snowmobiling in Maine (Islandport Press). 

The book describes Weber’s many snowmobiling adventures in the state from learning the ropes of snowmobiling to exploring parts of the state on a snowmobile. 

Weber, who owns Monhegan Brewing Company and Lake St. George Brewing Company, was inspired to write this book for two reasons: Nobody has ever written a book about snowmobiling in Maine and he has always wanted to write a book. 

“I thought maybe there would be a niche market, and certainly the topic might appeal to many Mainers,” said Weber, who is also a lobsterman. “Winters on Monhegan are a wonderful time to get things of this nature rolling, and one January morning, when the wind was blowing too much to haul traps, I sat down at the laptop and just started typing, without a clear plan. The next morning I kept going, and pretty soon I realized I was writing a book.” 

After starting to write the book in the winter of 2017, Weber finished the manuscript in January 2018, edited it to the best of his abilities, and submitted it for publishing in early March 2018. 

His summer schedule is full with his duties with his brewing companies, so he did not accomplish much writing during the summer. He did not intend to, and went four months without adding a single page to it during the brewery’s summer season. 

Writing the book, especially after those four months, was a challenge. 

“The hardest part of writing this book was picking up where I left off the winter before, trying to finish the manuscript,” he said. “There were a few days when I’d open the laptop, stare slackjawed at the screen for a while, and realize my mind was completely blank.” 

It was not until a week or so after coming back to continue the book that he finally was able to regain his rhythm and add to the book. Even then, he said, there were difficult times. 

“The nice thing about writing this was honestly the subject matter,” he stated. “I love winter, and Maine, and being outdoors, and snowmobiles. So I found it fun to relive the various trips and escapades I’ve been lucky enough to experience, and most of the time writing this felt like I was having a beer with someone and talking about riding.” 

Discussing key points for readers to take away from his book, Weber noted he feels it is important for readers to understand the importance of snowmobiling to Maine’s culture and what snowmobiling contributes to the economy. 

“The Maine Snowmobile Association is commissioning an economic review of the business, which hasn’t been done in many years, and I think we’ll see that the sport brings in several hundred million dollars to various parts of the state, and that makes it a very important part of Maine,” he said. 

The book, he said, is intended to be light-hearted and something readers can pick up anytime, turn to any page, and start reading. 

“I hope that anyone who reads the book will get a laugh or two, and maybe decide to try it out if they haven’t already, and go see just how outstanding Maine in winter really is,” Weber said. “For the folks who already ride, maybe they can relate to some of my trips and trials, and maybe they’ll go for a ride some place new.” 

There is one thing in particular Weber hopes will occur when a particular demographic of readers pick up his book. 

“What I truly would love to see is young readers pick it up and get mesmerized the way I do when I find a book I love,” he said. “Somehow I managed to write an entire book without a swear word in it so it’s family friendly to boot!” 

In the future, Weber intends to write additional books, but is unsure when that will come. He has no plans to begin writing those books this winter, but he will probably do some field research. 

Making Tracks is available on the Islandport Press website, the Monhegan Brewing Company website, Amazon, and at all Maine stores that sell books. There are plans to stock the book in as many sled shops as possible. 

Reach George Harvey at: sports@penbaypilot.com.