Paul Betit to speak, 
sign books at three
area libraries

Vietnam War veteran Paul Betit will talk about his books and how they came to be during talks at three libraries in Franklin County this month.

The Maine writer will hold book talks at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, at Rangeley Public Library; at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23, at Carrabassett Valley Library; and at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at New Vineyard Library.

The author of three crime novels set in the ’60s and ’70s featuring U.S. Army CID investigator John Murphy, Betit, of Brunswick, recently published “Let Me Tell A Story,” a mix of short fiction and memoir inspired by his military service during the Vietnam War and by growing up in Maine.

“It is quite a departure from the military crime novels I’ve written in the past,” he said. “The book reads like a novel, but it isn’t one.”

Betit’s most recent book is a collection of short stories that take place over 55 years.  

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“The narrator in one story is not necessarily the narrator of the next story or any of the stories that follow,” he said, “but the book has a definite chronological arc and a melancholy feel.”

Previously, Betit published “Phu Bai,” “Kagnew Station” and “The Man In The Canal,” military crime novels set in South Vietnam, Ethiopia and Sweden, respectively.

After his graduation in 1965 from Cony High School in Augusta, Betit served as an intelligence analyst with the U.S. Army Security Agency, receiving letters of commendation for his work in South Vietnam and Ethiopia.

Following his four years in the Army, Betit earned a journalism degree from the University of Maine.

During a newspaper career of nearly 44 years, Betit worked as a general assignment newspaper reporter or a sportswriter. His career includes lengthy stints at the Kennebec Journal in Augusta and at the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram. He still covers high school, college and pro sports for the Press Herald and Telegram on a freelance basis.

Inscribed copies of all four of his books will be available for purchase.

For more information about Betit and his books, visit paulbetit.com.

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