Wednesday's Child

Wednesday's Child is the 1997 winner of the Maine Chapbook Award. It is in its third printing. It is taught at universities throughout New England. Introduction in the book:

This is a book about a female growing up, living in, trying to leave her cultural self behind, and then returning to the Franco-American cultural group which exists in the Northeast, and more specifically in Waterville, Maine. The book addresses what has been asked of me in order to be present to this cultural group of people. As a girl/woman who or how have I been asked to be? What has been asked of me? The book is written from the perspective of a contemporary woman who is also an historical person. The book is also as much about the conditions in which the Franco-American group exists as well as the writing about what it means to be Franco-American and female. This is a book about how we are our historical self while we are in the present. I am more of my past--than I am of the present moment--when it is in the present moment that I now exist. What is, or is not, reflected in my reality and the reality of other Franco-Americans? This book is about the female self and her formation through the many individuals and institutions around her. Through story and cultural filters, the book illustrates family, friends, religion, health, alcoholism, superstitions, art & craft, beliefs, values, song, recipe, story, coming-of-age, generations, motherhood, language, bilingualism, denials, sexuality and what constitutes a cultural individual in a society that will not always allow that person full access or realization to who she is. But she does it anyway.

Cote Robbins was brought up bilingually in a Franco-American neighborhood in Waterville, Maine known as "down the Plains". She attended Waterville High School and graduated in 1971. Her maman came from Wallagrass, a town in the northern part of the state and her father was from Waterville. She has spent many years researching the origins and visiting the hometowns of her ancestors in Canada and France.

She attended the University of Maine at Presque Isle, 1980-1982, graduating with an A.A. degree with a concentration in Art. In 1982-85, she attended the University of Maine on a bilingual education scholarship. She edited an international, bilingual socio-cultural journal entitled, Le FORUM at the Franco-American Center from 1986-96. She has written for several other publication as well.

Ct Robbins was the 1997 winner of the Maine Chapbook Award for her work of creative nonfiction entitled, Wednesday's Child. She is currently working on a book of literary criticism on Grace de Repentigny Metalious, author of Peyton Place. She received her M.A. from the University of Maine in May, 1997. She is a founder and Executive Director of the Franco-American Women's Institute.

She lives in Brewer with her husband, David. They have three children, Bridget, Benjamin married to Jana Bishop, and Jesse.