Sarah Beth Martin's Blog, page 2
June 22, 2022
Vanishing Origins
My new novel, In the Vanishing Hour, takes place in the fictional town of Norumbega, inspired by a real life place I will never get out of my mind.
My fascination with Norumbega Park in Newton, Massachusetts began with the tower. The late nineteenth-century stone monument stands along the Charles river in Weston, not far from my childhood home. When I was young, it was accessible to the public, and my siblings and I would climb the spiral stairway to the top and look out through the river trees. Across and just down the river, a large hotel stood on the banks of the Charles. At the time, I never thought to wonder what stood there before.
It was thirty years later when I learned about Norumbega Park. Built in 1897, it was one of the most glorious and popular attractions on the east coast. Nestled among lush trees along the Commonwealth Avenue trolley route, it featured an outdoor theater, penny arcades, a petting zoo and amusement rides. In the 1930s, its famous Totem Pole Ballroom welcomed swing bands such as Artie Shaw, Bennie Goodman and Gene Krupa. The park slowly declined and eventually closed in 1964, and the Marriott hotel was built a few years later on the former ballroom site.
The towns, streets, and other locales of In the Vanishing Hour are fictional, but are inspired by these nostalgic settings. The 1950s and 1970s timelines add that evocative touch to the haunting New England atmosphere.
More to come on the origins of this story that has been a long labor of love for me. I hope you’ll join me on my journey to the book’s release on October 19, 2022. In the meantime, feel free to follow me and my novel here on Goodreads.
The book is also available for pre-order on Kindle (paperback and hardcover coming soon). An advance reader copy is available for approved reviewers on BookSirens. Join my review team before spots run out!
https://booksirens.com/author/RQM3NOP...
My fascination with Norumbega Park in Newton, Massachusetts began with the tower. The late nineteenth-century stone monument stands along the Charles river in Weston, not far from my childhood home. When I was young, it was accessible to the public, and my siblings and I would climb the spiral stairway to the top and look out through the river trees. Across and just down the river, a large hotel stood on the banks of the Charles. At the time, I never thought to wonder what stood there before.
It was thirty years later when I learned about Norumbega Park. Built in 1897, it was one of the most glorious and popular attractions on the east coast. Nestled among lush trees along the Commonwealth Avenue trolley route, it featured an outdoor theater, penny arcades, a petting zoo and amusement rides. In the 1930s, its famous Totem Pole Ballroom welcomed swing bands such as Artie Shaw, Bennie Goodman and Gene Krupa. The park slowly declined and eventually closed in 1964, and the Marriott hotel was built a few years later on the former ballroom site.
The towns, streets, and other locales of In the Vanishing Hour are fictional, but are inspired by these nostalgic settings. The 1950s and 1970s timelines add that evocative touch to the haunting New England atmosphere.
More to come on the origins of this story that has been a long labor of love for me. I hope you’ll join me on my journey to the book’s release on October 19, 2022. In the meantime, feel free to follow me and my novel here on Goodreads.
The book is also available for pre-order on Kindle (paperback and hardcover coming soon). An advance reader copy is available for approved reviewers on BookSirens. Join my review team before spots run out!
https://booksirens.com/author/RQM3NOP...
