Summer of 1840: On the shores of Singletary... (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781546698227)

An avid enthusiast of living history, Art Martin has always been intrigued with roots: roots of religion, roots of family, and roots of life in America during the early 1800's. It was with this intrigue of roots that he set out to write his first novel, "Summer of 1840," a historical fiction based on a simple letter entitled "Happiness," written by Lucinda Bixby on November 4th, 1840. He discovered the letter in a small leather chest, uncovered while he was restoring Lucinda's house in Millbury, MA, the house that she grew up in. Art now lives with his wife Vicki in the neighboring town of Sutton, MA, in a house built by Amos Waters in 1816, meticulously restored by them over the past five years. Art has creatively weaved the history of these houses, and the towns where they are located, into his book. Art and Vicki have volunteered at Old Sturbridge Village for more than ten years where they presently interpret Early American Dance. As students of George Fogg, an expert in Early American Dance, Art and Vicki danced every Tuesday night for nearly five years at the Wayside Inn, previously known as The Red Horse Tavern, where the ghost of Jerusha Howe is alive and well. Art presently works at Clark University in Worcester as an advisor to small business owners and is an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate School of Management. Art is currently searching for the next intriguing artifact to wrap a tale around.