'All distinctly South Shore': Weymouth native writes book of locally inspired stories

Jessica Trufant, The Patriot Ledger
Updated ·3 min read
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WEYMOUTH – David Daniel describes growing up on the South Shore as a "time of innocence," when teenagers passed their summers with trips to the beach, drive-in movie theaters and Paragon Park in Hull.

Daniel attempts to capture some of that classic sense of summer in his new book "Beach Town," which will be published this month by Loom Press. It is a collection of stories set in the fictional South Shore town of Weybridge.

"It's a nostalgic look back at the times of clam digging and spending days at the beach with baby oil, but but there are some stories about the dark side of a small town," he said. "There's a mix of flavors and moods, but it's all distinctly South Shore."

This postcard, from the collection of former Hull Police Chief Dan Short, shows the entrance to Paragon Park in 1910.
This postcard, from the collection of former Hull Police Chief Dan Short, shows the entrance to Paragon Park in 1910.

Daniel, a 1963 graduate of Weymouth High School, has spent most of his career as a teacher and writer. Time in the U.S. Army took him to Texas and graduate school to Oregon, but he said he always returned to Massachusetts.

His novel "The Heaven Stone" won the St. Martin's Press/Private Eye Writers of America "best first mystery" prize in 1993 and launched the Lowell-based Alex Rasmussen mystery series. Over the last two decades, he's published 15 novels and collections of stories, a number of which are set on the South Shore.

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"Massachusetts was always home and I have a deep affinity and affection for the South Shore," he said. "Growing up there was a real incubator for ideas for me. You start to look back with fondness, and that's my connection to the stories."

In addition the the fictional town of Weybridge, Daniel refers to Adams Point for Quincy, Bingham for Hingham and Raintree for Braintree.

"Readers will recognize things about Weymouth, but changing the name gave some creative license," he said.

David Daniel is releasing a new book, "Beach Town," which will be published this month by Loom Press.
David Daniel is releasing a new book, "Beach Town," which will be published this month by Loom Press.

Daniel said some of the stories take place in the past, while others are in the present day. Some have a male narrator, while others are female and some are written in the first person.

"Like the changing tides, the shift whistles at the soap factory and the shipyard mark the rhythms of life in the beach town. This is a world of drive-ins, fast food, and double dates – a place as seemingly uncomplicated as a summer night’s ride on a carousel," the book's summary reads. "A lonely girl from 'away' seeks connection with classmates who give no notice; a harried salesman confronts a deep fear; a woman reckons with unfulfilled dreams. In stories poignant and sometimes mysterious, David Daniel imagines the loves and losses, the magic and hard realities ofcharacters revealed in moments of crisis or enlightenment."

Daniel will give a talk about his new book at 7:30 p.m. June 8 at Tufts Library in Weymouth.

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David Daniel is releasing a new book "Beach Town," which will be published this month by Loom Press.
David Daniel is releasing a new book "Beach Town," which will be published this month by Loom Press.

Reach Jessica Trufant at jtrufant@patriotledger.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Author David Daniel is publishing a book of South Shore stories