Author Interview – Sarah Beth Martin – author of In the Vanishing Hour and The One True Ocean (Encircle Publications). Her short fiction and essays have appeared in Cicada, Pearl, West Wind Review, Barbaric Yawp, Women Writers, Women’s Books, and Flash Fiction Magazine, among others. She lives in coastal Maine, where she is finishing her third novel.

What they are saying about In the Vanishing Hour:

“Martin expertly moves between characters and timelines, blending past and present together, all the while slowly unraveling details that keep the reader guessing
and on the edge of their seat, desperate to know more.” —Independent Book Review

Here is an excerpt:

“Frances moved closer to the open back door. The music swelled from inside, and a faint beat drummed beneath her feet. At the end of a long, dark hallway, amber light glowed against a brick wall. She imagined a romantic, dimly lit interior, a crowd of people dancing under misty light. She wanted to go in, to be swallowed up in the magic mist at the end of the hall. Inhaling deeply, she smelled the sweet perfume of enchanted men and women, and imagined what it was like to be Gwen Mann.”

Meet Sarah Beth Martin

What is your book about?

In the Vanishing Hour is about a young woman living in the shadow of her dead brother who takes on the likeness of a drowning victim to haunt a suspicious man. As the mystery unravels, shocking revelations about its connection to a long-ago family tragedy come to the surface.

Why did you want to write this book?

This story began with my fascination with places gone and forgotten—or more specifically, a former amusement site in Massachusetts that I couldn’t get out of my mind. As I turned this real place into my fictional setting, two characters came to mind, both haunted by loss and guilt. As these characters grew into the setting, their journeys began to intertwine. Eventually, I became so haunted by the characters and place, that I couldn’t stop writing it. 

What’s next for you? 

I’m currently finishing my third novel, which is another dual timeline, dual protagonist narrative. The story travels from present-day to early 20th-century New England and weaves a suspenseful tale about family secrets, identity, and the power of memory.  

What do you hope other people will take away from reading your book?

I didn’t realize what I wanted people to take away from the book until the reviews came out. Readers have given me a deeper insight into the emotional aspects of the book I didn’t expect to resonate. I had hoped they would feel my characters’ emotions and immerse themselves in the 1950s setting, but I never expected them to feel the sense of nostalgia that many have expressed in their reviews. Also, despite the novel’s dark themes, some have called the story “heartfelt,” and this brings me more joy than I ever imagined. 

How can our readers get a copy of your book?

The book is available on Amazon and other online retailers in eBook, paperback, and hardcover format, and is also available in bookstores. You can also buy the book through the Encircle Publications website. 

What is the best way for our readers to connect with you? 

Readers can connect with me at the following links:

https://www.sarahbethmartin.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55513.Sarah_Beth_Martin

https://www.facebook.com/sarahbethmartinauthor

https://www.instagram.com/sbethmartin/

https://twitter.com/SBethMartin