West Roxbury Author Explains Research Behind New Book

Author William Martin walked the Civil War battle fields, researched photos and documents from the Library of Congress, and read historic newspaper articles to write his recent novel, The Lincoln Letter. 

The best selling author returned to his home of West Roxbury on Thursday night to share details on how he conducted research to write his latest novel at the West Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library.  

Matin said he read newspapers from the Civil War, walked the battlefield of Gettysburg and Ball's Bluff and saw rare pictures of Washington DC that he's never seen before.

The West Roxbury felt at home during his visit.

“This is my favorite library,” Martin said.  “It’s where I first learned to borrow books.” 

Many readers, including Sabina Stanton, a West Roxbury resident attended Martin’s lecture because she was interested in the Civil War.

“I wanted to meet him and ask questions,” Stanton said.  “I’ve always been interested in reading about Lincoln.  I found his story to be so interesting that I ended up seeing the Lincoln movie.”

Martin said his book sale boomed  before and after the movie.

The historical novelist is best known for his book, Back Bay, which was published in 1979 and reached the New York Times bestseller list.

Martin has also written an award-winning PBS documentary, one of the cheesiest horror movies ever made, magazine articles, and book reviews for The Boston Globe.

The West Roxbury native was the recipient of the 2005 New England Book Award, given to "an author whose body of work stands as a significant contribution to the culture of the region.