City inspires a tale of adventure
By Gail McCarthy, Staff Writer
One of James Masciarelli’s earliest memories from the age of 4 stems from spending time on Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester.
He well remembers the silky sand and expansive views and the homes overlooking the beach.
“I will live here one day,” he recalls thinking. And he succeeded, now dividing his time between Gloucester and Naples, Florida.
But he took that love of place to a new level when he penned an adventure novel about a Gloucester woman, Shannon Clarke, in a book titled “Beyond Beauport,” which was released on July 24. Clarke learns that she is an 11th generation descendant of a 1720s Caribbean female pirate — “a fearless redhead,” said the author.
Masciarelli, who grew up in Westborough, immersed himself in local history, with years of research — including genealogical research — in archives, museums and the library, to develop his characters and the story.
The main character has her dreams of becoming a sea captain revived when a mysterious uncle visits with tales of family connections to Caribbean pirates and famous Gloucester sea captains. They set out to sea to find answers about their family’s past.
