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“Always, there is the sea.” Nowhere is this saying more resonant than on Nantucket, a tiny elbow of sand off the coast of Massachusetts. Packed with beauty, history, and community, Nantucket is a place that time seems to have forgotten. Photographers Amanda Lumry and Loren Wengerd, along with writer Laura Hurwitz, have lovingly captured the essence of this unique place in "Simply Nantucket" (http://www.eaglemontpress.com, $19.95 laminated trade paperback), an evocative new book. This loving tribute to the island is a compilation of ninety timeless photographs by Lumry and Wengerd along with five heartfelt essays by Hurwitz (a summer resident for 25 years). The writing and photos reveal not only the island’s rich past, but also its present tight-knit community. Only fourteen miles long and three and a half miles wide, Nantucket is approximately 80 miles from Boston and 270 miles from New York City and has roughly 4,000 year-round residents. But during the summer months the population grows to nearly 12,000. Surrounded by 82 miles of white sandy beaches, Nantucket appeals to those looking to get away from it all for a weekend, a week or longer ... for a vacation, a destination wedding, to celebrate a special time with loved ones or friends, or to quietly regroup ... in spring, summer, fall, and even in winter. Events such as - Sandcastle and Sculpture Day (8/19/06) - Nantucket Arts Festival (9/30/06 - 10/8/06) - The Cranberry Harvest Festival (October and November) - Annual Christmas Stroll Weekend (12/1/06 - 12/3/06) are all times that small island’s strong sense of community is shared by one and all. “Nantucketers are habitually independent,” Hurwitz writes, “but they look out for one another.” This caring for each other is an extension of their caring for the island. Nantucketers have taken great care to preserve the island’s historic features and to keep its land pure. Thanks to conservation efforts, over 40% of the island will never be built upon, ensuring that Nantucket keeps its timeless beauty and history. Residents, visitors, and even armchair travelers will experience the charm of Nantucket artfully shared in "Simply Nantucket." Whether drawn to the island for its history, beauty, or culture, those who dream of sun-kissed beaches and quiet country roads will find it captured in the pages of this book to experience again and again — any time, anywhere. Originally a Native American settlement, the name Nantucket is derived from a Native American phrase meaning “Faraway Island.” The island was later colonized by farmers, and then by whalers. Now Nantucket is enjoying a fourth life as a cherished home for some and vacation destination for many. With "Simply Nantucket," the authors have constructed a photographic celebration and fitting homage to a place that continues to enthrall people year after year. The serene beaches, caring communities, and historical landmarks are beautifully captured by the author and photographers. The timeless beauty found in the images and essays makes it clear why this “Faraway Island” continues to cast a spell over visitors and islanders alike. Each year more history and memories accumulate on the island, and there watching, as always, is the sea. The following excerpts offer a glimpse of the magic to be found both on the island of Nantucket and in the magical "Simply Nantucket" written by Laura Hurwitz with stunning photographs by Amanda Lumry and Loren Wengerd. “…Centuries ago, thirty miles out to sea was far away. Now, high-speed ferries and planes make this distance easily traversable. In an instant, cell phones and the Internet connect islanders to the pulse of modern life. Still, it doesn’t matter that advances in transportation and technology have made Nantucket more accessible; the soul of the island resolutely maintains its distance. When you are cautiously navigating the cobblestone streets or watching the waves swell out in the vast Atlantic, life, as you know it, feels about a million miles away. Time stops here, caught in the fragrant tang of the salt air and the sonorous sigh of the foghorn. Nantucket is one Grey Lady who has not, over time, lost her mystery or her magic.…” “…yearly traditions provide a legacy of fun and anticipation, but Nantucket’s true sense of community lasts year-round. Nantucketers are habitually independent, but they look out for one another. The sense of community is an extension of their love of their island and their fellow islanders. Their bond is palpable; you can hear it in people’s morning greetings as you walk down the street, and see it in their smiles as they share the news of the day. Nantucket is a caring place. “I overheard a child on the street asking his mother about the Ghost Walks offered in the evening in the summer. ‘I bet I know why there are ghosts here,’ he told her. ‘People love it so much that no one wants to leave.’” To request a review copy, arrange an interview with the author or photographers, request cover or interior art to be sent to you electronically, or for any additional information, please contact Kate Bandos at KSB Promotions • 800-304-3269 or 616-676-0758 • fax 616-676-0759. To view some sample pages, go to http://www.eaglemontpress.com and click on the book cover.
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