Four matching Sandwich pressed dolphin double-step cobalt blue candlesticks sold for $4,600 in January 2015 at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates. Photo courtesy of Jeffrey S. Evans; William McGuffin, Photographer.
I’m often asked about the inspiration behind my Glass Dolphin Mysteries, and now that the series has been wrapped up, it seemed like a good time to share some fun facts about it. So here goes:
The Glass Dolphin is the name of an antiques shop where, according to owner Arabella Carpenter, “authenticity matters.” In early drafts of the novel, it was called the Blue Dolphin, until I discovered there was a Blue Dolphin Antiques in Maine (there’s also one in Oregon, and there are probably others, too). It just seemed easier to change the name.
The Glass Dolphin got its name from Arabella’s first antique “find,” a pair of cobalt blue dolphin candlestick holders, made by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company in Sandwich, Mass. Production of dolphin candlesticks began about 1840 and continued for 35 to 40 years. They were produced in clear or opaque milk glass, as well as in colored glass, including green, canary yellow, and cobalt blue. Blue is generally the most sought after color. You can read more about the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company in Facts in Fiction.
The Glass Dolphin shop is located on historic Main Street in Lount’s Landing, a small town about ninety minutes north of Toronto, Canada. The town of Lount’s Landing (on the Dutch River), is loosely based on Holland Landing (on the Holland River), where I lived for 25 years. The street was inspired by the neighbouring town of Newmarket’s Main Street.
The fictional Lount’s Landing was named after Samuel Lount, a blacksmith, farmer, and politician who lived in the village of Holland Landing in the nineteenth century. He was hanged for treason on April 12, 1838. There is a historic plaque dedicated to Samuel Lount in front of the Holland Landing Library and Community Centre. You can read more about Samuel Lount in Facts in Fiction.
This plaque is outside the Holland Landing Library and Community Centre.
Lount’s last words as he headed to his death were, “We die in a good cause; Canada will yet be free.” These words play a pivotal part in The Hanged Man’s Noose, book 1 in the series.
The Hanged Man’s Noose is the name of a local pub, owned and operated by Betsy Ehrlich, a history buff and a good friend of Arabella’s. Her signature drink is the Treasontini, a blueberry vodka martini. Find the recipe in Food & Drink.
The Hanged Man’s Noose also offers a good selection of pub food, including Arabella’s favorite: Full Noose Nachos. Download the recipe here.
Arabella’s sleuthing partner is Emily Garland, a former freelance journalist and local magazine editor, and now a partner in the Glass Dolphin. A bacon eating “vegetarian,” Emily’s name comes from Emily in Emily Climbs by L.M. Montgomery (my favorite book as a child) and my namesake, Judy Garland.
Arabella’s ex-husband, Levon Larroquette, is an antiques picker (think American Pickers). He is also a major character in each book. In my head, Levon looks like a young Kris Kristofferson (think A Star is Born, 1976). Levon’s name is a combination of the Elton John song, Levon, and the last name of actor John Larroquette. Find out more about Levon here.
The last name of Garrett Stonehaven, the developer in The Hanged Man’s Noose, was inspired by Stonehaven, an affluent neighborhood in Newmarket.
Arabella Carpenter makes a guest appearance in all three books in my Marketville Mystery series. Levon joins her in A Fool’s Journey, book 3 in the series.
All factual information in each book has been carefully researched; I was the Senior Editor at New England Antiques Journal from 2008 through 2018, and prior to that, the Editor for Antiques & Collectibles Showcase. And like Emily Garland, I was also a freelance journalist for many years, writing and editing a variety of trade publications, including Home BUILDER Canada.
FIND THE GLASS DOLPHIN & MARKETVILLE MYSTERIES IN TRADE PAPERBACK, AUDIO, AND E-BOOK AT ALL THE USUAL SUSPECTS.
*A version of this post originally appeared on www.joanneguidoccio.com. Check out her blog and her books. Both are terrific.