Mattapoisett Man and His Granddaughter Join Forces to Write About the Area

Mattapoisett’s Henry Quinlan has been a publisher his entire life and his most recent project saw him picking up the pen and writing about an area that he fell in love with 10 years ago: the SouthCoast.

The idea was sparked after a thrilling sky diving adventure.

“For my 80th birthday, I went skydiving with one of my granddaughters,” Quinlan said. “It was so thrilling, so I started thinking of something else to do with her.”

Thirty years ago, Quinlan was the operator of Quinlan Press and has published countless books. He decided to call upon his background in books to continue bonding with his granddaughter, Caroline Murphy.

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Murphy has an eye for photography, and Quinlan has an ear for good stories. They soon joined forces to publish a book titled, So You Think You Know the South Coast?

Originally from Boston, Quinlan moved to Mattapoisett 10 years ago, and knew right away how special the area was.

“(Writing the book) was a great way to learn about an area I didn’t know much about,” he said. “It was a way to bond with my granddaughter and to expand my own knowledge on a place that I’ve come to appreciate and love.”

So You Think You Know the South Coast lays out the history of each community, fun facts, trivia, and specific places that Quinlan considers “treasures of the SouthCoast," accompanied by beautiful photos by Murphy.

Quinlan hopes the reader will gain a better appreciation of the area after reading.

“I hope to entertain, enrich, and educate readers,” he said. “The region and its people have something distinct and appealing to offer everyone.”