Male author who wrote fiction in the ~1990's about his fictional(?) childhood in the 1950's NY/NJ or MA coast. A lot of clam eating mentioned. All of his books have an element of fantasy - whether about women or his fictionalized, somewhat idealistic world as a child growing up in the 1950's. I think some of these books might have been part of a series. The covers were 1950's inspired font and imagery. 

Also, he wrote one specific book about a woman who lived her life on a stage. People could come view her play on stage, which was really just her living a solitary life in a small town theatre.

I am totally BLANKING on this author's name. His books would have been in bookstores in the 1990s (Barnes and Noble and Borders), but I think he fell out of popularity at one point, or stopped writing. (If he ever was very popular??) Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you!

Traci