 In 1953, they moved to a federal housing project near the Bayonne docks.During Martin's childhood, his world consisted predominantly of "First Street to Fifth Street", between his grade school and his home; this limited world made him want to travel and experience other places, but the only way of doing so was through his imagination, and he became a voracious reader.Martin began writing and selling monster stories for pennies to other neighborhood children, dramatic readings included.