Now, when people think of writing meccas, I’m pretty sure Erie, PA doesn’t come to mind, but you might be surprised. I’m from here, and most of you know Susan Gable, my good friend and frequent speaking-buddy is from here. Jamie Denton moved to the area. And Gayle Callen, though she might now live in New York, is an Erie girl. She was in town this weekend for a skating expo and I had a chance to get-together with her for a long lunch. Three hours of lunching and talking. Okay, so more talking than lunching! LOL
Gayle writes historicals for Avon both as Gayle Callen and Julia Latham. She’s hysterically funny, a very proud mom, and is a heck of a writer. In an example of it’s-a-small-world, her brother and my husband went to school together and were friends. My daughter has coached Gayle’s niece. Very small world. And just goes to show, Erie’s far cooler than you’d think. I suppose, I should also mention Pat Monahan (of Train), Bob Sanders (the Indianapolis Colt’s safety), Tom Ridge (Homeland Security Director) all came from around here. And Sharon Stone grew up in neighboring Meadeville. Oh, and wait, Ann B. David, Alice on the Brady Bunch, is an Erie girl! Yes, Erie has it all!
Last week we talked about my poor puppy’s naked molerat haircut, and Jayne’s Chippy tufts, this week, let’s talk about small worlds. Does your town have a claim to fame?
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, American Romance 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, American Romance 12/08
ONCE UPON A VALENTINE'S, American Romance 2/09
still available at eHarlequin...SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, SuperRomance
Little known fact
I'm actually really proud of the fact that my town was welcoming to the many African-Americans who escaped slavery via the underground railway to freedom in Canada....that and we seem to have an inordinate amount of paranormal activity....
"Assisted by Captain Robert Wilson, hundreds of blacks came to this area through the Underground Railway. One was James “Canada Jim” Wesley Hill, who crossed the border in a packing box in the late 1840s. Hill settled on a farm near Oakville, and helped many slaves who followed by giving them work picking strawberries. The house he built at 457 Maple Grove Drive still stands today. The influx of runaway slaves from 1850 to 1865 dramatically changed the makeup of Oakville during the middle of the nineteenth century. Schools were integrated, church groups mingled and new businesses were created."
Jayne
Community Manager
"We cannot really love anyone with whom we never laugh." ~ Agnes Repplier
Cool!
Oh, Jayne, now that's a cool fact!! And in the August book, the beach house that's so central to the story is on Maple grove Road...weird!!
I'm back from RT and wow, it was fun, but exhausting! So good to see Rae!! Wish more of my eHarl friend had been there!
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, American Romance 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, American Romance 12/08
ONCE UPON A VALENTINE'S, American Romance 2/09
still available at eHarlequin...SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, SuperRomance