Author, Author

Checking out The Simple Faith Of Mister Rogers last Monday, I learned that the woman who wrote the book--Amy Hollingsworth--is a frequent visitor to the library where I checked out her book. It's actually been an interesting read.

While out on the Eastern Shore last Thursday, I stopped at a local (non-chain) bookstore there and bought two books on the local history. One of them--True Tales Of The Eastern Shore--was written by Kirk Mariner. As I was purchasing the books, the woman ringing up my purchase (they just got one of those new-fangled barcode scanners that was giving her a hard time) told me the author was actually in the store. Not being crowded, it was easy to pick Kirk out; he was sitting in back sipping coffee and reading the New York Times. I introduced myself and got him to sign my book. The stories in this book were, for the most part, stories he wrote in a local newspaper column before putting them in book form. He's written nine books in all--eight of them having something to do with history on the Eastern Shore. He's a shore native and also a Methodist minister.

From his book, I've already learned how the county where my sister lives (New Kent) got its name--it's a byproduct of a shore conflict. The shore region, at several points in its post-England settlement history, had thoughts of seceding and becoming a part of what is now Delaware. Still much to read, but books like this I can't find around here, though I did find that another book of his I had from long ago--Off 13--is in my library. Still, I know this type of book I want in my collection. Off 13 he wrote about the history that encompasses most all the small towns that dot the Virginia section of the Eastern Shore.

The Shore region is actually a fascinating place; no town there has more than a few thousand people in it. I hit what I believe is the second-largest of them, and that one had less than 1,500 residents. Where I stayed, it has less than 300, and you can easily take a bike ride through all the streets there in less than 15 minutes, perhaps 10 if at a brisk pace, but why bother with the brisk pace?

The region is also the second poorest in the state of Virginia, next to the southwestern reigon. Just looking at a map, you might think it to be connected to Maryland, and before bridges and tunnels were built to connect it, most people in Virginia likely ignored it. The chicken industry is the biggest job producer in the region, and Wal-Mart says the 70-mile region is too small to build a store there (though there is now a 24-hour McDonald's). I guess they'd rather eschew their small town roots and build someplace like New York City. The closest Wal-Mart to the Shore is about 50 miles away in Salisbury, Maryland.

While the shopping variety isn't as great, all the basics and a few extras can be found there, and there's some nice homestyle places to eat; I ate at such a place (Stella's) just before hitting the bookstore. Really good food--I had a fried crabcake sandwich (real crab meat inside) and sat for about an hour reading the local news.

By the way, if you miss the obituaries in the local newspaper, you can hear them on the radio everyday. The day I heard them it lasted about five minutes; the same station also had an old-fashioned swap-shop call-in show where people would give out their phone numbers and items they either wanted to buy or sell.

The big news in the paper was a planned sex-offenders rehabilitation facility has been proposed (with plenty of opposition), and that a longtime shore doctor has decided to move his practice into southern Maryland. That's a major issue there because the region has a lot of elderly and poor, and low pay--meaning doctors don't get paid much to be there, and people can't afford to pay much, if anything, to go to the doctor in the first place.

It's not quite a step back in time; there are more than enough modern conveniences to sustain anyone, but there is some disconnect. The slower pace is also nice.

I did learn, just now, that the buses I saw with scores of men on them were, apparently, migrant workers who apparently go from town to town there and perform manual labor in the fields.

In the small town where my boss lives, it has two churches, two restaurants, boat docks, a Coast Guard station, a post office, a small park and a marine science research facility among other things in the small year-round community. The other major thing had just ended--the town fair, which is a fundraiser for the fire department. And, as my boss said, you either really like it there, or you get antsy after a short while, as many of his relatives do.

I don't mind the slow pace, and the breezes off the marshy water are comforting. The only thing that I didn't like so much were the mosquitos and how they loved me so. Bug spray offered little defense.

On the whole, the boss treated me well, home-cooked several meals for me and didn't make me work too much, so, even though I wasn't crazy about going out there to work, ultimately, I didn't mind.

Comments

[Jimmy]

I appreciate you taking the time to check out my blog. I enjoy my visits to the Shore; I try to go at least once a year (this year it looks like I'll make at least two). I enjoy writing, though I've not yet tried my hand at a book. Most of my writing, so far, is either what you've found here, or newspaper/magazine length articles. Best wishes with the book writing. I'll keep an eye out for yours.

[Dorothy]

Hi, I was doing a search tonight on the Eastern Shore and found your blog! I'm from the Eastern Shore and a lot of what you say is very true. Kirk is one author who keeps to himself most times, but is a nice person. I write books, too, although I've not gotten them into the Book Bin yet. Kirk writes about historical things; I write about soul mates, lol. Complete opposites, but authors never the less. Nice to know you had stopped over, but wish my book had been in the store at that time, too! *smile*