History comes to life

Connellsville author Ceane O'Hanlon-Lincoln has released "County Chronicles IV," the latest in the award-winning author's historical series.

Through the newest release O'Hanlon-Lincoln once again takes readers back to the Pennsylvania of yesterday.

O'Hanlon-Lincoln covers a broad spectrum of the state.

"It's all about being in Pennsylvania and being from Pennsylvania," O'Hanlon-Lincoln said in regards to the incorrect assumption that her books are only about the immediate area. "These are called 'County Chronicles' but then there are 67 counties in the state. My goal is to make people proud to be a Pennsylvanian."

O'Hanlon-Lincoln began her unique brand of retelling history years ago when she penned a regular column that ran in the Daily Courier that told county historical tales.

Expanding on the idea, O'Hanlon-Lincoln took her published stories, adding several additional chapters and released her first in the series of books.

"I released my first book at the end of 2005 because I wanted it to be out before the city's bicentennial," O'Hanlon-Lincoln said. The books began to practically write themselves from that point.

O'Hanlon-Lincoln's latest installation in the series lets readers embark on a journey that spans miles and decades.

"I skip around in time and place thus allowing readers to skip around to whatever strikes their fancy within each volume and from volume to volume," O'Hanlon-Lincoln said.

The fourth in the series features 21 divisions or chronicles, each a separate story, freestanding within itself.

"My books are perfect for any reader," O'Hanlon-Lincoln said. "I'm pleased to say that readers, both men and women give me wonderful feedback and really seem to enjoy what they learn from my books."

"County Chronicles IV" focuses on topics such as Margaret Meade, Connellsville's own Commander Virginia M. Eberharter and even relates the stories of two of Gettysburg's best known Civil War civilians, John Burns and Jenny Wade.

There is a chronicle of several Connellsville community members entitled "The Stuff of Memories" that is an amalgamation of regular residents lives during the 1950s.

"That was a wonderful time and a time of true innocence," O'Hanlon-Lincoln said. "I really believe that it was the last age of innocence in America."

O'Hanlon-Lincoln's books have been touted for years for their realistic nature and their accuracy in historic detail.

"I always go to the experts and I interview live people whenever I can," O'Hanlon-Lincoln said. "And I check everything. I double and triple check my facts to make certain of their accuracy. I want my readers to witness history and not just read about it. That's why a lot of people think that they don't like history. When they learned it in school, they learned it from books that were written in a flat, boring manner. I try to bring the historical figures that I write about to life and become real flesh and blood people."

O'Hanlon-Lincoln already is working on her fifth and what she deems as her final chapter in the chronicles and hopes for a spring release.

"I love what I do, and I think that the chronicles keep getting better and better,' O'Hanlon-Lincoln said. "My writing is a wondrous process and I can't wait to get started every day."

"County Chronicles IV" is available by contacting the publisher at 800-941-3735 or at www.mechlingbooks.com or by contacting O'Hanlon-Lincoln directly at 724-626-1817.

There are still a few copies of the other chronicles -- except "County Chronicles I" -- available from the publisher. There are two sets of all four of the "Chronicles" that can be purchased directly from the author and they are the only two copies of Volume I that can be purchased.

O'Hanlon-Lincoln will be hosting a book signing from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the Carnegie Free Library in Connellsville. Readers can also bring in copies of other volumes if they would like them to be signed by the author.