Fayette County native an accomplished author
CONNELLSVILLE – When Fayette County native Ceane O’Hanlon Lincoln began writing her newspaper column “Fayette County Chronicles,” she never dreamed that her column would evolve into an award-winning series of books on Pennsylvania history. O’Hanlon-Lincoln discovered her love of history early in life.
“I always read history books and history novels,” she said. “I also belonged to a children’s book club. I always chose books with a historical backdrop. Reading these books taught me the importance of being a good researcher.”
O’ Hanlon-Lincoln loved writing as well.
“I was a big fan of the ‘Nancy Drew’ mysteries,” she said. “I enjoyed writing mysteries of my own.”
After graduating from Dunbar Township High School in ’65, O’Hanlon-Lincoln earned a bachelor of arts degree in French from California State College, now California University of Pennsylvania. She taught French in the Ligonier Valley School District until 1985. Upon retiring from Ligonier Valley, O’Hanlon Lincoln began writing a compilation of short stories called “Autumn Song” and a mystery novel “Toast to Destiny.”
In 2000, a friend suggested that she get a job as a newspaper reporter. O’Hanlon-Lincoln initially declined because “she wasn’t interested in covering council meetings.” She then realized that she had the perfect opportunity to pitch an idea of her own, a column that focused upon the history of Fayette County.
O’Hanlon-Lincoln said, “I was tired of folks shaking their heads when they heard or said the words ‘Fayette County.’ We have so much to be proud of. We have the most beautiful region in the world. We have more history here than anywhere in the nation.”
The newspaper’s editors agreed, and O’Hanlon-Lincoln’s writing career took off.
After writing her column for two years, O’Hanlon-Lincoln decided that she wanted to create a keepsake for Connellsville’s upcoming bicentennial. She bought back the rights to her column. Under the direction of local historian and former Uniontown Herald-Standard editor Walter “Buzz” Storey, she lengthened and revised each one. By 2004, County Chronicles was ready.
The response to her work was overwhelming, she said. She received the Athena Award. In addition, she won special recognition awards from the Pennsylvania House and Senate. Most of all, people wanted her to write more of her chronicles – and she did. Her second book, County Chronicles II, has just been published by Mechling Books.
O’Hanlon-Lincoln’s approach to history is decidedly non-traditional.
“I write in a conversational, story-telling style,” said O’Hanlon-Lincoln. “I want people to experience history, not just read it.”
She pointed out that she writes her chronicles in such a way that they are self-contained.
“The modern world has constant interruptions,” she said. “People always have to put down the books that they’re reading. I wanted people to be able to read my chronicles in one sitting. I wanted my books to be the perfect fireside/bedside companions.”
O’Hanlon-Lincoln also said that her chronicles do not follow any chronological order.
“I want people to be able to journey through history,” she said.
O’Hanlon-Lincoln already is hard at work on County Chronicles III, to be published in 2008. She also has two more volumes in the works, which will be published in 2010 and 2012.
“I write about all counties in Pennsylvania, however, my primary focus is and always will be southwestern Pennsylvania.”
O’Hanlon-Lincoln said she wants the people of southwestern Pennsylvania to take pride in their history. She also hopes that her books will help promote tourism in the region.
“Tourism is the light at the end of this dark tunnel of economic depression,” she said.
O’Hanlon-Lincoln shuns the moniker of “historian”.
“I’m not an expert historian,” she said. “I’m a writer whose milieu is the past.”
For more information about O’Hanlon-Lincoln or to order her books, contact Mechling Books or call her directly at 724-626-1817.