Author Erica Colahan

The Oystercatcher of Southwark by Author Erica Colahan

The Oystercatcher of Southwark book cover showing a 19th-century woman and oystercatcher.

The Book

Five Star Review!!!

"I loved this book!!! It drew me in immediately and I couldn’t wait to start each new chapter to see what happened to the characters next. I was transported back in time by the descriptions and the dialogue. It’s a must- read!!"

~Amazon Reader

The Oystercatcher of Southwark.

Award winning 19th-century fiction by debut author Erica Colahan.

Buy Your Copy

Woman holding a copy of The Oystercatcher of Southwark with two bronze medals.

The Reviews

Riveting!

A remarkable tale inspired by an equally remarkable true story,

The Oystercatcher of Southwark features strong, complicated characters whose search for truth, justice, self-knowledge, and faith will resonate with a diverse readership.

~Rhonda Ortiz, award-winning author of the Molly Chase series

Author Erica Colahan immediately caught my interest with her debut novel The Oystercatcher of Southwark. This multi-generational story is a testament to the strength of a mother’s love and the poignancy of youthful romance tempered with the often harsh edge of reality.

Always, though, hope abounds and truth will be found out.

~Kimberly Duffy, Author of

The Weight of Air

Photo of Author Erica Colahan sitting in a chair and smiling.

The Author

Author Erica Colahan understands that the strongest stories are written in the margins of a busy life.

A Philadelphia-area professional shepherding a household of busy offspring on a steady stream of caffeine, Erica balances the vibrant energy of the present with the evocative, often harsh realities of the 1890s. Her award-winning debut novel, The Oystercatcher of Southwark, is a testament to that balance—a multi-generational exploration of resilience inspired by a true story that refused to be forgotten.

Whether she’s working full-time or chasing a historical lead, Erica writes for those who know that while times change, the search for truth, faith, and belonging remains the same.

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Praise for The Oystercatcher of Southwark

Remarkable!!!!

A profound message of resilience and solidarity!

Remarkable!!!!

"The Oystercatcher of Southwark was...one of the best books I have ever read! The story was historical, captivating, and adventurous. The characters had great depth which in turn gave me deep feelings toward them. Even though the story travels back and forth from 1897 to present day it was easy to follow...I'm hoping this book finds its way into High School classrooms, College Literature classes and to Book Clubs. In addition it would make t great motion picture! I really can it say enough good things about it!"

~Mary Ann

Well Written

A profound message of resilience and solidarity!

Remarkable!!!!

"This book was fantastic! The story was interesting and kept my attention until the end. The author did a great job of helping the reader understand and relate to the characters. I enjoyed learning about the time period. Overall a great read!"

~Kayla

A profound message of resilience and solidarity!

"Oystercatcher of Southwark is a masterfully crafted tapestry of powerful and poignant stories, with characters that burrow into your heart and refuse to be forgotten. As a homeschooling mother, my time for reading is a luxury often sacrificed to the demands of daily life and the desperate need for sleep. However, Colahan’s characters were constantly pulling on the sleeves of my thoughts, begging me to know more about them, making it near impossible for me to put her book down."

~Karina