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I grew up outside Philadelphia hearing rumors that my great-great-grandmother Mary tried to drown her children and then herself in the Delaware River before being committed to an asylum. Captivated, I pictured the scene every time I passed the river. After years of research, I've taken the family legend surrounding Mary's tragic life and turned it into a historical fiction full of adventure, engaging characters, and enduring lessons of faith & love.
Yes! I am currently researching for my next novel, set in 1918 Philadelphia, which features a diverse cast of fictional characters who come together under the most unusual set of circumstances.
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Author Erica Colahan
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Purchase The Oystercatcher of Southwark
Historical Fiction set in 19th-century Philadelphia
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Book Club Discussion Questions
5 Quick Questions to get you started! Sign up for the Full Book Club Kit Below!
1. If you discovered a dark or tragic secret about your great-great-grandmother, would you want to investigate it as Bella did, or leave the past alone?
2. Name the true villain in the novel. (Hint: maybe the villain isn’t a character).
3. How did the secondary characters contribute to the story? Did you have a favorite or least favorite side character?
4. Why do you think Mary refused to speak in the asylum?
5. If you could interview one of your ancestors, who would it be and why?
The Full Book Club Kit includes a deep dive into the key themes in the book including the distortion of history, systematic injustice & prejudice, and agency & choice.
Want to know what is true and what is fiction? The author includes a breakdown!
NOTE: The Full Book Club Kit Contains Spoilers!
Press Kit
Short Bio
Medium Bio
Medium Bio
Erica lives near Philadelphia and relies on copious amounts of coffee to shepherd her busy offspring while working full-time, pursuing her hobbies, and writing historical fiction.
Medium Bio
Medium Bio
Medium Bio
Erica lives in the Philadelphia region with her large family. She relies on copious amounts of coffee and the grace of God to keep up with her busy offspring while working full-time and pursuing her hobbies. A numbers gal working in the accounting department, Erica fills every free moment with reading and creative writing. You can find her historical fiction and stories of humor and hope on her website.
Erica loves to knit, walk in the woods, kayak on the lake, and listen to her children say "Mom" all day.
Long Bio
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Book Info
Erica lives in the Philadelphia region with her large family. She relies on copious amounts of coffee and the grace of God to keep up with her busy offspring while working full-time and pursuing her hobbies. A numbers gal working in the accounting department, Erica fills every free moment with reading and creative writing. You can find her historical fiction and stories of humor and hope on her website.
Erica grew up outside Philadelphia hearing rumors that her great-great-grandmother, Mary, tried to drown her children and then herself in the Delaware River before being committed to an insane asylum. Captivated, Erica pictured the scene every time she passed the river. After years of research, she brought Mary’s story to life with a cast of supporting characters in her deftly-woven novel, The Oystercatcher of Southwark. Published by Chrism Press, the historical fiction explores the profound love of a mother for her children and the redemptive hope that transcends time.
Erica is an active member of Hope*Writers, ACFW, WFWA, and CWG. She loves to knit, walk in the woods, kayak on the lake, and listen to her children say “Mom" all day.
Book Info
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Book Info
The Oystercatcher of Southwark
Historical Fiction
97,000 words
Multi-Generation
South Philadelphia
1880s/1890s/2018
Publication:
July 1, 2024
Chrism Press
ISBN:
979-8-88709-042-9 (print paperback)
979-8-88709-043-6 (digital)
Logline:
Based on the true-life events of the author’s family, the main character in
THE OYSTERCATCHER OF SOUTHWARK is separated from her family in 1897 and disappears from history until her great-great-granddaughter and a stranger discover their family connection and pursue the truth, hoping to heal generational wounds.
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Philadelphia, 1897—On the shores of the Delaware River, Italian Catholic Mary Paragano dreams of a happily ever after. However, when she defies her family and runs away to marry Jakob, a Jewish boy, her fairy tale takes an unexpected turn. Disowned by her father, abandoned by Jakob, and pursued by a jealous gangster, Mary’s life spirals into tragedy, culminating in accusations of attempting to harm her own children and a harrowing end in an asylum.
Philadelphia, present-day—Bella, Mary’s great-great-granddaughter, grapples with the aftermath of her recent divorce. Amidst her pain, a mysterious stranger named Sophie enters her life, claiming to be related to Jakob, the man who left Mary to her devastating fate over a century ago. Together, Bella and Sophie unravel the layers of Mary’s haunting past, question the stories they’ve been told, and uncover the impact of these historical secrets on their
modern-day lives.
Based on the remarkable true story of the author’s great-great-grandmother, The Oystercatcher of Southwark takes readers on a poignant journey through the immigrant neighborhoods of South Philadelphia. This deftly-woven novel explores the profound love of a mother for her children and the redemptive hope that transcends time.
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Reviews
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
Based on a true story, The Oystercatcher of Southwark, by Erica Colahan is an emotional journey of discovery, forgiveness, and freedom. This split-time saga displays the struggles of Italian and Jewish immigrants when prejudice and power are wielded against them. However, the tragic life of one Italian woman will inspire a future generation and readers alike.
~Danielle Grandinetti, award-winning author of The Harbored in Crow's Nest series
The Oystercatcher of Southwark is a beautiful story where unimaginable struggles, faith, and ultimately redemption weave together into a narrative that's both heartbreaking and inspiring. Colahan's unique voice shines through this debut dual-time novel that will enthrall readers from beginning to end.
~Alyssa Schwarz, author of The Glass Cottage and Fields of Glass
From the first heartbreaking scene of this story, Colahan takes the reader on a journey that spans a century and two divergent cultures. Her use of imagery paints a clear picture and makes the story come alive through well-drawn characters. Be prepared to weep, cringe, and chuckle as you walk with Mary and Jakob through their tumultuous relationship. The strength of family theme that runs throughout will stay with you long after you finish the book.
~Susan Pope Sloan, author of Notable Book award winner Rescuing Rose, Loving Lydia, and Managing Millie
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
Excerpts
From The Oystercatcher of Southwark * Copyright © 2024 Erica Colahan - All Rights Reserved
Mary knew fear was a living thing. It had been walking alongside her now for days, like an old friend.
Sebastian placed his hand on the cool bricks. Suspicious, he asked Rocco, "What must I do to get this house?”
The room was dark, apart from a thin stream of moonlight that cast a soft glow on the bed. Mary could see Gina’s grin beside her, like the smile of the Cheshire Cat floating above the ground. The other girls were sound asleep, and Mary figured it was around midnight—time to go.
Jewish faces looked at Bella from photographs covering every inch of the Tower. All kinds of expressions greeted her—smiling, pensive, laughing, loving, vivacious. The humanity overwhelmed her. All of these lovely people had been murdered. Are the Lichtenbaums here?
Bella tucked the stack of letters under her folder of research documents, glancing around the archive viewing room. Sophie nodded at the papers. “Do it.”
Dear Jakob, Plans did not go as well for us in Philadelphia as I had hoped.
Mary had to hold onto something, tether herself to sanity so she wouldn’t go adrift like many other women.
The sister’s eyes widened, and she bit her lower lip as Jakob thrust his booted foot into the door frame to prevent it from slamming in his face. Then she nodded and opened the door. Jakob wasn’t sure a nun would do such a thing as slamming a door in someone’s face, but he wasn’t about to take any chances.
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Copyright © 2026 Author Erica Colahan - All Rights Reserved.
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