When Tides Turn Tour of Vermilion, Part 2 – and Giveaway
To celebrate the release of When Tides Turn, this week I’m conducting a photo tour of some of the sights in the book—and I’m giving away:
“Vintage White Blossoms” candle from Vermilion, Ohio—Dan & Tess’s hometown
“Women of WWII” sticky notes, including a WAVE (like Tess!), purchased at Pearl Harbor
To enter, leave a comment below (US & Canada only please), and/or on Monday’s Tour of Boston post, Tuesday’s Tour of Vermilion post, and the upcoming U-boat Tour posts. You can earn extra entries by leaving a comment on each post. If you can’t leave a comment, please send me an email to enter. Giveaway ends Sunday, March 26, 2017 at 10 pm, Pacific Time. I’ll announce the winner here on Monday, March 27, 2017.
When choosing a hometown for the Avery family in the Waves of Freedom series, I wanted a small Ohio town on Lake Erie so my future naval officers could learn to love sailing and the water. Vermilion, Ohio prides itself on its nautical heritage—and I had my town. This past summer, my husband and I attended our son’s graduation from Navy boot camp in the Chicago area, and we took a lazy trek across the Midwest—including a full day in Vermilion. What a charming day it was!
Welcome to Vermilion!
In the Waves of Freedom series, the main characters come home to Vermilion for Christmas, arriving at the train depot. This building remains and now serves as a visitor center and art gallery, showcasing the works of local artists. Perhaps Tess’s father’s work would be displayed there—if he weren’t fictional.
Liberty Avenue runs through the heart of town parallel to the lake shore, lined with delightful shops, restaurants, and historic buildings.
Hart’s Drug Store was established in Vermilion in 1910 at the corner of Liberty and Main, and served the community for decades. My fictional Lillian Avery came to love the profession of pharmacy through Hart’s. Today it’s Big Ed’s Soda Grill, serving old-fashioned sodas and other fare. A colorful Vermilion mural decorates the side wall.
The Ritter Public Library was a fun stop on my tour. The amazing librarians there had scanned 1941 and 1942 issues of The Vermilion News for me, and I was delighted to meet them—and thank them again! Plus, it’s a gorgeous library! I love the boat in the children’s section.
See more sights from When Tides Turn!
U-Boat Tour, Part 1
U-Boat Tour, Part 2
