The Inspiration for Stone Haven, Pennsylvania in the Bloodwite Series, Part I
When I decided to write a vampire romance novel, my first thought for the setting was New Orleans. With its rich paranormal underpinnings and varied history, my favorite city in the U.S. seemed like the perfect backdrop for two centuries-old vampire families to meet their human nemesis. The only problem? I’m far from the only writer to recognize the Crescent City as fodder for vampire lore.
If not New Orleans, then where?
Pennsylvania had certainly not been on the top of my list. I don’t typically think “sexy” and “Pennsylvania” together, and I say this as a lifelong resident of the Keystone State. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great place to live? But as host to the most powerful vampires in the world? Surely not. Until I discovered Jim Thorpe.
Only a hour drive from my home in Northeast, PA, this gem of a town is sometimes called, ‘the Switzerland of America.’ I’d heard about it, of course, but never visited myself until deciding to use it as inspiration for my Bloodwite series. Researching online and speaking to others who had been there, I’d become convinced it was ideal for my upcoming stories. One my way into Jim Thorpe, I first noticed the brightly colored Victorian homes which immediately reminded me of the Esplanade Ridge Historic District.
Was I in Pennsylvania or New Orleans? It was like I’d struck gold!
Along Main Street which I’d already begun mapping in my notebook the minute I hopped out of my car, The Inn at Jim Thorpe also reminded me of the French Quarter with its elaborate wrought-iron balconies gracing the center of town. I toured the building, imagined my main character Alessandra staying there as she visited during a job interview. She moves to Stone Haven from Northeast PA to take a teaching job. Of course, this history teacher is fascinated with the inn’s past guests who include among them General Ulysses S. Grant and Buffalo Bill.
And then I saw the mansions.
I’d read about the Harry Packer and Asa Packer mansions online, but seeing them perched on a hill just behind Main Street sent me running, sans my family, toward the future homes of my two vampires. While the originals were built by the founder of Leigh University, one for himself and another for his daughter, mine would be occupied by two bitter enemies. One, an English vampire named Kenton Morley, once the earl of Rockford in 13th century Northumbria. The second, Lawrence Derrickson, the son of a clan chief and Scotsman whose sworn to protect his ancestors– the very ones Kenton and his brothers are attempting to wipe from the face of the earth.
In other words, they don’t like each other very much and have been bitter enemies for over seven hundred years. Ouch.
Fun fact: The Harry Packer Mansion, shown below along with my husband and daughter, was the inspiration for the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World.
Bonus Fun Fact: In the Bloodwite series, the mansions become the Henry Hutton and Addy Hutton Mansions.
If you’re still getting that New Orleans vibe, possibly courtesy of the Fleur-de-leis hanging from the balcony of the Harry Packer mansion, you’re not alone. When I took this shot, looking down to the courthouse and large clock tower that would be the centerpiece of Stone Haven, I could not have been more pleased with my choice. Surrounded by the Pocono Mountains, this throwback town complete with a five-and-dime shop and Harry Potter-inspired coffeehouse was shaping up to host my vampires quite nicely.
From the Harry Packer to the Asa Packer Mansion next door, we walked the same path Kenton would be taking to Lawrence’s house–likely to attempt to kill him– although we did not tour this second estate. In a future post I’ll take you inside the father’s mansion, but in the meantime, try to imagine this small town suddenly becoming home to the two most powerful families in the world. A backdrop worth visiting, don’t you think?
I feel a field trip coming on! Who’s with me?
Don’t miss the first Bloodwite book when it releases in January 2019. Download the origin story FREE and get notified with book one is released.
Have you been to Jim Thorpe, PA? How about my favorite city, New Orleans? What did you think?
