Life and Real Estate on the Eastern Shore of Virginia

The Civic Center was humming with activity as  Friends of the Cape Charles Memorial Library wrapped up its Winter Tea season 2017-18 with a convivial program featuring Chris Bannon of Sea Gate B n B in conversation with Joe Coccaro about “Woo Woo”, his recent novel set in Cape Charles, Virgina. Coccaro had me hooked with his comment, “ I’m enchanted with Cape Charles”, to paraphrase “Jerry McGuire”.

Maybe it’s because everyone loves to have their own opinions confirmed, but Coccaro’s decision to move full time to Cape Charles after his purchase of a home on Monroe Avenue because of how much he “loved the vibe” made him a man after the audience’s own heart. This is Coccaro’s first novel after a lifetime spent in journalism and book editing, including a long career with the Virginian Pilot newspaper. His decision to write “Woo-Woo” evolved from interesting stories heard at the Pub and elsewhere, and in meeting so many eclectic personalities with interesting backgrounds around town, spawning a habit of recounting these funny stories in emails to friends. The eventual long string of stories led to a decision to write a novel featuring Cape Charles, which possesses what Coccaro describes as a “high concentration” of colorful personalities, the town essentially becoming a character in the book as well its setting.

As is likely with any tour guide type novel set in a small town, there has been a whole lot of speculation and a bit of controversy too, as to who-might- be-who in the book, which quirky character is based on which particular local person. Chris Bannon is pretty sure, but not absolutely positive, who the “Woo-Woo” Realtor actually is modeled after. But Coccaro sidestepped that whole brouhaha by stressing that it’s really an amalgam, that “everybody in town is in the book, a little slice here and a little slice there”, which is fun and surely keeps everyone guessing, especially since he sees Cape Charles as a melting pot, a North meets South, millionaire meets clammer societal blend. The Q & A after the interview revealed that Coccaro is thinking/working/collecting stories for a new book about Cape Charles, this time more water/waterman centered. Clearly we can anticipate Cape Charles bursting back onto the literary scene in the future.

Library Friends did their usual great job on the goodies aspect of the event, the much anticipated 3 Sweets and 3 Savories. Everyone at our table, particularly moi, loved the melt-in-the-mouth fig pecan scones and thumb- sized Irish soda breads. Crostini with melon and prosciutto and a rich seafood chowder were big all-around hits. And I always find it fun to try the various varieties of tea offered, my personal favorite this time was the Scottish Afternoon Tea, a blend sponsored by the American Scottish foundation. Who even knew ? But they have created a wonderful tea ! The afternoon wrapped up with Coccaro doing a reading from “Woo-Woo”, after which some fun products and services donated to the Friends were raffled off, including a huge, beautiful basket filled to the brim with everything needed to make great tea at home. Last but not least, book signings by Joe Coccaro, after which we stepped out the Civic Center door, an abrupt transition from the cozy warmth and conviviality of this delightful afternoon into blustery wind, dreary cold rain and a mad dash to the car !