'Quilters' book set in Conejo Valley
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

It's the 1920s and Elizabeth Nelson and her husband, Henry, are newly married. They travel by train from Pennsylvania to Simi Valley, then take a short trip through orange orchards to stay at the Grand Hotel in a place called the Arboles Valley.

The Nelsons are characters in Jennifer Chiaverini's "The Quilter's Homecoming," the 10th book in the author's best-selling "Elm Creek Quilts" series.

If the setting of her latest novel sounds familiar, that's because Chiaverini draws from what she knows, and she knows all about the Conejo Valley. She's from Thousand Oaks, where she attended Thousand Oaks High School and worked at the Thousand Oaks Library.

In the late 1980s, when Chiaverini was a teenager, she met the city's historian, Pat Allen, at the library.

"Meeting Pat Allen triggered a fascination with the history of the area," Chiaverini recalled. "It was an inconsequential moment to anyone else, but an important moment to me."

Thousand Oaks seemed so new to her- so much so, she was surprised to find the town merited a local historian, she said. Upon further investigation, she learned the area had a rich history.

"That was when I realized there are stories beneath the surface," Chiaverini said. "That moment has lingered with me all these years."

The history of the Conejo Valley also stuck with her. In her new novel there is a place called Safari World, where animals used in movies are trained. The animals also perform tricks for the public. A canyon described in the book also seems familiar.

"The canyon is Wildwood Park. The Grand Hotel is the Stagecoach Inn. Safari World is Jungleland," she said. "It's inspired by the history of the Conejo Valley but is not meant to be accurate."

The Nelsons travel from Pennsylvania to take over the Triumph Ranch. They think it's a cattle ranch until they learn the Arboles Valley residents raise sheep, but that's the least of their surprises. The young couple comes to understand they must adapt to life when their plans don't turn out as they had expected.

Elizabeth comes from a family of quilt makers who use their skill to bring comfort to those they love. The quilts they send with Elizabeth become more than symbols of their love for her. The rich, detailed handmade works help to keep her and her husband alive during a very difficult period.

Woven throughout the book series is Chiaverini's love for quilt making. She writes about fabric, patterns, stitching and other details involved in making quilts. She understands those who stitch the heirlooms also put poetry, encouragement and inspiration into their work.

She writes like a quilt maker. Each piece of the story is put into place with the thought of the bigger picture she is creating. When she is done, the book wraps around the reader like the arms of a dear friend.

"I did not set out to write a series," Chiaverini said.

Her readers loved her characters so much they were eager to read more about them, she said. Upon reflection, she realized her characters had more stories to tell.

Before long, Simon and Schuster had her writing a third book focusing on quilters from the fictitious town of Elm Creek, Pa.

"That's when I thought, 'I guess I'm writing a series,'" Chiaverini said.

Usually she writes one a year, but this year she's giving her readers a gift, she said, with "The Quilter's Homecoming" and "The New Year's Quilt" both coming out in November. Each book stands alone, so the reader can start with any one of them, she said.

Chiaverini now lives in Madison, Wis. Her mother, Jerry Neidenbach, is a math teacher at Oxnard High School. Her sister Heather Neidenbach is a librarian at La Reina High School and her brother Nic Neidenbach works for Homestore.com in Thousand Oaks.

"I wrote this book with affection for the Conejo Valley," she said. "I love this part of the country." In a Nutshell

'The Quilter's Homecoming'

Jennifer Chiaverini will come back to Thousand Oaks to promote her new book, "The Quilter's Homecoming," at 1 p.m. Sun., April 22

at the Grant Brimhall/Thousand Oaks Library,

1401 E. Janss Road.

The program, sponsored by Friends of the

Thousand Oaks Library, will begin with a quilt show presented by the Conejo Valley Quilters,

followed by the author event and a quilt

show-and-tell. Those who bring handmade

quilts will be eligible for a door prize.

Chiaverini's novel will be available for purchase.

The program is free and no registration is

required, but seating may be limited.

For more information, call (805) 449-2660,

ext. 204, or visit www.toaks.org/library.