At different times, certain places become centers of art, innovation and creativity: Greece, Rome, Paris, New York and now Aromas. Yes, Aromas. This small community south of Gilroy has now become a hotbed of creative spirit and ingenuity.
Who would have thought Aromas—a town of about 2,600 people—would have not one, but two writers’ groups, three book clubs and an arts community called Aromas Hills Artisans? The once mostly apricot farming and gravel quarrying area has become a bedroom community for residents who work in surrounding cities and the Silicon Valley. Many of the residents have their own home-grown businesses, as well as a love of art and writing.
Aromas residents value the quiet country life and love their gardens. The annual Aromas Garden Day is one of the big events along with Aromas Day, when the town opens up to receive thousands of visitors. Aromas Day has grown so much in the last few years that parking now has to be on the outskirts of town and people must either walk in or be driven into town in a
horse-drawn wagon.
Art in the Park, a big part of Aromas Day—set for Aug. 24—is put on by the Aromas Hills Artisans, known as AHA. This group of more than 70 artisans was started in 2000 by poet Julie Pickerell. The current president is Jane Rekedal, who took the reins from long-time leader Linda Bjornson, who is now the coordinator. The group meets at 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Aromas Grange and visitors are always welcome.
Currently there are 12 writers in the AHA, including Pat Hanson, who has published her memoir/self-help book titled “Invisible Grandparenting.” Hanson is an educator, writer, public speaker, workshop leader and prospective stand-up comedian. She has found a way to cope with a difficult situation in her personal life that may be helpful to many grandparents in similar situations.
AHA member/writer Joyce Oroz spent most of her life as a commercial artist and muralist—work she enjoyed tremendously until a health issue forced her to stop painting. At that time Oroz’s retired husband, Arthur, was writing his Korean War story and asked her to read parts of it. She enjoyed reviewing and editing but didn’t actually start writing until a couple of years afterward. Her first books were private, self-published stories for her grandchildren.
“Secure the Ranch” was her first mystery novel and she has written and published four more books. Her last two books were bought and published by Cozy Cat Press. “Beetles in the Boxcar” is her latest in the Josephine Stuart mystery series.
“Writing is like painting, but without the mess,” she said.
Debra Smith is a blogger, storyteller and author who writes under the pen name JD Jameson Smith. She writes young adult science fiction fantasy, the latest being “Secrets Beyond Scymaria” series. Her stories are about two tweenagers “as they deal with troublesome classmates and a sinister professor, befriend a strange creature and discover a portal to another world.” She has published two books; a third will be published later this fall, and a fourth in the series is half written. Meet Smith at 11 a.m. Aug. 23 at the San Juan Bautista Library, and from 2 to 4 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Gilroy.
Other writers in the AHA include Rose Ann Woolpert, 13-year-old Giselle Rocha, Carol Diggory Shields, Jennifer Chase, Wallace Baines, Tina Baines, Darlene Boyd, Alia Outrey and Paul Fleischman.
AHA writer Outrey is also involved in a group of five others calling themselves “The Aromas Writing Group,” which is separate from the AHA. Two of this group are published authors: Randy Peyser and Janice Bennett.
Peyser wrote “Crappy to Happy,” featured in the 2010 film “Eat, Pray, and Love,” and has also written “The Power of Miracle Thinking” and “The Write-A-Book Program.” She is a professional editor and owns a national publishing consulting firm called “Author One Stop, Inc.” The company helps authors get publishing contracts with top literary agents and publishers. She has 30 United States and international clients under contract for whom she has found agents and/or publishers.
Bennett, who has an eclectic education encompassing bachelor’s and master’s degrees from three California universities, and has written nine historical romance novellas and 24 novels.
One can’t help but wonder what is it about Aromas that encourages such creatively and self-expression? Or is it as the 18th century English poet William Cowper wrote in his poem “Country Life”?: “Friends, books, a garden and perhaps his pen, delightful industry enjoyed at home…”
