Levi and Matilda Stanley held the honorary titles of “king and queen” of the gypsies at that time; Queen Matilda was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in 1878. Her burial drew approximately 20,000 gypsies from across the country, England and Canada and garnered national press attention. Thirty years later, Levi’s burial only drew 30 family members; the time of the gypsies had passed, as these immigrants integrated into mainstream American culture.
Other “kings and queens” of less well-known gypsy families are also buried at Woodlawn.
“I first noticed the Stanley family vault and the impressive stone angel overlooking the burial site after my parents were buried in Woodlawn,” Alexandre says. “I became curious about Dayton’s gypsy history, and started researching.”
What she learned inspired her novel, “Gym City Gypsy,” set in 1915-21, about Neci Stans, a 19-year-old descendant of Dayton gypsies who seeks first to escape her life as a gypsy by going to England, and then returns to Dayton with the goal of finding a role in upper-middle class life and the hope of marrying the “man of her dreams,” says Kristin.
The novel was published in May of this year by Sisterhood Publications; her other novel, “Altar Rock,” is a contemporary thriller set in Nantucket, Mass., and will be published in the spring of 2014, also by Sisterhood Publications.
Kristin, who is a member of FilmDayton (www.filmdayton.com) is currently shopping screenplay versions of both stories in Hollywood; she co-wrote the screenplays with professional screenwriter Wayne Carter.
As a teenager, Kristin wrote a column for the Kettering-Oakwood Times and then The Dayton Journal Herald called “The Young Slant.” After graduating from Sweet Briar College in Virginia, Kristin moved to New York City in the early 1970s and went on to a writing and publishing career that included roles at Harcourt Brace, Harper’s Bazaar, House Beautiful, Christian Science Monitor as well as in television at Public Broadcasting affiliate Channel 13 in New York City. Kristin also married and reared children; she now lives in Florida with her husband.
“At heart, I’m still a Daytonian,” Kristin says. “My family of origin’s roots go back five generations in Dayton. I graduated from Oakwood High School. I admit that like my character Neci — like many young people — I wanted to ‘escape’ my hometown. But as time has gone on, I’ve grown to greatly appreciate my growing up years in Dayton and the strong values and work ethic I learned there. I always enjoy returning to Dayton when I can to visit family and friends.”
Learn more about Kristin and her work at www.kristinalexandre.com.
Upcoming events
Friday, 6-8 p.m., the Barnes & Noble, 2619 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, across from the Dayton Mall: Six local authors will discuss and sign their novels: Erin Flanagan, Suzanne Kelly, Katrina Kittle, Kristina McBride, Martha Moody and myself, Sharon Short. Their signing is part of the nationwide Barnes & Noble "Discovery Friday!" campaign to launch the holiday shopping season with special events, author signings, games and giveaways.
Saturday, New & Olde Pages Book Shoppe, 856 Union Boulevard, Englewood: Annual Holiday Open House runs all day (10 a.m.-8 p.m.) featuring new holiday books, puzzles and gift items plus a $20 gift card with each $100 purchase. Additionally, nine authors from Cincinnati and Dayton will share and sign their books from 1-4 p.m. For more information, contact the Book Shoppe at 937-832-3022.
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) programs: Each November, NaNoWriMo participants attempt to write a 50,000 first draft of a novel. Several local programs will help you continue (or start) your novel:
The Dayton Metro Library Vandalia Branch (500 S. Dixie Drive, Vandalia), Thursday Nov. 21, 6-8 p.m. Bring laptop or pen and paper for writing in a social setting with door prizes. Visit www.daytonmetrolibrary.org to register.
NaNoWriMo Pit Stop, Oakwood Starbucks Community Meeting Room, 2424 Far Hills Ave., Saturday, Nov. 23, noon-2:00 p.m., a Word’s Worth session to help writers through the final push, led by author Katrina Kittle. Visit www.wordsworthdayton.com for details and to register.
Visit the Dayton page of the NaNoWriMo website for additional write-ins throughout the area: http://nanowrimo.org/regions/usa-ohio-dayton.
About the Author