Wildcatting

About the Book

RICHARD STERLING SAWYER has now finally published Wildcatting ~ The Hills of Kettleman, an original 1936 manuscript written by his Grandfather, Ted Sterling, and his Great Aunt, Eloise Sterling Hirt. This unknown manuscript, WILDCATTING, was found in an old dusty file box upon Ted's death in 2001. Eloise was Ted's older sister and a prolific writer and actress, having help formed the original Pasadena Playhouse Theater in the 1920's. Ted was a successful attorney and land-man for The Texas Company (TEXACO) and previously involved with these oilmen and the companies who drilled the first big successful oil well in the Kettleman Hills in 1928. This is a rare Novel with engaging characters that you will not be able to put down until the final chapter is absorbed. A beautiful 'rags to riches' love story that reads like a historic movie script while the real vision of life's wheeling and dealing is played out in 1928 Los Angeles, New York, Santa Barbara, Montecito, San Francisco, Hanford and The Kettleman Hills. These are accurate descriptions of the actual places and people's attitudes of the time. Eloise has her own writing style and dramatic force that keeps you engaged in every facet of her storytelling while Ted's knowledge of the local geology and wildcat oil business is uniquely insightful. WILDCATTING ~ THE HILLS OF KETTLEMAN is filled with historic photos, details about the authors and an epilogue section with historical notes. This insightful story and theatrical writing combines to produce a tale of love and intrigue about one of California's great historic discoveries.

About the Author

ELOISE STERLING HIRT -- was born in Denver. Colorado in 1892. Eloise was a charter member of the Community players of Pasadena, California. This group formed the beginning of the famous Pasadena Playhouse. She was a prolific writer, director and actor involved with many of the early productions. Her historic papers and notes from that era are housed in the Huntington Library in San Marino, CA. In 1928, she was married to Lee Hirt, a brilliant research chemist. Unfortunately Lee Hirt passed away in 1933 and Eloise never married again. She became a correspondent for the Pasadena Star-News and traveled to Manilla, Philippines and also wrote for the Manilla Tribune Newspaper. Eloise obtained a Rockefeller Fellowship in 1939 and worked at educational radio station WEEI in Boston for a year. By 1940 she was overseas with the United Service Organization (USO) and also involved with YMCA. She retired in 1966 to a Pink house on Spruce Street in Berkeley, CA, where she wrote plays, news articles and inspired UC Berkeley students and the local community until her passing in 1991. THEODORE KESLER STERLING: Ted was born in 1901 in Denver, Colorado. RICHARD STERLING SAWYER: Grandson of Ted Sterling, was raised in West Los Angeles, California and attended Midland School, Los Olivos, California. His College education includes United States International University, Stanford and University of California, Santa Barbara. Rick is the author of Within The Shells (1972), a limited edition poetry book, and currently a licensed California real estate broker, film producer, and writer. More about Rick's artistic pursuits can be seen at www.ricksawyer.com