Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Barbara Britton

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Barbara Britton

I am thrilled to have Barbara back on my blog today talking about her latest release, Until June. I was honored to receive an Advance Reader Copy, and devoured the book in one day. Well-written and powerful, the story will stay with you long after you finish the last page. 

Linda:  Welcome back to my blog. I’ve loved your books about biblical characters. Your upcoming release Until June is a total departure from your past books in that the story is set during WWI. What was the inspiration for the story?

Barbara: Thank you, Linda. I appreciate being back on your blog. Almost twelve years ago, I was on an Alaskan cruise excursion and visited the Taku Glacier Lodge outside of Juneau. Over lunch I heard a story about how a WWI veteran and his caregiver stayed at the lodge and raised sled dogs. I began thinking about a man and a woman being alone in a lodge for a long period of time and Until June was born.

LM: How has writing Until June differed from writing your previous books?

Barbara: Until June was the second story I wrote, and it was written before I started writing biblical fiction. I wrote three sweet romances before I wrote my debut novel based on a Bible story. My biblical novels have hundreds of mentions of God’s name, but Until June has ten. I also cover PTSD and the loss of limbs in a world war, which aren’t themes in my biblical stories. I worked on Until June over the years because it’s my Mom’s and mother-in-law’s favorite book, and veterans issues are near to my heart. I’m so happy it’s finally seeing the light of day.

LM: What sort of research was required to prepare you to write the story, and did you find any tidbit(s) you knew you had to include?

Barbara: I had to research various topics. I went on E-bay and purchased magazines from 1918-1920. One of those magazines was Woman’s Home Companion which is featured in the book. I read the romantic serials in the magazines and looked at the advertisements for dresses and food items. I also had to research war tactics from WWI and what veterans suffered as a result. I based the Gilbertsen Lodge on the Taku Lodge that I had visited, but I had to find out what Alaskan life was like in those early days during the mining boom.

LM: Tell us a bit about your journey to publication and what lessons you learned along the way.

Barbara and her family
at Taku Lodge

Barbara: I have learned to never give up on a story. I wrote four manuscripts before I received my Until June would still be under my bed if my son hadn’t seen the movie trailer for Me Before You. He texted me that someone had stolen my story. I looked up the blurb for Me Before You and discovered it differed from my novel. Both books are caregiver stories, but mine has a happy ending. I dusted off my manuscript and asked my publisher if they would like to see it. They offered me a contract over a decade after the story was written. I have improved the story over the years as I learned the craft of writing.

first publishing contract for biblical fiction.

LM: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

Barbara: I enjoy taking long walks when the Wisconsin weather cooperates. I read a lot of books when I’m not writing them. I love teaching about the Bible to adults and children. You never know when you’re going to stumble upon a little-known Bible story.

LM: Here are some quickies:

Lakes or Mountains for vacation: Lakes

Dog or cat as a pet: It’s a tie on this one.

Favorite shoes: boots or high heels or something in between: Boots, definitely

LM: What is your next project? Can we expect other WWI or non-biblical era books from you?

Barbara: I’m working on another biblical story right now, but there is probably another Historical in my future.

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

Barbara: I have a website—www.barbarambritton.com. 

I’m also on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbaraMBritton

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Barbara-M-Britton-173432342754243/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14983213.Barbara_M_Britton

About Until June:

When seventeen-year-old seamstress, Josephine Nimetz, agrees to take care of a WWI amputee in a remote Alaskan lodge to escape the influenza of 1918, there’s enough friction to melt the Mendenhall Glacier. Her position is only until June, and it pays well enough to overlook the hardship of managing a rustic home and a shell-shocked veteran, Geoff Chambers.

Geoff makes it clear that he isn’t too fond of the “runt” sent to take care of his needs, nor of her painful mistakes. Dealing with a depressed and addicted amputee, pushes Josephine to the brink of leaving, if not for the money her salary brings.

But Josephine is a perfectionist, determined to get Geoff back on his feet—figuratively. Though, sending a rich, handsome veteran back into society may cost Josephine the man she has grown to love.

Pre-Order link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B085VKHT5V

Traveling Tuesday: Colorado During WWII

Traveling Tuesday: Colorado During WWII

Bordered by seven states (Wyoming, Nebraska Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona), Colorado is considered part of both the western and southwestern United States. A diverse landscape includes mountains, forests, high plains, mesas, canyons, plateaus, rivers, and desert lands. The only state that lies entirely above one thousand meters’ elevation, Colorado’s lowest point is higher than eighteen states and the District of Columbia.

Named for the Colorado River (from the Spanish for Red River), the territory was organized in February, 1861, but Colorado was not given statehood until 1876 by President Grant. Because of the date it was admitted to the Union, Colorado is nicknamed the Centennial State.

As with many of the western United States during WWII, Colorado was home to many army and air force bases. Lowery Field alone trained 57,000 each year to supply the Army Air Forces with bomber crews, armourers, clerk typists, and aerial photographers. Camp Hale, located near Leadville in Eagle Valley, was created specifically to train soldiers in mountain warfare. The idea originated with Charles Dole, president of the National Ski Patrol who had heard about the exploits of the Finnish ski troops in the Russo-Finnish war. Named for Irving G. Hale, a Coloradoan veteran of the Spanish-American War and a founder of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the camp also served as a dog training and POW camp for German soldiers (one of forty-eight POW camps in the state).

In addition to its military camps, Colorado was the location of a Japanese-American internment camp called Amache that opened in the fall of 1942. At its peak, the camp held more than 7,300 internees who were confined in a one square mile, barbed wire enclosure watched over by armed guards. Nearly 1,000 of the Japanese Americans held at Amache joined the military and fought in the war, thirty-one of whom lost their lives.

The defense industry also took up residence in the state with Denver being a large home to many of the plants such as Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Remington Arms Co., Colorado Fuel & Iron, and Pueblo Ordnance Depot. Western Cutlery and steel manufacturers received contracts and subcontracts to supply the military. Railroads, trucking companies, and airlines flourishes and oil producers, coal mines, and cement factories boomed. With the need to provide food for the U.S., her troops, as well as her allies, Colorado farmers increased their output.

Colorado also sent her young men and women to serve in uniform, and nearly 3,000 residents gave the ultimate sacrifice.

______________________

The Widow & The War Correspondent

Are a new life and new love possible in a country devastated by war?

Barely married before she’s widowed after Pearl Harbor three years ago, journalist Cora Strealer travels to England where she’s assigned to work with United Press’s top reporter who thinks the last place for a woman is on the front lines. Can she change his opinion before D-Day? Or will she have to choose her job over her heart?

A sought-after journalist, Van Toppel deserves his pick of assignments, which is why he can’t determine the bureau chief’s motive for saddling him with a cub reporter. Unfortunately, the beautiful rookie is no puff piece. Can he get her off his beat without making headlines…or losing his heart?

Preorder link: https://amzn.to/3d0pQ1h

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Bonnie Engstrom!

Welcome Back, Bonnie Engstrom!

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your latest release When Hearts Entwine. The plot sounds intriguing. Where did you find your inspiration for this series and the story?

Bonnie: Thank you, Linda, for inviting me. I need to clarify a bit about When Hearts Entwine. It is a standalone and not part of a series. Also, it is not a recent story, but a book with a reinvented cover and title that was chosen by suggestions from clever followers on my Facebook author page. It might be confusing for readers to click on the link below the cover and see A Cup of Love as the title. But, it’s really When Hearts Entwine.

LM: Research is a large part of any book. How did you go about researching When Hearts Entwine, and did you discover any extra special tidbits of information?

Bonnie: This is one story I did very little research for. I based it on a cooking class I had taken and loved. Many of the minor characters are developed from memory. Erik, the hero, is a total fabrication, so I made him a dream hero ~ a handsome hunk EMT, angry, confused, but with a soft heart. Jillian, like many of my heroines, works in education. The story takes place in my former home town, Newport Beach, California. I did have to research some of the food referred to, especially Erik’s favorites, Danish pastries. I was mostly familiar with the Swedish food since I grew up with a Swedish grandmother. I researched the various types of fish served in Sweden. A lot of it in the ugh category. Although since we visited Sweden I love to have cold salmon for breakfast.

I want to make it clear that this story is not really about food, but about complex emotions. Mostly hurt, anger and redemption. The food part is fun background.

It’s also about healing and expanding horizons of faith. The Prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:10 is prominent to the story, and to Erik’s sometimes shaky beliefs. There is also a substory about Josh, a Muslim student of Jillian’s, who embraces Christianity but fears ostracism from his family. So, there is definitely more complexity than food. But I’ve been told the food references make readers’ mouths water.

LM: Do you do anything special to prepare yourself for writing? (E.g., listen to music, set up in a certain place)

Bonnie: I write in my den surrounded by photos of my grandchildren and the mementoes they’ve Wine, because no great story ever started with salad. But what’s funny about it to me is the first story I wrote (now shoved under the bed) was inspired while I was making a salad.

given me over the years. I am an only child, so I like quiet. I have a funny little plaque that says

LM: What is your favorite part of the writing process: creating story ideas, researching, writing, editing, or something else?

Bonnie: Definitely not editing! I enjoy editing for others, but hate doing my own. I self-edit each manuscript at least five or six times, and I always miss something. The process I enjoy the most is creating the story in my head, then seeing where it goes. I am a seat of the pants writer who lets her characters lead the way.

LM: How do you decide where to set your stories?

Bonnie: Most are set in Newport Beach or Scottsdale, Arizona, my former home and my current one. Some are combo settings with characters traveling between the two. One book is set in Pennsylvania where I grew up. I don’t like the idea of making up a town, especially since I don’t write cozies.

LM: Here are some quickies:

Favorite season: Winter in Arizona and the beginning of Spring when our resident mockingbird tells me it’s 5 am.

Favorite place to visit: Can’t go anywhere now, can we? But I loved visiting Scotland and Sweden years ago. I’ve gone back to Newport Beach several times, but it’s sad to see how much it’s changed. Other than cities or countries, my favorite place to visit is Steinmart!

Favorite author: Deb Macomber. I collect her books and have two packed shelves of them. The two other authors who inspired me are Bev Rainey and Randy Alcorn. I sure wish I could tell a story as beautifully as any of the three. One of my favorite secular authors is Carolyn Brown who writes clean, compelling fiction.

LM: What is your next project?

Bonnie: Natalie’s Red Dress, the final book in my Candy Cane Girls Series. Also, author Gail Kittleson and I are talking about writing a devotional together. I have several pre-written stories and some on the back burner that need to be completed, plus a few short stories and devotionals.

I have a short story, never published, that won second place in The Writers Digest Short Story Contest in 2008. WD only published the first place winner, but it sent me a $500 check! I’m still deciding whether to publish it. Maybe, someday . . .

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

Bonnie: www.bonniengstrom.com

              www.facebook.com/bonnieengstromauthor

              bengstrom@hotmail.com

Bonnie is giving away an ebook or signed paperback to one commenter. Please join the conversation for your chance to win.

About When Hearts Entwine: The cooking class was to be a respite for Jillian from her stressful job as a high school guidance counselor. Was meeting co-student Erik who carried baggage of guilt for his parents' murder and his unique way of witnessing an invitation to emotional disaster? Caught between "friendship" with Erik and her politically incorrect support of Josh, a Muslim student turned Christian, Jillie almost lost her faith in love. 

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B012UGG04G

Wartime Wednesday: Macaroni Mousse for Six

Hot Macaroni Mousse for Six

(From Better Meals in Wartime)

1 Cup uncooked elbow macaroni

1 ½ Cups scalded milk

1 Cup soft, white breadcrumbs

¼ Cup melted margarine (Remember, this was wartime!)

1 green pepper, minced

1 Tablespoon chopped parsley

2 Tablespoons chopped onions

1 Teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon paprika

½ Cup grated cheese

3 eggs, beaten

Boil the macaroni in salted, boiling water as directed on the package. Drain and place in a greased bread pan or oblong baking dish.

Sauce: Pour scalded milk over breadcrumbs. Add margarine, onions, parsley, seasonings, green pepper, and cheese. Stir in well-beaten eggs and pour the entire mixture over the macaroni.

Set the dish or plan in a pan of hot water-allowing the water to come halfway up the side of the dish and bake 40 minutes or more in a moderate oven (350 degrees). Test by inserting a knife to be sure it is firm. Turn out on a platter and decorate with watercress. This can be served as a main dish and meat substitute.

________________________

About The Widow & The War Correspondent 

Are a new life and new love possible in a country devastated by war?

Barely married before she’s widowed after Pearl Harbor three years ago, journalist Cora Strealer travels to England where she’s assigned to work with United Press’s top reporter who thinks the last place for a woman is on the front lines. Can she change his opinion before D-Day? Or will she have to choose her job over her heart?

A sought-after journalist, Van Toppel deserves his pick of assignments, which is why he can’t determine the bureau chief’s motive for saddling him with a cub reporter. Unfortunately, the beautiful rookie is no puff piece. Can he get her off his beat without making headlines…or losing his heart?

Pre-order Link: https://amzn.to/2LCiDIs

Mystery Monday: The Mother of Detective Fiction

Mystery Monday: The Mother of Detective Fiction

If Edgar Allan Poe is often referred to as the father of the American detective story, who is its mother? Many scholars believe the answer to be Anna Katharine Green, born in Brooklyn, New York in 1846. (Metta Fuller Victor published The Dead Letter twelve years earlier, but the book was the only piece of full length mystery fiction she released, instead focusing on dime novels and short magazine stories.)

Anna graduated from Ripley Female College (now Green Mountain College) in 1866. Having met Ralph Waldo Emerson, she developed poetic ambitions which failed to gain much recognition. She turned her hand toward mystery novels, and her first novel The Leavenworth Case initially sold over 150,000 copies. Over the course of fifteen years, the book sold nearly three quarters of a million copies-a staggering number at the time. The story featured her fictional detective Ebenezer Gryce who “was not the thin, wiry individual with the piercing eye you are doubtless expecting to see. On the contrary, Mr. Gryce was a portly, comfortable personage with an eye that never pierced, that did not even rest on you.”

 

She published two more novels, A Strange Disappearance (1880) and Hand and Ring (1883) that sold well, but never met with the success of her first book. In 1884, she married Charles Rohlfs, a struggling actor nine years her junior. Unable to find success in theatre, he turned to furniture making. Anna and Charles had three children: one daughter and two sons (who both had careers in aviation as test pilots).

Over the course of her forty-five year career, Anna published forty novels, and is credited with developing the series detective. In three of her books, Gryce is assisted by society spinster Amelia Butterworth, a prototype of Miss Marple, Miss Silver, and others. Anna also invented the “girl detective” when she created Violet Strange, a debutant with a secret life as a sleuth.

Although hardly high literary work, her stories were tightly plotted and well-constructed. She used her father’s expertise as an attorney to ensure accuracy and realism. Some of her innovative plot devices include newspaper clippings as clues, expert witnesses, and the coroner’s inquest. So accurate was her work, Yale Law School used her books to demonstrate the danger of relying on circumstantial evidence. An interesting aside is the anecdote that says The Leavenworth Case sparked a debate in the Pennsylvania State Senate as to whether the book could “really have been written by a woman.”

Anna’s influence and popularity were so great that Arthur Conan Doyle sought her out during his 1894 visit to the U.S. Despite her “progressiveness,” she did believe women should get the right to vote. She passed away in 1935 at the age of eighty-eight.

_________________________

The Widow & The War Correspondent: A WWII Romance

Are a new life and new love possible in a country devastated by war?

Barely married before she’s widowed after Pearl Harbor three years ago, journalist Cora Strealer travels to England where she’s assigned to work with United Press’s top reporter who thinks the last place for a woman is on the front lines. Can she change his opinion before D-Day? Or will she have to choose her job over her heart?

A sought-after journalist, Van Toppel deserves his pick of assignments, which is why he can’t determine the bureau chief’s motive for saddling him with a cub reporter. Unfortunately, the beautiful rookie is no puff piece. Can he get her off his beat without making headlines…or losing his heart?

Pre-order Link: https://amzn.to/3bzMgVn

Release Day: The Mechanic and the MD

Release Day: The Mechanic and the MD

I hope you've enjoyed Spies & Sweethearts, Book 1 of my Sisters in Service trilogy. 

Book 2 is now available!

All’s fair in love and war. Or so they say.

High school and college were a nightmare for Doris Strealer and being an adult isn’t much better. Men won’t date a woman of her height, and they don’t understand her desire to repair car engines rather than work as a nurse or a teacher. When her father’s garage closes, and no one will hire a female mechanic, she joins the Red Cross Motor Corps, finally feeling at home. Until she comes face to face with her past in the form of Ronald McCann, the most popular boy in school.

On the brink of a successful career as a surgeon, Ron’s plans crumble when he’s drafted and assigned to an evacuation hospital in England, the last place he expects to run into a former schoolmate. The gangly tomboy who was four years behind him in high school has transformed into a statuesque beauty, but a broken engagement in college leaves him with no desire to risk his heart ever again.

Will the hazards of war make or break this unlikely couple?

Use the link below to purchase from your favorite online retailer:

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/3RNpjY

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Trish Perry

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Trish Perry

Linda:  Welcome to my blog. Congratulations on your latest release, A Special Kind of Double. What was the inspiration for the story, and why did you decide to enter the realm of romantic suspense?

Trish: Thanks, Linda! Actually, my reading practices led me to writing romantic suspense. I found myself reading far more suspense than I have in the past, so the genre began to rub off on me. In August 2018 I released A Midnight Clear, a romance which had an element of suspense to it, and I felt compelled to heighten that suspense in the next book I wrote. When Winged Publications looked for romantic suspense, I jumped at the chance.

Linda: What sort of research did you have to do for the story? Did you unearth any tidbits you knew needed to be included?

Trish: I was fairly new to the Los Angeles area, and I set the book there, so that required some research into the sites I used in specific scenes. Since writing the book, I’ve been to some of the places I included in the book, which was a lot of fun, after the fact. I also did practical research to learn which elements were needed to keep the book suspenseful—sometimes as readers we don’t notice those elements, but we notice a lack of intrigue if they’re missing.

LM: You moved from the Northern Virginia/metro Washington, DC area to California. How has the move/change in location impacted your writing?

Trish: I’ve written books set here in California before—both Beach Dreams and Sunset Beach are set in Mission Beach, San Diego—and I’ll likely set more books in California, now that I live here. As far as how the move itself has affected my writing, I’m currently living with my daughter’s family, rather than on my own (which I’m more used to). Life has become quite a bit more interactive, especially with regard to my grandchildren. So, it’s taking a while for me to find my footing, schedule-wise. It’s a season, and I want to follow God’s will. His will appears to involve my focusing more on family than on my regular writing schedule. But that will change again, I’m sure.

One unexpected outcome from my move is that I’ve essentially retired from my day job, so eventually I expect to have more time to focus on writing.

LM: What do you do to prepare yourself for writing? For example do you listen to music or set up in a specific place?

Trish: I always prefer writing at my Mac, and although I’m not ADD, I absolutely cannot focus on my writing with music or noise going on around me. So, you can see how living with kids in the house has affected my writing, lol. My creative flow often gets going by reading good books and watching creatively written films and television. When I have a basic idea for what I want to write, I put together a loose outline, plotting out the major plot points. That's usually enough to get me into my first chapter, and there are often significant changes to my initial idea as the story unfolds. Structured but flexible–that's key for me.

LM: What are some of the lessons you’ve learned on the path to publication?

Trish: I learned in my first few years of publication that you needn’t worry if something you write doesn’t make it to publication. If you’re a writer, you just keep on writing. Maybe your work will find a publisher later, and maybe it won’t. But you’ll always be able to come up with new storylines, God willing, and the experience helps you grow as a writer.

I’ve also learned that, if a story or a scene is dancing around in your head, you need to get it down! Either jot it down (or enter it into your phone) enough to bring it back later, or get to your computer and type it up. Those ideas flit through one’s head sometimes, and even the best ones have a way of disappearing. Creative thoughts don’t just show up every time you sit down to write, and you can’t always wait for them, especially if you’re under a deadline. Treasure your creativity when it’s high!

LM: You live in a beautiful area of the country, one which many people choose to visit. If money were no object, what is your idea of the ultimate vacation?

Trish: Yes, this area is gorgeous, all year long. I’ve long dreamed of living in this kind of climate, so I’m thrilled that my kids and grandkids all moved out here from the east coast, which was my final incentive.

Obviously, this year travel has become taboo for the most part. But I’ve done very little travel overseas. I’d love to go to Great Britain. My mother was British, and I’d like to visit where she lived and where she and my U.S. Air Force father met and dated before they married and moved to the States.

LM: What is the quirkiest thing you’ve ever done?

Trish: Goodness, that’s a tough one. I suppose one of the weirdest things I’ve ever done was when I was married and quite pregnant, my husband and I dressed up for a big costume contest at a dance club in downtown Washington, DC. This was during the disco days, and I dressed as a very fat man in one of my husband’s stylish three-piece suits and a ridiculous fedora hat, and he squeezed himself into a very stretchy dress of mine. His hair was longish, and we used a curling iron on it, so it looked a bit like a middle-aged woman’s hair. I penciled a mustache and five-o’clock shadow on my face and full makeup on his. We were without doubt the most unattractive couple there. But we won second place.

LM: What are you currently working on?

Trish: I’m in the early stages of either a novel or a script, and I can’t decide yet which I want it to be. I want to write a contemporary version of one of my favorite classic novels, and it won’t be an easy undertaking. I’m praying for guidance on this one. I’m studying scriptwriting--it seems like a sensible thing to do, living in L.A.!

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

Trish: My website is http://www.trishperry.com

My Amazon author page is https://www.amazon.com/Trish-Perry/e/B001IOFFKW?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1585698617&sr=8-1

My Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/TrishPerryAuthor/

I’m new to Bookbub, and I’d love followers, if your readers are so inclined! My Bookbub page is https://www.bookbub.com/search?search=trish+perry

Thanks, Linda!

About A Special Kind of Double:

Franny and Grace Otterbridge were always the closest of sisters. But after their father's death, Grace veered off in a different direction. Now, Franny feels she's lost her. Literally-Grace has gone missing. Franny assumes she's taken off on another wild hair, but signs soon suggest otherwise, Franny accepts amateur sleuthing help from new flame Nevan Burns, a young fine artist (who's also a fine young artist). He proves himself more than good company, and Franny finds herself swinging from one emotion to another, from joy to fear, from anticipation to dread. She's not equipped to search for Grace alone. She's even less prepared for what she finds.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2LeLliv

Wartime Wednesday: Hospitals

Wartime Wednesday: Hospitals

The logistics of caring for wounded soldiers, sailors, and airmen were lengthy, and various types of hospitals were involved in the process. Patients had to be moved where they could be best treated from the time first treated by a medic until the injured party was returned to duty or evacuated further to the rear.

About a mile from the front (and remember this line often moved), physicians and medics worked in battalion aid stations, adjusting splints and dressings or administering plasma or pharmaceuticals. Collecting stations were located about two miles from the front and handled further adjustment of splints and dressings, administration of plasma and drugs, as well as treatment of shock.

After treating minor wounds and shock, clearing stations (4-10 miles from the front) grouped patients for transport for field hospitals that were located about thirty miles away. This is where surgery occurred. Evacuation hospital treated illnesses and less urgent surgical cases. From here, patients could return to the front.

“Fixed hospitals” were either located a safe distance from combat or stateside, and they typically remained in one location. Three types of fixed hospitals treated the wounded:

Station hospitals: often attached to a military base, they treated illnesses and injuries among to those stationed on the base.

General hospitals: These administered long-term treatment. Sometimes these facilities specialized in certain types of illnesses or injures.

Convalescent hospitals: Created during WWII, these facilities focused on rehabilitation of the severely wounded patient who would receive a medical discharge.

Check out this short video about the 74th General Hospital (U.S.) in Bristol, England: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-gloucestershire-35745059/ww2-film-offers-rare-glimpse-of-life-at-us-hospital-in-england

 ________________________

All’s fair in love and war. Or so they say.

High school and college were a nightmare for Doris Strealer and being an adult isn’t much better. Men won’t date a woman of her height, and they don’t understand her desire to repair car engines rather than work as a nurse or a teacher. When her father’s garage closes, and no one will hire a female mechanic, she joins the Red Cross Motor Corps, finally feeling at home. Until she comes face to face with her past in the form of Ronald McCann, the most popular boy in school.

On the brink of a successful career as a surgeon, Ron’s plans crumble when he’s drafted and assigned to an evacuation hospital in England, the last place he expects to run into a former schoolmate. The gangly tomboy who was four years behind him in high school has transformed into a statuesque beauty, but a broken engagement in college leaves him with no desire to risk his heart ever again.

Will the hazards of war make or break this unlikely couple?

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/3RNpjY

Traveling Tuesday: England During WWII

Traveling Tuesday: England During WWII

Two days after Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, Britain declared war on the Nazis. A far flung empire that had direct or de facto political and economic control of twenty-five percent of the world’s population, the United Kingdom also held political ties to four semi-independent Dominions: Australia, Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand, as part of the Commonwealth. Did they believe their power would enable them to defeat the Germans in short order?

Unfortunately, victory would not come for another six years.

The first eight months of the war, often referred to as the “Phoney War,” was a time of great optimism (“the war should be over by Christmas”), yet great bureaucratic muddle (as one report called it). Very little in the way of “war” happened. Requirements such as evacuations and blackouts were unpopular with civilians.

Then, the defeat at Dunkirk was followed by the fall of France in June 1940. War was now a harsh reality. Neville Chamberlain’s government was outed and Winston Churchill replaced him. Firm and resolute, Churchill inspired the British people during their lonely stand against Hitler for the next eighteen months until the U.S. joined the conflict as a result of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Britain endured the Blitz as well as further attacks from bombs and rockets throughout the war. Over sixty thousand people were killed and nearly ninety thousand seriously injured. Thousands of homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed. Civilians sought in their basements, the subway systems, or structures such as Anderson and Morrison shelters. Rationing of food began in January 1940 and clothes in June 1941. By 1943, nearly every household item was either in short supply or unobtainable. (An interesting note is that boys had to wait until age 12 before being allowed to wear long pants.)

Families were often separated because of evacuation and fathers and husbands going away to fight. Uncertainty and hardship defined each day. Women worked long hours in the defense industry or joined one of the many service organizations to do their bit. The Women’s Land Army planted, maintained, and harvested produce for the country that before the war had imported over half their food.

Despite their exhaustion and hunger, Britons emerged from the war justifiably proud of their role in gaining Allied Victory.

_________________________

All’s fair in love and war. Or so they say.

High school and college were a nightmare for Doris Strealer and being an adult isn’t much better. Men won’t date a woman of her height, and they don’t understand her desire to repair car engines rather than work as a nurse or a teacher. When her father’s garage closes, and no one will hire a female mechanic, she joins the Red Cross Motor Corps in England, finally feeling at home. Until she comes face to face with her past in the form of Ronald McCann, the most popular boy in school.

On the brink of a successful career as a surgeon, Ron’s plans crumble when he’s drafted and assigned to an evacuation hospital in England, the last place he expects to run into a former schoolmate. The gangly tomboy who was four years behind him in high school has transformed into a statuesque beauty, but a broken engagement in college leaves him with no desire to risk his heart ever again.

Will the hazards of war make or break this unlikely couple?

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/3RNpjY

Talkshow Thursday: Andrea Chatelain

Talkshow Thursday: Andrea Chatelain

Linda:  Thanks for stopping by. Congratulations on being part of Drawing Near: 90 Day Devotional. Tell a bit about the book and how did the opportunity come along?

Andrea: Drawing Near is a simple but profound way to deepen your faith each day. I was part of a midwest ministry called Wholly Loved and was fortunate to partner with some really authentic authors. Our devotionals are full of real struggles and point to Jesus, His grace, and love.

LM: You write for several organizations, teach English to immigrants and refugees, and raise three kids. How do you balance all of your responsibilities?

Andrea: Well, I had to throw out unreal expectations. My house is usually a mess because I use my free-time to write. And I decide each season, which area of my life is God calling me to give my time to and in what manner. Sometimes I have to make hard cuts so I can focus on the more important things. For example, because of the pandemic, I’m currently taking a step back from certain ministry opportunities and professional teaching because my kids need me here at home to be their teacher. I’m learning it’s easier to let go of roles if my identity is dug deep in Christ because then I can ask Him where He wants me to be and have peace in that decision.

LM: As a non-fiction writer, how do you get inspiration for topics you address? How difficult is it to share information about yourself in your articles?

Andrea: I write out of my weaknesses because I figure it may help others struggling with the same problems. Because I know how hard life, motherhood, marriage, and faith can feel, my compassion for others makes it pretty easy to open up about myself. It’s about showing how God is working in my weaknesses, how He is my hope! I also read my Bible and write down what God is teaching me through His wisdom. His words will last when I’m long gone, so I feel confident pondering and sharing His wisdom with my readers because I know it’s what will really make the difference when someone feels broken.

LM: Do you have a set routine to prepare for writing (e.g. listening to music, etc.) and is there a time of day you are more productive?

Andrea: I usually read my Bible first before I write. Otherwise I feel as though I’m writing out of my limited capacity instead of His power. Sometimes I need to do another activity, usually outside, like walking the dog or digging in my garden to give my mind time to process what I want to say before sitting down at the computer.

LM: What is one thing you’d like to learn how to do?

Andrea: I love learning new things! I’ve learned how to garden, so I’d love to learn how to can/preserve my produce. I have a neighbor near me who has lived on a farm for decades and is going to teach me her methods to make pickles and jam this season. It may sound simple and old fashioned to some, but I think it’s so interesting to learn the ways previous generations provided for their families.

LM: Here are some quickies:

Andrea:

Favorite Season: Fall

Favorite childhood book: Stone Soup

Favorite Bible verse: Depends on the day, but Galatians 5:22 for this season.

LM: Can you tell us what writing projects are on your plate right now?

Andrea: I’m so excited and thankful to partner with Our Daily Bread as a video devotional writer. They are creating some really amazing and accessible content for this generation. And I’m finishing a group Bible Study on the topic of joy with the amazing ladies of WhollyLoved again. Working with others on these projects teaches me so much about God because we all see Him through different life experiences.

Linda: Where can folks connect with you?

Andrea: I write weekly on my website www.glory-be.org. Follow me on Instagram andFacebook for real life encouragement. And watch for WhollyLoved’s upcoming Bible study I contributed to along with some amazing writers at www.youarewhollyloved.com.

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About Drawing Near
Each day, God beckons us to Himself, calling us to rest in His love and grace. As we do, He heals our hurts, overpowers our fears with love, and restores us to the women He created us to be. This 90-day devotional, written by women who are learning themselves to live anchored in God's grace, will help you deepen your faith and grow your relationship with Christ.

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/179757826X