Traveling Tuesday: Tennessee’s Wartime Service

Traveling Tuesday: Tennessee’s Wartime Service

Tennessee is a beautiful state, long and narrow, and referred to in three segments: East, Middle, and West. Eight states border the state which features six physiographic regions: the Blue Ridge, the Appalachian Ridge and Valley, the Cumberland Plateau, the Highland Rim, the Nashville Basin, and the Gulf Coastal Plain. In addition, Tennessee is home to over 10,000 documented caves, the most in the United States.

It is this varied geography that allowed Tennessee to serve in various ways during WWII. Over 300,000 men from the state served in the armed forces (six of whom received the highest award for valor, the Congressional Medal of Honor).

Interestingly, Governor Prentice Cooper visited Europe in 1937 and became convinced that if hostilities broke out, the US would ultimate be involved. As a result, he came home and developed the infrastructure for military bases, training, and war-related industries. In 1940, Tennessee established the Advisory Committee on Preparedness, the first defense organization in the country.

More than 280,000 residents worked in war manufacturing around the state. Oak Ridge grew out of the Manhattan Project and produced vital components of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. There were several prisoner of war camps that housed approximately 68,000 Germans, Austrians, and Italians.

Because of its highly rural nature and terrain similar to that of Western Europe, Middle Tennessee was chosen as the location of the first of a series of military maneuvers that featured the combined forces of tanks and infantry. In these maneuvers, General George Patton refined his tactics for the use of tanks as “red” and “blue” armies faced each other in complex and realistic training exercises. It is estimated that over 850,000 men and women participated. Based at Cumberland University in Lebanon, the “Tennessee Maneuvers” officially took place “somewhere in Tennessee.”

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Love’s Allegiance: With most U.S. boys fighting for Uncle Sam in far off countries, Rochelle Addams has given up hope for a wedding in her future. Then she receives an intriguing offer from a distant relative to consider a marriage of convenience.

Conscientious objector Irwin Terrell is looking forward to his assignment at Shady Hills Mental hospital to minister to the less fortunate in lieu of bearing arms. At the arrival of the potential bride his father has selected for him, Irwin’s well-ordered life is turned upside down. And after being left at the altar two years ago, he has no interest in risking romance again.

Despite his best efforts to remain aloof to Rochelle, Irwin is drawn to the enigmatic and beautiful young woman, but will time run out before his wounded heart can find room for her?

Inspired by the biblical love story of Rebekkah and Isaac, Love’s Allegiance explores the struggles and sacrifices of those whose beliefs were at odds with a world at war.

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

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back, Amy Anguish

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back, Amy Anguish

Linda:  Welcome back and congratulations on your latest release, Faith and Hope. What was your inspiration for the story?

Amy: This story started from a simple question. What would happen if two grown sisters who didn’t get along were forced to spend the summer together?

LM: What a loaded question. Sounds intriguing! You recently returned from a writer’s retreat. How did that impact you and your writing?

Amy: This was my second year to attend, and I am planning to go every year from now on. It’s amazing to be surrounded by other authors whose brains work similar to yours. The setting was gorgeous, too, which left us all relaxed. And it actually inspired me to write a novel this summer that I hadn’t planned on for a while.

LM: In addition to being an author, you are a wife and mother. How do you juggle all your responsibilities?

Amy: Sometimes it’s easier than others. I’m blessed in that my children still nap most days, which gives me several hours in the afternoons to work. I also have a husband who is understanding and knows sometimes I will work in the evening, too. And he’s a teacher, so he is home more often than a lot of other jobs would make him. That helps, too. And I try to stick with a schedule most days, because that keeps things from overwhelming me.

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

Amy: I don’t really do anything except sit in my chair and open my laptop to wherever I left off the day before. I guess the most preparation I do, is that I think about my story as I try to fall asleep at night so I can have a better idea of where I want the next scene to go when I can write the next day.

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

Amy: Put pink streaks in my hair.

LM: Here are some quickies:

Favorite season: Fall

Favorite Bible verse: Isaiah 3:5-6

Favorite Actor or Actress: Audrey Hepburn and Carey Grant

LM: What is your next project?

Amy: I’m editing a couple of stories now with hopes of getting them sent to publishers before the end of the year to try and get them contracted. I have another one contracted to come out next September. And I’m going to try my hand at writing a Christmas romance during Nanowrimo in November. That sounds like quite a bit, doesn’t it?

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

Amy: My website is http://abitofanguish.weebly.com and my Facebook page is http://facebook.com/amyanguishauthor. I’m doing some fun things on there right now so definitely come check it out!

About Faith and Hope:

Two sisters. One summer. Multiple problems.

Younger sister Hope has lost her job, her car, and her boyfriend all in one day. Her well-laid plans for life have gone sideways, as has her hope in God.

Older sister Faith is finally getting her dream-come-true after years of struggles and prayers. But when her mom talks her into letting Hope move in for the summer, will the stress turn her dream into a nightmare? Is her faith in God strong enough to handle everything?

For two sisters who haven't gotten along in years, this summer together could be a disaster ... or it could lead them to a closer relationship with each other and God. 

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/31RhrHv

Wartime Wednesday: Lemon Refrigerator Pie

Wartime Wednesday:  Lemon Refrigerator Pie

I love to bake, but my schedule doesn’t always allow me to indulge. The recipe below is a “no-bake” pie, cutting down on preparation time. I found it in my Better Meals in Wartime cookbook. Surprisingly, it uses three (3) eggs which sometimes were difficult to find unless you lived on a farm. It’s easy and delicious. Enjoy!

11 Graham crackers

3 eggs

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Juice of 3 lemons

Grated rind of 3 lemons

2 Tablespoons confectioner’s sugar

Great a large pie plate. Place the crackers on the bottom and fill the sides and spaces with broken pieces and crumbs, bringing them well up to the edge of the pie plate.

Separate yokes and whites of eggs. Beat the yolks well and add the milk, juice and rind. Pour mixture into the pie plate.

Beat the whites until stiff and fold into sugar. Spread lightly over the pie. Place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes to lightly brown the “meringue.” Put pie in refrigerator and chill for at leave five hours.

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Love's Allegiance: Now available!

With most U.S. boys fighting for Uncle Sam in far off countries, Rochelle Addams has given up hope for a wedding in her future. Then she receives an intriguing offer from a distant relative to consider a marriage of convenience.

Conscientious objector Irwin Terrell is looking forward to his assignment at Shady Hills Mental hospital to minister to the less fortunate in lieu of bearing arms. At the arrival of the potential bride his father has selected for him, Irwin’s well-ordered life is turned upside down. And after being left at the altar two years ago, he has no interest in risking romance again.

Despite his best efforts to remain aloof to Rochelle, Irwin is drawn to the enigmatic and beautiful young woman, but will time run out before his wounded heart can find room for her?

Inspired by the biblical love story of Rebekkah and Isaac, Love’s Allegiance explores the struggles and sacrifices of those whose beliefs were at odds with a world at war.

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

Wartime Wednesday: Florida Slaw for Six

Wartime Wednesday: Florida Slaw for Six

With the “dog days of summer” upon us, the thought of turning on the stove or the oven is probably not your idea of a good time. Next week, I’ll be posting a no-bake dessert, but this week I’m sharing a side dish that is a great accompaniment to just about any entrée. I’m visiting my dad who lives in Florida, so I was pleased when I found this recipe.

Did you know the word cole slaw comes from the Dutch “koolsla” meaning cabbage salad? The anglicization of the word came as far back as the middle of the 18^th century. According to Wikipedia, the original recipe was found in a 1770 Dutch cookbook whose author gives credit to his landlady. Too bad we didn't get her name!

As I read the recipe name, I wondered what made this particular dish Floridian, so I did a bit of poking around. The recipes I found claiming to be Florida slaw were nothing like the one below and most included lime juice (a nod to its tropical climate, I suppose), so perhaps the origins of  this “old time favorite” as my cookbook Better Meals in Wartime touts will remain a mystery unless one of you can shed some light! Meanwhile, enjoy!

4 Cups cabbage, shredded fine

½ green pepper, minced

¼ Cup minced sweet pickle

1 Tablespoon mustard

¼ Cup vinegar

½ Cup thin cream

1 Tablespoon sugar

½ teaspoon salt

Shake of pepper

Mix the cabbage with the green pepper and pickles. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over cabbage. Toss slaw thoroughly and chill. Serve “as is” or with lettuce lining the salad bowl.

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Love’s Allegiance:

With most U.S. boys fighting for Uncle Sam in far off countries, Rochelle Addams has given up hope for a wedding in her future. Then she receives an intriguing offer from a distant relative to consider a marriage of convenience.

Conscientious objector Irwin Terrell is looking forward to his assignment at Shady Hills Mental hospital to minister to the less fortunate in lieu of bearing arms. At the arrival of the potential bride his father has selected for him, Irwin’s well-ordered life is turned upside down. And after being left at the altar two years ago, he has no interest in risking romance again.

Despite his best efforts to remain aloof to Rochelle, Irwin is drawn to the enigmatic and beautiful young woman, but will time run out before his wounded heart can find room for her?

Inspired by the biblical love story of Rebekkah and Isaac, Love’s Allegiance explores the struggles and sacrifices of those whose beliefs were at odds with a world at war.

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

Traveling Tuesday: Florida and WWII

Traveling Tuesday: Florida and WWII

I’m visiting my dad this week, so I thought it would be fun to delve into Florida’s association with WWII.

Like many other U.S. states, Florida sprang into action immediately after the attack at Pearl Harbor. Thousands of young men rushed to enlist. As uniformed service became available to women, they signed up too. Eventually, over 250,000 Floridians would serve.

It wasn’t long before the military showed up in force. Because of Florida’s warm climate and vast amounts of vacant land, it was an ideal location for military bases. The number of military installations increased from eight to 175! At 180,000 acres, Camp Blanding became the state’s fourth largest city and housed 55,000 soldiers. Naval stations were reactivated in Key West, Tampa, Valparaiso, and Pensacola. In addition, there were forty airfields that trained pilots and crews, including one in Pensacola where Jimmy Doolittle and his crew trained for their dramatic raid on Japan.

Overcrowding on the bases became a problem, so the military took over hotels and resorts for housing and in some cases, hospitals. With the tourism industry at a crawl during the war, perhaps the facilities were glad to have the business. Three years into the war, Florida became a popular destination for soldiers on furlough.

Shipyards in Tampa, Panama City, Pensacoloa, and Jacksonville produced Liberty ships, and in Dunnedin, amphibious vehicles were designed and manufactured. Even landlocked Orlando built 9,000 assault boats. At one point, Florida considered changing its nickname from The Sunshine State to The Steel State. The citrus industry boomed and surpassed California in production for the first time during the crop year of 1942-43. Shortly thereafter, citrus growers patented the process to make concentrated orange juice. The U.S. Department of Agriculture authorized the temporary importation of 75,000 Bahamians and Jamaicans to work in south Florida fields.

In the early days of the war more than twenty-four ships were sunk off Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts, so the “Mosquito Fleet” (the fast wooden PT boats used by the Navy) was created to patrol Florida’s coastline to help eliminate the threat of submarines. Thousands of volunteers were also trained to keep track of air activity.

Folks on the home front “did their bit” by collecting scrap and holding “money drives” to help build ships and planes. Victory gardens flourished (Tampa officials estimate 10,000 gardens in their city alone), and people learned to do more with less.

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Love's Allegiance

With most U.S. boys fighting for Uncle Sam in far off countries, Rochelle Addams has given up hope for a wedding in her future. Then she receives an intriguing offer from a distant relative to consider a marriage of convenience.

Conscientious objector Irwin Terrell is looking forward to his assignment at Shady Hills Mental hospital to minister to the less fortunate in lieu of bearing arms. At the arrival of the potential bride his father has selected for him, Irwin’s well-ordered life is turned upside down. And after being left at the altar two years ago, he has no interest in risking romance again.

Despite his best efforts to remain aloof to Rochelle, Irwin is drawn to the enigmatic and beautiful young woman, but will time run out before his wounded heart can find room for her?

Inspired by the biblical love story of Rebekkah and Isaac, Love’s Allegiance explores the struggles and sacrifices of those whose beliefs were at odds with a world at war.

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

Release Day!

Release Day!

Love's Allegiance (Wartime Brides, Book 4) is Now Available

for the special price of $0.99 for a limited time.

With most U.S. boys fighting for Uncle Sam in far off countries, Rochelle Addams has given up hope for a wedding in her future. Then she receives an intriguing offer from a distant relative to consider a marriage of convenience.

Conscientious objector Irwin Terrell is looking forward to his assignment at Shady Hills Mental hospital to minister to the less fortunate in lieu of bearing arms. At the arrival of the potential bride his father has selected for him, Irwin’s well-ordered life is turned upside down. And after being left at the altar two years ago, he has no interest in risking romance again.

Despite his best efforts to remain aloof to Rochelle, Irwin is drawn to the enigmatic and beautiful young woman, but will time run out before his wounded heart can find room for her?

Inspired by the biblical love story of Rebekkah and Isaac, Love’s Allegiance explores the struggles and sacrifices of those whose beliefs were at odds with a world at war.

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon

Kobo

Apple Books

Barnes & Noble

Wartime Wednesday: Oberlin and the Civil War

Wartime Wednesday: Oberlin and the Civil War

Statistics vary, but suffice to say there are 4,000 to 5,000 colleges and universities in the United States, so it’s not possible to know about all of them. Thanks to Tamera Krafts Ladies of Oberlin series, I now know about Oberlin College, originally Oberlin Collegiate Institute.

Located about forty miles southwest of Cleveland and approximately ten miles from Lake Erie, Oberlin has a fascinating history. Founded in 1833 by two Presbyterian ministers in response to what they saw as the immoral West, the town began as a religious community and a training facility for missionaries. It is named for the Alsatian minister Johann Friedrich Oberlin who taught in poor areas in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

The school was chartered a year later with a motto of “Learning and Labor,” and the first class had four students. Oberlin is the oldest coeducational liberal arts college in the U.S. and the second oldest continuously operation coeducational institute of higher learning in the world. Its conservatory is the oldest continuously operating conservatory in the U.S. In 1835, Oberlin was one of the first colleges to admit African Americans, and two years later the first to admit women.

Abolitionist and preacher Charles Finney was named president in 1850, and he served until 1866. Under his leadership the college’s faculty and students increased their activity in the abolitionist movement. Oberlin was a key stop in the Underground Railroad.

As most of you know, I’m an avid reader of historic fiction. I love the combination of entertainment and education. Tamera Kraft’s novel Lost in the Storm does both. Here is my review:

This is the second in the Ladies of Oberlin series, but the book was easily read as a stand-alone. I am well-versed in the Civil War era, yet I was unaware of how the history of Oberlin College fit into this period. I have greatly enjoyed my journey through time learning about this intriguing segment. I loved Lavena. She was spunky and sassy without acting modern, and she was very relatable as she tried to forge her way in a man’s industry (journalism). She plowed ahead, and had realistic responses when things went awry, but took her commitment to getting the story seriously and continued on despite fear and trepidation. Cage is a wonderful hero, a fascinating mix of integrity, confidence, and doubt as he struggled with past issues. I loved his relationship with the Chaplain (who I hope gets his own book!). The author has obviously done her research which enriches the story with societal, cultural and colloquial references. Highly recommended.

I was provided an Advanced Reader Copy from the author. A positive review was not required, and all opinions are my own.

Purchase link: https://amzn.to/2H13HSk