A Life Well Lived

     

     The Sanctity Of Love And War has its roots in my own spiritual musings and questioning.  I was fortunate to have a spiritual mentor who guided me along the way of my journey into the world of writing.  That mentor was David J. Powell, Ph.D.  Soon after obtaining my Master's Degree in Community Counseling from the University of Scranton in 1996, I began my career in the field of drug and alcohol counseling.  I was eager and ready to learn from more experienced professionals on how to navigate the complexities of the field in which I then found myself.  It was at that time that I was lucky enough to attend a seminar given by Dr. Powell.  When I met him, he was already a renowned presenter within the fields of substance abuse and spirituality.  His gentle presence and ability to tell stories relevant to his topic were inspirational to me -- so much so that I made it a point to stay in touch with him.  Thus began a fruitful friendship that helped me to grow not only professionally, but personally as well.  I didn't realize at that time how much of David's teachings would later influence the writing of my first novel, The Sanctity Of Love And War.
     Sadly, David passed away on November 1st after an accident while working at his home in Connecticut.  To get a sense of the amount of people he touched in his life, all one needs to do is go to his Facebook page.  There you will find instances of the meaningful work he did around the globe, as well as the outpouring of love from friends and students of his teachings who were saddened by the suddenness of his passing.
     David wrote many books within the field of counseling and spirituality.  He was consulted by many other professionals for his insights and wisdom.  After his passing, I reread his Foreward to Richard A. Singer, Jr.'s book Your Daily Walk With Great Minds.  I was reminded again why I chose to heed the wisdom of his teachings.  David wrote: The secret of a good book is that it reaches into the reader's heart and touches him/her at a deeper level.  He went on to further write: We always change when we are confronted with love that is conveyed to us in the silence and sounds of others.  Love always transforms people.
     In part, The Sanctity Of Love And War tells the story of how the main character of Piper was able to use the wisdom she acquired through her own personal journey and how she was able to use that wisdom to transform herself.  Along the lines of David's beliefs, Piper was able to move past her own pain to discover within herself a deeper capacity for love.
     Whenever I questioned, I found myself reaching out to David for his wisdom and truth.         Invariably, he would gently validate my feelings before reminding me that it was alright to question and doubt; that those aspects of living were simply a part of the journey.  It was a result of the questioning and doubt that I began to journal and write the story of Piper and Bo.  When I continued to read David's Foreward of Richard A. Singer, Jr.'s book, I took special notice of the following words as they rung so true to me during the writing process of my own book: There is something in the physical act of writing that releases our creative responses and leads to self-understanding.  Writing The Sanctity Of Love And War was my attempt to understand not only myself, but the world around me.  Through his example, David challenged all he knew to be open and active participants in the world -- participants willing to hold the noble goal of living life with a conscious effort to make the world a better place through our presence and actions.  I know I speak for many of those whom he touched when I say how gratifying it was to simply know David was in your corner.  He was perhaps the most genuinely real person I ever knew.  He understood compassion, love, and truth.  As I wrote in the acknowledgement section of The Sanctity Of Love And War:
     There are times we are fortunate enough to have individuals enter our lives who have the gift of presence, above and beyond what we've come to expect in this world.  One such individual is David J. Powell, Ph.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University and President of the International Center of Health Concerns.  Since first attending one of his seminars over ten years ago, he has become a mentor and friend.  I am humbly indebted to him for his guidance and love through the years.
     Thank you, David, for being a guiding force in my life and for helping shape and influence the writing of The Sanctity Of Love And War.  Your legacy of kindness will live on in all those whom you touched and loved.

Great Works Of Modern Historical Fiction

     Now that I’ve gone through the process of researching and writing my own historical novel, I’ve come to appreciate more fully when one is written well.  Since The Sanctity Of Love And War is set during World War II, I’ve decided to devote this latest blog entry to what I feel are the greatest modern novels written about that time period.  Here are nine examples of historical fiction at its best:

The Light In The Ruins by Chris Bohjalian

A beautiful narrative of WWII that is both compelling and riveting, The Light In The Ruins is the kind of novel that aptly weaves suspense with history. It is the kind of book that makes one sad to say goodbye to its interesting, sympathetic characters, while at the same time, finding oneself missing those characters who were not as easy to like. This is done through the masterful storytelling and powerful writing style of Chris Bohjalian. A friend of my mother recommended this book to me, knowing my love of the period in which it was written. Italy is the setting for this tale. Through Bohjalian's descriptions, one feels she can see the beauty and feel the pull of the landscape in which the story is set.
            The Light In The Ruins is a book that will stay with a reader a long time after it has been read. For lovers of historical fiction, good, suspenseful writing, this book is a must read. Not since The Lost Wife have I found a WWII work of fiction so compelling and transformative. Bohjalian stands justly among great historical fiction writers for his ability to capture so creatively and beautifully this time period.

The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman

              One of the most beautifully written, moving historical fiction novels I have ever read. Alyson Richman evokes magic in her telling of the love story of Lenka and Josef, two Czechoslovakian Jews whose fate is determined by forces beyond their control.
              Richman effectively pulls the reader in by creating interesting characters and an equally compelling story. It is hard to fathom what the Jewish population in Europe had to endure during the reign of terror under the Third Reich, but Richman does a more than admirable job. Her research is flawless and serves as a true testament to what those who suffered at the hands of the Nazis endured. The spirit and courage that the Jews possessed is documented well in this book.
             For anyone who loves historical fiction, especially set in the era of WWII, The Lost Wife is for you. The added bonus is that the story is written beautifully and with such a depth of compassion that you will find yourself forever changed after having read it. If that is not the true mark of outstanding writing, then I don't know what is.

The Book Thief by Mark Zusak

             Every so often, we are lucky enough to discover a book so engrossing and utterly moving that we find ourselves forever changed as a result of the words contained within its pages.  One such book is Markus Zusak's beautiful novel, THE BOOK THIEF.  World War II Germany and the preceding years leading to Hitler's total control of that nation is the book's setting, providing a rich history from which Zusak was able to create his compelling tale.  He does this so convincingly and uniquely that one begins to believe that Death (the narrator of the book) might indeed have had the ability to describe the horrific years of Nazi occupation in Germany during the 1930's and 40's. 

            Good historical fiction invites us to become more understanding of the past.  It prompts us to delve into the possible feelings of those who lived through the events of which we read.  It pulls us in with such a depth of compassion that we are transformed into better human beings simply by taking the time to read such works of art.  I don't see how any person with feeling could not be moved by this novel.

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum

           A piercingly poignant novel that I found myself struggling to put down once I began to read.  Through her prose, Jenna Blum keeps the reader wishing to read more, despite the sometimes disturbing subject matter. Those Who Save Us is a tale of survival in Germany in a time fraught with great dangers and ethical dilemmas.  It’s a story of what a mother is willing to do to protect her child in a time of moral ambiguity and upheaval.  It is beautifully told, of an era that is deserving of our attention.

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

          This book is so visually evoking in its scope, it’s easy to see why it was turned into a film (which, as an Academy Award winner for best film, was just as visually rich).  Ondaatje’s story is haunting and pure in its telling.  The characters invoke us to become a part of their world, something essential to great storytelling.  It’s because of the successful degree in which this is done that The English Patient stands among the greats of WWII historical fiction.

Atonement by Ian McEwan

          Atonement is an aptly titled novel.  It’s a tale about the foolishness of youth, the amount of unceasing effort one must make to atone for the sins of that youth, intertwined with an epic love story – all set against the backdrop of its era: right before, during, and after WWII. Like The English Patient before it, this novel was turned into film.  Unlike The English Patient, the film Atonement is cinematically dark.  Perhaps this is because the themes of the book require it to be so.  As a result of these themes, Atonement is not an easy read, but it is one of those novels that pulls you in immediately and doesn’t let go, even after the last line is read. 

Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres

          Every once in a while, an author is able to display magic with his or her choice of words and writing style.  Corelli’s Mandolin is such a book.  Certain passages are so moving, they take more than one reading to fully appreciate what’s being said.  Consider the following:  Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision.  You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.  Because this is what love is.  Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion...that is only being "in love", which any fool can do.  Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away.     

          Like The English Patient and Atonement, this novel was made into a film.  Unlike the prior two, Corelli’s Mandolin does not fare as well on the screen.  In the hands of author, Louis de Bernieres, Corelli’s Mandolin achieves a level of magic not often found in modern literature.  Out of his hands, the magic is lost.  This novel should be savored for its literary genius.  Like the passage above, it’s the kind of book that deserves to be read.  The reader will be paid in kind through the beauty of Louis d Bernieres’ prose.

Children And Fire by Ursula Hegi

             My only complaint with this book (if it can be called that) was that I didn't want the book to end. It left me craving to know what happened next. Ursula Hegi has earned her place as my favorite modern day writer. I've read all of her novels and have yet to be disappointed. In my opinion, Stones From The River (the first book of this series) is one of the greatest novels ever written. No one weaves a story and pulls a reader into the past so effectively like Hegi, making the stories relevant and timely while evoking imaginative heights of a great novel. This is the fourth novel in Hegi’s Burgdorf series, but true to Hegi's talent, she creates a unique story which is free to stand on its own. Children and Fire takes place over the span of a single day, interspersed with occurrences from the past. Hegi is no Jodi Picoult (thank God). She doesn't churn out a book a month, but when she does write, it is a masterful creation and telling worthy of the reader's patience. As one of her biggest fans, Children And Fire has left me excitingly anticipating Hegi’s next book.

Stones From The River by Ursula Hegi
  

           I've read all of Ursula Hegi’s books and have yet to be disappointed.  I found this to be her finest work. In fact, Stones From The River stands among my favorite novels (and my favorite among those listed in this blog entry). A high school friend turned me onto this book years ago and I am forever glad she did. It's still one of my favorite novels on my shelves. Stones From The River is the first in the Burgdorf series of novels set in Germany around the time of WWII. With the creation of Trudi Montag, Hegi set the stage for some of the finest, most interesting characters and stories modern literature has ever seen.  For readers who want to complete the series: to date, the Burgdorf novels by Hegi include (in order): 1. Stones From The River, 2. Floating In My Mother’s Palm, 3. The Vision Of Emma Blau, and 4. Children & Fire.

Family Connections

   

     Shortly after publishing The Sanctity Of Love And War, I received a phone call from Frank Gilroy's daughter, Fran.  Readers of the novel will recognize that the character of Mark Linton is based on Frank and his accomplishments during WWII.  Fran then told her cousin Peter about the book.  Peter first contacted me via this blog site and then, shortly after that, through e-mails and phone calls.  My paternal grandmother and his maternal grandmother were sisters.  Through the years, my grandmother's branch of the family tree lost touch with Peter's part of the family.  Peter's family stems from his grandmother's move to Brooklyn from Pennsylvania shortly before the war.  Therefore, it's been a real joy to become acquainted with his part of the family.
     I grew-up hearing stories from my father about his two cousins who fought in the Pacific during WWII.  Both were in the Navy.  Of course, one was Anthony Francis "Frank" Gilroy, a Navy Dive Bomber stationed on the USS Hancock.  He would go on to be awarded the Navy Cross & Distinguished Flying Cross for his efforts during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in late October of 1944. Because I was looking to write about a pilot from WWII, I chose Frank as a model for the character of Mark Linton.  I have never met Frank Gilroy, so connecting with his family as a result of the book has been one of the highlights of the whole experience.  As I have written at the end of the novel in the Author's Notes, Frank still lives on Long Island and remains the humble hero that he's always been.
     After learning about the book, Frank's nephew, Peter, made an effort to reach out to me with a gracious willingness to connect with  relatives from his grandmother's hometown.  This past weekend, my family and I had the great pleasure to spend time with Peter as he made the trip from Atlanta.  It was wonderful hearing stories from him as he traded memories with my father and uncle.  Peter remembered meeting his Uncle Frank's cousin, Jack McGraw, when he was a child spending time in Dunmore (the town where our mutual relatives came and settled from Ireland in the late 19th century).  While he was in town, my father and uncle thought it would be nice to bring Peter to Jack's house for a visit.  While there, my father asked Jack to share some of his own memories of the war.
     Jack had been the other of my dad's cousins to fight in the Pacific theatre of the war.  I grew-up knowing Jack thanks to his close connection to my father (Jack is not only my father's first cousin, but also his godfather).  I can still recall going to Jack's cottage at Moosic Lake as a child and the warm hospitality he and his wife always showed (coincidentally, the same memories Peter had from his childhood visits to the area).
     Jack served on a PC boat in the Philippines.  On November 24, 1944, that boat was hit by a Japanese bomb and Jack was wounded.  Many of the crew were killed by that very bomb.  Like Frank, Jack went on to survive the war, get married, and raise a beautiful family.  And like Frank, Jack is still living.  Both men are now in their 90's and both live with a humble greatness that is often lacking in today's world.
     Having been raised in the same town in which Jack lived, I'm fortunate to have many memories of the man.  One stands out above the rest.  When I was a child, my parents had a big New Year's Eve party.  Jack and his wife were among the invited guests.  When the clock struck midnight, I can still recall Jack going onto my parents' porch with a large, heavy ship's bell to ring in the New Year.  After that, he asked my father to use the phone so he could carry on the tradition of calling his shipmates as he did each New Year's Eve.  That ship bell was given to Jack by his shipmates when he was recuperating from his wounds in a military hospital back in 1944.  Jack explained to my father that every New Year's Eve, he would ring that bell at midnight, followed by phone calls to the friends with whom he served during the war.  When my father had Jack retell that story during Peter's visit, it was another reminder to me how much tradition and honor meant (and still means) to that great generation.
     I thank Peter for his visit.  It was a great joy meeting him and making a new family connection.  It was wonderful hearing all the old stories and being reminded (yet again) of how honorable the WWII generation truly is.  Peter's father also served in the Navy during the war, serving as a commander of a mind sweeping boat in the Pacific near and at the time his brother-in-law, Frank Gilroy served.
     My wish for present and future generations is for members to have a curiosity for what previous generations accomplished and achieved during their lifetimes.  Each day, we're losing more and more men of the generation who fought in World War II.  I'm lucky enough to have two living relatives from that time in history.  They are treasures to be honored and revered.  I try to remind myself of that truth on a regular basis, but it was nice to have Peter Donovan's visit remind me of that truth once again.
   

Promoting THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR

    

     Since posting my last blog entry, I've had the opportunity to promote my book through a book signing venue as well as participation in two interviews with local media sources.  While book clubs have remained for me a wonderful way to connect with readers to discuss the novel, these latest examples of exposure have provided me with the chance to really discuss the writing process that ultimately produced the characters of Piper, Nate, and Bo, as well as the other inhabitants of the fictitious setting of the book, Shorham, Maine.
     Writing is in intensely personal experience.  As I recently shared with a good friend, by the time I had completed the novel, I felt I had intimately come to know the characters that made up the story of the book.  At a recent book club meeting, a reader asked me a random question about where one of the minor characters grew-up.  Without a moment's hesitation, I was able to pull from memory that locale.  When she inquired how I was able to recollect such an obscure detail so quickly, I shared that a writer doesn't spend days, months, and years constructing characters and their stories without knowing every facet of what went into their creation.  And yet, there are things about the creative writing process that I could never put into words -- either because those aspects are too personal or because to explain it away would take away a bit of the mystique and magic that is a part of writing.
     I have greatly appreciated the kind words readers have shared with me -- whether it was at the book signing, book clubs, or via e-mails and notes.  While I have gratitude for all those kindnesses, without a doubt, my greatest pleasure has been hearing from countless older readers -- those who have lived through the time period in which the book is set.  I haven't met these individuals and most likely never will, but the fact that they took the time to sit down and write a letter or note sharing with me how much they felt the book transported them back to a time in which they could still recall means more to me than mere words could ever express.  I have felt honored reading about their memories of the war as they shared their own personal histories with me.  When an older reader writes to me that I've written a more than fair interpretation of the WWII era, I come away from reading their words more than gratified.  I'll keep those letters as a reminder of a simpler time -- a time before Facebook and Twitter -- when people really took the time to communicate thoughtfully and with care.  If nothing else, The Sanctity Of Love And War is a commentary on that time.
     For anyone interested in reading the article about the book from Happenings Magazine, I've included the link below:

www.happeningsmagazinepa.com/2013/07/02/dunmores-amy-m-ferguson-debuts-novel/

     I want to inform readers that The Sanctity Of Love And War is available on Kindle for $2.99.  For readers who still enjoy a paperback copy, one can be found by going to Amazon's website.
     Thanks again to all those who showed up for the book signing, Happenings Magazine and The Scranton Times for the wonderfully thought-provoking interviews, as well as all the readers who continue to read and share their thoughts with me about The Sanctity Of Love And War.  Readers can e-mail me at:

amy.ferguson02@aol.com

Building A Base Of Readers

     It's been a little over five months since The Sanctity Of Love And War was first published.  As a relatively unknown author, it's been a creative and fun challenge to find ways to market the novel.  For me, the most effective way to date has been to channel local readers to buy the book and then discuss it.  Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads have certainly helped in achieving this goal.  Building a friend base on Facebook and a tribe of Twitter followers is an easy way to help establish oneself as a new writer.  It has certainly helped me.  But, perhaps the greatest boost has come through the support given by my local community.  It's true that word spread about the book initially and most significantly through Facebook.  From that point, local businesses and community-minded members of the Scranton area have reached out a helping hand to sell the book and spread the word.  This has been invaluable to me.  Most recently, local children's book author, Cathy Mazur, recently obtained for me my first speaking engagement.  As I was able to speak about the writing process and creative journey it took to write and publish The Sanctity Of Love And War, I found that the curiosity and interest by the audience for the characters and story of the novel increased.  This would not have been possible without Cathy's faith in me.  She had faith that I could inspire that kind of interest through my discussion of the book.  Likewise, local businesses have offered to sell Sanctity to local readers.  This has allowed an introduction of the book to a group of readers who might not have otherwise had the opportunity to learn about the novel. 
     Authors who have the good fortune to work with big publishing houses have the added benefit of having that company market their books for them.  For those authors like myself who are self-published or who have their books published through smaller publishing companies, that benefit is not available.  Instead, it is up to the writer herself to advocate and promote her own work.  Creating interest in one's story is the key aspect to any successful marketing effort.  It's why authors are so apt to ask their Facebook friends and Twitter tribe to write reviews and begin discussions of their books through word of mouth and group readings like bookclubs.  Any writer worth her weight in salt will believe in her work before getting it published.  Once she believes in the words and story she's written, it's a matter of building a readership that is as equally as invested in that story expanding to other readers. 
     I'd like to thank the following community individuals for helping me achieving the goal of building a greater base of readers: Michele and Frank Cali, Cara Lowe, Julie and Darby MacDowall, Cathy Mazur, Nancy McDonald, Dawn McGurl, Judy Schrader, Jena Urban, and Adele Vanisky.  I'd also like to sincerely thank my friends on Facebook and Goodreads -- especially those who have read and posted reviews of the book for me on Amazon and Goodreads.  It's only through this kind of support that I can maintain and build interest in a story I very much believe in.  The Sanctity Of Love And War was a story worth telling.  It was my pleasure to have written it and to be in a position to share it with you.

Perspectives

     I've had the pleasure of attending several book clubs since THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR was first published.  What I find myself reflecting on as a result of the latest readers' group discussion is how the age of the reader seems to dictate the direction of the discussion.  For instance, an overall observation I've had is that while younger readers get caught up in the details and pace of the book, older readers are more fascinated by the philosophical and spiritual dilemmas the characters face.  I've also been amazed that the view of the characters' decisions seems to depend on the age of the reader.  I was most interested in this aspect when I contemplated one particular decision the character of Piper made.
     Older readers have shared their overwhelming approval and understanding of Piper's choices while younger readers have sometimes shared their questioning and disapproval of those same choices.  It's worth noting that when I was writing about the decision in question, I had various outcomes originally written.  What I eventually came to understand as a writer was that, in order to stay true to the character and the time period in which the book was set, I needed to write not as a woman living in the present day, but one guided by the ethos of a woman living in the 1940's -- and by the introspectively deep personality traits of the character herself.  Readers identify Piper as a character led by her own sense of self and the world.  Older readers relate to the philosophical ponderings of Piper's mind.  Having lived life over more years, they are able to appreciate the way Piper views the world.  The question was again given to me --  How can someone who has not lived during that time and who does not have the benefit of years write a profound commentary on the world?  My answer is that anyone who is willing to be a true witness to the world around them is capable of the same insight.
     THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR was begun as an honest effort on my own part to make sense of the world around me.  Readers might even be surprised to know that some of Piper's own journal writings at the beginning of the book were, in fact, my own journal writings.  When it became clear to me that my own writings were not sufficient enough for me to gain the perspective I needed, I began imaging a more evolved version(s) of myself.  Hence, the characters of Piper and Bo were born.
     As a witness to my grandparents' lives, I was able to draw on many memories of their stories to depict the time period in as fair of an interpretation as possible for a girl born in 1972.  When we are observers of the world as the character of Piper is, we are capable of deep, philosophical views on life.  I suspect that because older readers have had the opportunity to observe life longer than younger readers, they are more innately able to identify with that characteristic.
     I would like to thank the ladies at the Glenmaura Country Club for inviting me to be a part of their book club discussion of THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR -- Judy, Carol, Paula, Ginny, Mary, Diane, Kathy, Joann, and Marsha.  Their support, like everyone who has read the book so far, has been much appreciated.

Connections To The Past

     As a result of being invited to be a guest at several book club meetings to discuss THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR, I've been pleasantly surprised to hear readers connecting to their own family stories of WWII.  Any reader will know that the character of Steve Peakler is based on a real person who lived, fought, and subsequently died during the war.  I grew up hearing stories of Steve from my grandmother, but invariably as time dictates -- through the years, survivors of the war began to die as well, leaving a void that the present generation often lacks the capacity or willingness to understand.  It is, therefore, nice to hear that the book is connecting readers again to that time in history.
     I've stated before that I wrote THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR in part to connect with the memory of my grandparents.  While my grandfather did not fight in the war, I was able to pull from any number of relatives' experiences -- those who did indeed fight in Europe and the Pacific.  For this book, I chose my father's cousin, Anthony Francis Gilroy.  Listening to readers, I can see that had they written a book on the same topic, they too would have had a plethora of potential stories and characters from which to draw.  Whether it was a father, grandfather, uncle or family friend who fought in the war, it seems no one who lived during that time in history was untouched by the personal experiences of soldiers and sailors.  Some readers have been kind enough to talk to me about or write me letters of their loved ones' experiences.  If reading THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR has allowed readers to re-connect with the past in a way that values the experiences of those who lived and/or fought during WWII, then I am content.
     I feel it's only appropriate to end this blog entry by paying respect to Frank Gilroy who was the inspiration for the character of Mark Linton.  Sadly, Frank's wife Betty passed away recently.  Frank and Betty were fortunate enough to marry after the war and raise a family.  They met as a result of the war -- Betty having also been attached to military service as a WAVE in the U.S. Navy.  They lived happily as a married couple for over sixty years.  Like all those who served during that time, they deserve our unending respect and gratitude.  As readers, we should remember that sometimes words and books are transformative.  In this case, THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR challenges us to honor and reconnect to our country's greatest generation.

My First Book Club Meeting

     I've had the pleasure of attending my first book club meeting to discuss my novel, The Sanctity Of Love And War.  Previously, I've experienced being a member of a book club as a reader, but to be present to discuss a book that I'd written was an infinitely different experience.  From the onset, the discussion was generally about how I had come to write the book.  Most notably, the readers were inquiring about the origin of various characters and how a writer in the present day could write from the perspective of a time in which she hadn't lived or experienced.  I've written in previous blog posts the answers to those questions.  In this post, I'll therefore choose instead to write about the discussion that came about when we considered some of the choices the characters -- most notably Piper -- made throughout the book.  Finally, I'll end the blog discussing the conversation that occurred around the title of the book.
     One reader in particular questioned one of the decisions Piper made as she attempted to overcome one of the consequences of war.  As the author, the question was put to me about why I had chosen to have Piper make some of the choices she made.  I explained that when I was writing this novel, I felt some of the decisions were dictated by the characters themselves.  In this explanation, I felt I was guided by each character's attributes and temperment.  As I wrote Piper, I came to know her more and more.  I explained to the readers of this group that while I am the author of the book, during many times in the writing of the novel, it felt that the characters had more say in what they said and did than even I -- the one ultimately in control of their fate.  It's an interesting statement but one I discovered more steeped in truth than mere conjecture.  I too found myself disagreeing at times with the decisions the characters made.  As a writer, I found my instincts about the characters dictating more and more how they behaved.  Ultimately, as readers (and writers), we don't need to agree with characters decisions in order to understand or sympathize with them in the end.
     When the group came to the debate the meaning behind the title, The Sanctity Of Love And War, the readers were interested in hearing from me about what I was thinking when I settled upon the title.  I felt that was an interesting way to pose the question as, the title and Foreward were the last things settled upon by me as the writer.  The book, in many ways, is a spiritual commentary on how individuals and humanity as a whole get through loss as an outcome of war.  As the back of the book states, "The Sanctity Of Love And War is a story of the redemptive qualities of love as it attempts to overcome the harsh realities of war".  As the individuals learn to make peace with what they experience during the war as a result of compassion of and connection to others (and the world around them) they learn that there is something sacred in that truth.  It is because of the war that they are given the opportunities to find ultimate peace.  It may be that this is a concept that is a difficult one to understand and connect to, but as I wrote in the Author's Notes, the initial writing of this book was my attempt to make sense of such weighty questions.  And as I wrote in the first blog post, I do not speak from any lofty position.  I am not nearly as evolved as characters like Piper and Bo ultimately turn out to be.  Whether one agrees with the possibility that the word sanctity could be ascribed to the word war can certainly be debated as it was in this book club meeting.  After all, aren't all good debates worth the discussion?
     I want to thank again Cathy, Frannie, Jo-Ann, Alice, and Ann Marie for the enlightened discussion of the book.  As a writer and a reader, it was certainly a positively wonderful and appreciated experience.

Book Clubs

Book clubs are a great way to get your book known through the many discussion points that inevitably arise when a group of people who've read the same book come together.  As the discussion grows out of the various viewpoints of the group, there is a greater likelihood that members will review the book they just devoted their time to on sites such as Amazon and goodreads.  But, on a deeper level, book clubs offer a more crucial benefit, one that benefits the reader more than the author: it allows the reader a deeper understanding of what they've just read through the discussion of and the listening to diverse opinions.  People can read the same book, but come away with different impressions and meanings behind what they've just read.  Regarding The Sanctity Of Love And War, I've already heard readers comment various opinions about Piper's choices.  Those readers read the same words, but differ on their view of them.  Literature can provide great advantages to us, the reader.  It can challenge us to think and perhaps challenge how we view the world in which we live.  Great literature changes us by giving us a viewpoint from which to consider the world that perhaps we never before considered.  Great book club discussions, like great books, can lead us in that direction as well.  Any writer would be  honored for a book club to choose his/her book to discuss.  I've listened to some readers and what they've had to say after having read the book.  As a result, I've posted some topics and questions for discussion for The Sanctity Of Love And War on my website:

http://www.amymfergusonthesanctityofloveandwar.com

I hope to continue to hear from readers about their own views of the book.  In my next blog, I'll share with you my first book club experience discussing The Sanctity Of Love And War.  I've been lucky enough to be invited to attend a book club meeting where we will do just that!

Honoring History

     As those of you who have already read The Sanctity Of Love And War know, the character of Mark Linton is based in part on my father's cousin, Anthony Francis "Frank" Gilroy who, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944 earned the Navy Cross for his heroism.  In honor of him, the character of Mark was created.  Frank is now 93 years old and lives on Long Island.  He was the first person to whom a book was given.  Soon after, I received a phone call from his daughter.  She wanted to tell me that while her father appreciated the fact that a character was created because of his actions during WWII, in his own eyes he did not do anything extraordinary.  In fact, he had his daughter tell me that he felt he did just as other men in his generation were called to do -- no more, no less.  It was another reminder to me of how humble and great Frank's generation was -- and how those who still remain still are. As I said in the Author's Notes at the back of the book: I am forever indebted (as we all are) to that great generation.  Writing the book was my small way to honor them and the deeds they accomplished during that most critical time in our collective history.  Frank is a living reminder of what we can and should aspire to be.