Author's Notes from THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR

    

      It's been three years this December since THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR has been published.  Like many, I find my thoughts dwelling on Christmases past this time of year.  My own past is tied irrevocably to my grandparents who were a part of the generation that defined the Second World War; the generation that I hoped to have honored in writing the novel.  Whenever I hear Bing Crosby's White Christmas, I think of the American soldiers from that time in history, so far from home, longing for their families and happier Christmas memories.  I contemplate the men, many of whom were still boys, huddled in their foxholes for warmth and cover during a battle that began only nine days before Christmas 1944 -- The Battle of the Bulge; a battle that would continue through Christmas before the Allies would finally be able to claim victory at the end of January 1945.  Many of those boys never made it home to see another Christmas.  I think of men like Steve Peakler who died during the Bulge, never to enjoy the kind of peaceful holiday we're all free to enjoy because of his and other's sacrifice that Christmas of 1944.  For this reason, I can't help but think of the WWII generation during Christmas.  Here's what was written in the Author's Notes section of THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR:

Author’s Note

            I am indebted to the generation of Americans who lived during World War II.  There is a reason why they’ve come to be known as “the greatest generation”.  My maternal grandmother meticulously kept letters her brothers wrote to her during the time they fought in Europe.  Their words helped set the tone and feel of the letters found throughout this book.

            While Mark Linton is a fictitious character, the deeds described which led to the honor of him receiving the Navy Cross were based, in part, on those of my father’s cousin, Anthony Francis “Frank” Gilroy.  Frank did indeed serve as a lieutenant, Navy Dive Bomber, on the USS Hancock during WWII.  For his heroism during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, he was awarded the Navy Cross.  Thankfully, Frank survived the war.  Today, he lives with his family on Long Island.  He is one of the few remaining heroes of that period in history.

            Like most of his generation, Frank expects no accolades or thanks for what he accomplished during the war.  When I contacted him to offer my appreciation and gratitude for what he had risked and achieved, he humbly brushed aside my words.  Consistent with his generation, he was more content disavowing my acknowledgement of his deeds, preferring instead to continue to live his life in a peaceful, unassuming manner.

            The character of Steve Peakler is based on a man who had the same name.  Steve hailed from Dunmore, Pennsylvania, and like many men during that time, he left a sweetheart behind.  That girl was my grandmother’s younger sister.  I found a letter Steve had written to my grandmother when he was in Europe.  In that letter, he reminded my grandmother to never take for granted the freedoms that peace afforded back in the States.  In that same letter, he shared his hopes and dreams for the future as well as his desire to make it home.  Unfortunately, that day never came.  Corporal Steve J. Peakler was killed on December 21, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge.  My grandmother and great-aunt never forgot Steve.  I can still recall the loving way they always spoke of him.  Including him in this book was my small way of honoring his memory.

            This book started out as an honest attempt to make sense of the world and its history.  The decision to base it in the time period in which it’s set was no accident.  My siblings, cousins, and I grew up with a reverent-like love and appreciation for our grandparents.  Setting the book during the 1940’s was, in part, to honor them.

            After my grandparents passed away, I came across old notebooks and journals my grandmother carefully kept through the years.  She and her friends had a social club that existed and continued throughout the war years.  The minutes contained in those journals and notebooks of their monthly meetings served as a rich source of information of what life must have truly been like during the war for those who were left behind.  Included were the details of life, ranging from the mundane to the more serious.  It was from here that I could almost imagine what nightly blackouts were like as the ladies described such things as having “a leisurely discussion in the dark”.  Through their words, the past came back to life.  I was reminded again that life in America went on despite the war.

            The present generation often lacks an understanding of or curiosity for what that generation accomplished and experienced.  I hope this book serves as a reminder that we will forever be indebted to the humble men and women who made the world a better place through their deeds and actions during one of the most crucial times in world history.

Amy M. Ferguson

September 2012

A conversation with English author David Cook

 

In the past, I've stated that one of the highlights of writing and publishing THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR has been connecting with other writers.  It's always a benefit to share with other writers the process of writing itself, for no one but a writer fully understands the courage, sacrifice, dedication, and drive needed to begin and complete a writing project.  It's been a real pleasure getting to know English writer and published author, David Cook.  Recently, he was kind enough to take the time to share some thoughts about his latest writing endeavor -- the Fire and Steel Anthology connected with the five novellas that encompass his series, The Soldiers Chronicles: Liberty or Death (#1), Heart of Oak (#2), Blood on the Snow (#3), Marksman (#4), & Death is a Duty (#5). 

Here's what he had to say to some of the questions I posed to him:

For those readers who don’t know, what is the Fire and Steel anthology?

Fire and Steel is a compilation of the first 5 books of The Soldier Chronicles historical series. The stories; all novella's, are snap-shots of life as a different soldier in the period of long war 1793-1815. All fiction, but very much based on actual events.

What led you to revise and expand The Soldier Chronicle novellas now?

I wrote/finished Death is a Duty in April and fortune's good wheel allowed me to spend 9 days in June, Belgium, during the bicentenary anniversary of the Waterloo campaign. I was sat on the battlefield, high up where Napoleon's grande battery tried to shatter Wellingtons ridge, enjoying lunch with my good friend Adam, on the 18th - the day of the battle- and I overheard some Scotsmen (in full military redcoat campaign gear) talk and I thought I hadn't taken that into consideration with Adam Bannerman, the story's protagonist. So I made some corrections on the spot. I also had a chance to revisit the parts of the battle which I had written but not seen in the flesh. I was pleased to see I'd been miraculously good with positioning troops in my head in relation to the positions of the actual battle, who could see what, distances, that sort of thing.

With that in mind I then went back to the other four stories and re-edited them. I made corrections, re-jigged parts, expanded dialogues, and with the series now enhanced, I'm very pleased with the end result.

Fire and Steel comes from dialogue spoken in Blood on the Snow - I thought it was quite fitting to have the anthology named this way.

You’ve shared in the past that you gained your love of history, in part, thanks to the influence of your father.  How important do you think a working knowledge of the past is, especially as it pertains to younger generations?

I think it's not only extremely fascinating and wonderful to see how people lived in the past, it’s equally important that we keep their language, arts, beliefs, literature, and their knowledge alive. I honestly think we can learn from the past. And if we don't record or study it, then it will be lost to time. When the Romans left Britain sometime by the 5th century, the Britons and subsequent generations had no knowledge of how to build proper stone roads, bridges and buildings.
 

How would you describe your research & writing practices?

Research is never-ending. I enjoy it, but writing is the best part. I sketch out a rough idea what the story will be and let the characters take over. Sounds chaotic? Well, I've known authors who plot everything down the smallest detail. I've never been able to. I just let the writing flow.
 

What draws you to the time periods of which you write?
 

The Soldier Chronicles are standalone novella's. That is because they will form companion pieces to a planned series of work that I'd like to try down the traditional published route. If time, money, luck and talent have anything to do with it, that is. The novella's do touch the Revolutionary Wars period, 1793-1801, and the Napoleonic Wars 1803-1815, and it's the battles, uniforms, politics, military skill and characters that truly fascinate me.

At the core of each one of your stories is the journey of an individual soldier.  To go further, each of your novella’s heroes is forged by his experiences in war.  How do you as a writer get into the mindset of a soldier, particularly one who lived two centuries ago?

I read memoirs of combatants and try to understand what they went through. I've read letters from soldiers of the American Civil Wars, the two World Wars and as up-to-date with the conflicts of the Middle East. Uniforms, weapons and training always change, but at heart every soldier is the same, same emotions. Same human stories. I try to make the characters as human as I can. When soldiers that have survived battles and skirmishes when friends haven't and they have to carry on, it's very heart-breaking to read.

You’ve written 5 novellas to date in the Soldiers Chronicles.  Can you offer readers any glimpses of what to expect in book 6?

The 6th book is called Tempest and it's about the last invasion of Great Britain. 1797, a French force managed to slip through the wooden walls of the Royal Navy and land in Pembrokeshire, Wales. There they wanted to unite the workers, spread liberty and revolutionary zeal and burn the city of Bristol to the ground. Can they be stopped in time? Tempest will be out, Spring, 2016.

You live in Leicestershire, England – a history-rich locale, especially as it pertains to another period of history of which you’re interested…fifteenth century English Civil War known as The Wars of the Roses.  You’ve written a story about Robin Hood which has its place in that time period.  Any plans to write anything else about that tumultuous time in England’s history?

Yes, I've been very lucky to live in Leicestershire. Not only did I move here in time for Richard III to be discovered, but the correct site of the Battle of Bosworth was found. The county also saw action from the later English Civil Wars between King Charles and Parliament. And just across the border the Robin Hood legend stretches from Nottinghamshire to Derbyshire. The Midlands are rich in history. I love it! I've written about all of them, but when they'll see the light of day, I'm not sure. I will say that my Robin Hood tale, The Wolfshead, has been revisited in the Summer as the material on my tumblr blog and wattpad gets very high views and comments. So perhaps, watch this space...

As a whole, Americans have sometimes been accused of lacking a curiosity for or about anything historical.  What can you share with American readers that might entice them to turn to the historical fiction genre as a potential source of reading material?

I think it boils down to education. Not only from school teachers, but from parents. It's about educating and there's a fabulous site called www. gratefulamericanfoundation.com for adults and children. Someone wrote on there that ''reading history is not boring, it can enrich your life, open your eyes, improve skills and engage''. I agree. There are some brilliant works by authors who you are missing out on. For me it's like music; that feeling when you discover a new song or band and go ''I wish I had discovered you earlier in my life''. Yes, that happens to me a lot. Like I thought late 50's/60's music was terrible, then I listened to Buddy Holly, the Beatles, the Stones, Pink Floyd and suddenly there was all this great music I could have never known.

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For any lover of well-researched and written historical fiction or for anyone interested in learning more about the period of which David writes, I highly recommend the FIRE AND STEEL ANTHOLOGY.  I promise, it would be worth your time.

I want to thank David for taking the time to share his thoughts and for continuing to write worthy historical fiction.  I know I speak for many when I wish him the best in all his future writing endeavors!