tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50796765211963356152024-03-05T05:30:19.052-08:00Williowbees CornerAmy Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05271134835456164574noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-52166120217302097372020-06-05T15:13:00.000-07:002020-06-11T14:59:27.969-07:00The Time Has Long Passed for Social Justice for All Americans<div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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Author's Note: <i>In the past, this blog was solely reserved for the discussion around a historical novel set during WWII. That period in history proved to be a pivotal time for mankind. Through the darkness of World War, a great generation emerged to face and defeat tyranny. While we rightly commend that generation and the leaders of Democracy for what they sacrificed, we must be honest when deconstructing our past. Not all of our heroes are above reproach. For instance, while FDR rightly secured his place among one of our greatest Presidents, he cannot be viewed through a historical lens accurately without acknowledging some of his moral failings in leadership. His handling of Japanese American citizens is a stain on his historical record and one we cannot simply sweep away because it doesn't fit our idealization of him. </i></div>
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<i>Likewise, while the United States was founded on the lofty principle that 'All men are created equal', and while this nation formed in response to the abusive, tyrannical actions of the English crown, our Forefathers failed their moral obligation to ensure that indeed every man and woman was viewed as equal under the protection of the Constitution. As a result of our Founding Fathers' failure to fully take on the question of slavery at the time of our country's inception, our nation would nearly be destroyed by a Civil War with that very issue at its core. Nearly 245 years after our founding and 157 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, we as a nation are still falling short of that national promise. What we've witnessed in the past week hearkens to the darker days of our American past. This blog essay is reflection of some thoughts surrounding what has been transpiring in our nation. While some readers may not agree, these thoughts are given through a historical lens of the failed American promise.</i><br />
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These may be my thoughts but I know many Americans have been feeling the same way the last couple of months & in the last week...</div>
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If you're not mortified by what has been happening in this country, & if you believe that when you look at the man currently occupying the White House you see a leader of strength, intelligence, compassion, understanding, & empathy, then you will have justly deserved the crestfallen disappointment and scorn of patriotic Americans who understand that in our complicated history as a nation, we've only endured and improved as a country when we were led by TRUE leaders irrelevant of party; capable of empathy; who spoke & led with intelligence and compassion. Today's America has the opposite of this. Today we have a narcissistic tyrant, endorsed by a complicit, disgraceful Republican party. We're 'led' by a shallow, hateful, cowardly man who, instead of speaking to a shattered nation, hid in a bunker & who only came out not to lead but to gas and use violence on his own citizens so he might have a shamefully opportunistic photo op. </div>
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Since becoming POTUS, Trump has used Twitter as a weapon; threatening, lying, bullying, AND inciting/encouraging violence. What's been happening this week in America is a direct result of that. As a four-times bankrupt businessman, he was born into a life of ease he never earned, taking credit when it was never his due while blaming others for his countless, ongoing failures. Regarding the race riots, I equate him, gasoline in hand, to an arsonist blaming the fire department for the blaze he very much helped start.</div>
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Those of us who voted against Trump in the last election are not surprised by his actions and lack of empathy, but what does shock us and make us sad beyond belief is when we see people we've loved and admired go on supporting him in the face of all he has done to shame and hurt this country. You willingly forfeited our respect & esteem and gave them to a man who falls piteously short of deserving either. </div>
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I've come to believe that Trump voters don't have any real interest in truly making America great again. They only want to reach back to the dark days when white Americans subjugated & suppressed minorities in their own sad, vain efforts to feel good about themselves. Until America purges itself of Trump and the dangerous ideology he peddles, we will never be great. We will remain a land of hypocrisy, where every man is NOT created equal; where an ill-informed, violence-inducing, megalomaniac is capable of brainwashing and seducing masses of ill-informed white people into believing that care & compassion for anyone but themselves is weakness while their 'strength' derives from the lies they've been fed by FOX 'News' propaganda. They've bought hook, line, & sinker all the distortions & willful deceit propagated by the dictator they voted for. Because of Trump and FOX 'News', we are as far from 'one nation...indivisible, with liberty and justice for all' as in ANY time in our lifetimes.</div>
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I recall waking up the morning after the 2016 election, sick to my core at what occurred. This...what we're seeing...Trump ignoring months worth of warnings/lack of preparedness for a pandemic; his lack of understanding of basic scientific facts; his purposeful misleading and outright lies; his bullying and harassing; his lack of integrity and basic compassion; his encouragement of hate, intolerance, and racism that we're now seeing played out in real time in our streets...ALL of this...those of us who voted AGAINST Trump are not surprised, but...we still want and NEED a President who cares; who seeks to understand; who speaks truth and compassion in an effort to unite. I very rarely agreed with President George W. Bush, but when 9/11 occurred, one felt he compassionately cared to bring us together in that time of national crisis. We are sorely lacking that leadership and comfort now. </div>
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I'm angry, sad, & tired. I want my country back. I want to believe that when we as a nation aren't living up to our promise, we'll be led by leaders who care enough to inspire and compel us to be and do better.<br />
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We KNOW the right-wing, blind base will get out to vote without masks in the middle of a pandemic because they're continuing to be fed lies about the seriousness of a disease that has already killed 110,000 of their fellow countrymen and women. Trump and his supporters' minimization and lack of empathy for their deaths and the death of George Floyd is an example of what they've internalized from their 'leader'. </div>
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IF the Republican party tries to take away my right to vote safely by mail, you bet I'd be willing to stand in line for days to vote for Joe Biden so we can FINALLY end this national nightmare. If you don't vote because you're 'not interested in politics', you'll be part of the prolongation of our national nightmare. If you take the stance that Biden is no better than Trump, then I'm not quite sure you yourself haven't been in Trump's bunker with him these past four years. If you're a Bernie supporter and want to rebel against the party you feel robbed you and your candidate by choosing to stay home or by choosing to throw your vote away on Bernie, then you'll be just as guilty as the Trump voter in hurting your country. And, if you're a Republican who continues to cling to the 'party line', the rest of the world has news for you -- when you ceded your party to the dangerous megalomaniac Trump; when you and your party became silently complicit in his egregiousness, you forfeited your party. The once 'Grand Old Party' no longer exists. Your support of him dishonors and degrades the memory of Lincoln and every other worthy Republican President of our past. You helped force Trump upon us. It's time for Republicans who have a conscience and soul to abandon the man who has destroyed what once was their party and country. We ALL need to stand-up to VOTE HIM OUT. It will literally be the most important election in our lifetimes and for future generations to come. We vote for them because they can't yet vote for themselves. I do NOT want my nieces & nephews to grow-up in a world influenced by the likes of Trump or those ignorant enough who still excuse and support him. We and they deserve better.</div>
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Watch "President John F. Kennedy's Civil Rights Address" on YouTube</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F7BEhKgoA86U%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0--P1V_JMF2h64OR6sWyK2nLcayZTgN3btXI7gt3_CObDPKAGYXxbZQRI&h=AT2wNI29psMGpo7VCt0_ek81ZSYUAQIQegloZm2aq1mh7SI7yGebF-Nq3g5nYxNh0agOQVHr5o5jHA0ML-utoo8n_PxhQLxGS_224tL9Mg1mWGMHehS_mA9cAhylZWFEVUzhXgDE-flMUrTEAUep&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT2YwEcgCVihmI4m7RHoCC7uw996IIFseTtpeEIxP-FFGDTHETS6FYie0EdCKK0ySlC7pEvXU0dHJOse69_8piGGp6v0qBfXTiE9Kg32PD98qnDY3xXgUwF_81Tr5cWxBTeUdJExoZ9DJLyNStiT" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/7BEhKgoA86U</a></span></div>
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Watch "DeOldify Colorization: Martin Luther King - I Have A Dream Speech in color! [HD]" on YouTube</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2Fc2th10qbzBU%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0--P1V_JMF2h64OR6sWyK2nLcayZTgN3btXI7gt3_CObDPKAGYXxbZQRI&h=AT2JPIWvmhISUmXxopCnzxbUX5IOz2BIsxn_KuK1GA1fgOsyl8HaTELYuppAZkt9bl_VBRC-b93JAfZSNV6xwinSuhTPS5Zzvra7jUDrlKNBO3Qs4aoQNCdCPqW-9yGfsPIGr1HX37Z23Zaf8jvD&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT2YwEcgCVihmI4m7RHoCC7uw996IIFseTtpeEIxP-FFGDTHETS6FYie0EdCKK0ySlC7pEvXU0dHJOse69_8piGGp6v0qBfXTiE9Kg32PD98qnDY3xXgUwF_81Tr5cWxBTeUdJExoZ9DJLyNStiT" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/c2th10qbzBU</a></span></div>
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Watch "Robert F Kennedy Announcing The Death Of Martin Luther King - A Great Speech" on YouTube</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FGoKzCff8Zbs%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3zbaJQZ5hP8LNOs-Tm8_VIKmU6baI2jNZQg3o8m76-7bKYFenTddGAIuo&h=AT2GV6sl451u4B0ucUGmNOFSotva0twFV1jOC1xKvuM-Z5vuleYG8HxxBM2Wr51pZ5XQt2XtcVmQYnNTYDC6G8bC-fAmtLovtEZmr-xhxqteXcolOorUpOlUW65x2AWxds85sK6nvJBgx1_rQ8fS&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT2YwEcgCVihmI4m7RHoCC7uw996IIFseTtpeEIxP-FFGDTHETS6FYie0EdCKK0ySlC7pEvXU0dHJOse69_8piGGp6v0qBfXTiE9Kg32PD98qnDY3xXgUwF_81Tr5cWxBTeUdJExoZ9DJLyNStiT" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/GoKzCff8Zbs</a></span></div>
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Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-55797552622253249432017-12-07T15:27:00.002-08:002018-01-02T08:51:54.036-08:00In Honor & Memory of WWII Hero Lieutenant Anthony Francis Gilroy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This December marks the fifth anniversary of the publishing of <i>The Sanctity of Love and War</i>, and while it's been a journey from the time I began writing it over seven years ago until today, its beginnings go back even further than the day I decided to create the story. As anyone who's read the novel and the accompanying <i>Author's Notes </i>knows, the book's roots are steeped in memories of my grandparents who lived during the time period of <i>Sanctity</i> -- the 1940's, and specifically, the years of and directly following World War II. In those same <i>Author's Notes</i>, I shared that one of the characters from the book was created to honor the heroic actions of a real-life individual who fought in that war. That man, Anthony Francis "Frank" Gilroy, for whom the character of Mark Linton was based, passed away last month. The following is in memory of him.<br />
Frank Gilroy's mother was my paternal grandmother's older sister. Frank was born on June 17, 1919 in Dunmore, Pennsylvania. When his family fell on hard times following a work-related accident his father suffered, Frank moved with his parents and sister to New York. While living in Brooklyn, he decided to join the Navy to do his part to win the war that had just begun for America. That war would be known to history as the Second World War. Frank was just one of the many brave men and women who served and fought to preserve freedom in a time when fascists and dictators strove to dominate the world.<br />
Frank's service in the United States Naval Reserve would eventually lead him to the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade, as a Navy pilot. He would go on to receive both the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross during naval engagements that occurred in the Pacific theater of the war. As part of the Navy Dive Bombing Squadron attached to the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Hancock, Frank would distinguish himself on two separate occasions in October of 1944. He was a member of that humble generation who did their part, but did so without the expectation of or need for acknowledgement or accolades.<br />
The period that surrounded WWII was a time when patriotism was seen in the quiet, daily actions and deeds of the citizenry. From willing participation in nightly blackouts and rationings, Americans gladly sacrificed for the greater good of the country. In small and large ways, Americans did their best to put their needs after those of the boys who put their lives on the line everyday so that the likes of Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo would not succeed in their heinous efforts to rule the world.<br />
On the home front, boastful patriotism was not the norm, nor was the idea of loving one's country more than a neighbor a consideration or thought that was commonly held. Everyone did his or her part to ensure freedom would overcome fascist, dictatorial aims that attempted to thwart the liberties we were promised as part of our citizenship. With this in mind, it wasn't surprising that up to his dying day, Frank downplayed his role in helping win the war. When I reached out to him to let him know that I was basing a character from my book on him, in true humble fashion, he minimized the importance of his individual accomplishments. For a man to put his life at risk on a daily basis for the benefit of his country in the face of fear and danger while shrugging off any acknowledgement of the risk or courage it must have taken to do so is a true measure of a hero.<br />
Seventy-six years after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor that dragged us into the war in which Frank would serve, the world needs heroes like him just as much today as it did during that tumultuously frightening time in our history. We still face the threats of those who wish to crush the freedoms Frank and others like him risked so much to preserve. We owe it to him and all those who served in that war our acknowledgment of their sacrifices and strive to pay the respect that is their proper due. In the words of the poet A.E. Housman: <i>'Sleep on, sleep sound'</i>, Frank. You and all those who served in WWII and who have now passed deserve the peace of the eternal rest which is now yours.<br />
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<br />Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-80793822403946685742016-12-07T11:13:00.000-08:002018-01-02T11:19:12.560-08:00Historical perspective of the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election on the 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s been 75
years since the United States entered World War II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spurred into action after the surprise
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the men and women who made
up what would become known as the ‘greatest generation’ defied the odds that
favored fascism over freedom and peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today, only 10% of the men who took on Hitler and the other fascist
leaders of the Axis Powers still live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I've been thinking a lot about their generation since learning Donald
Trump would be our nation's 45<sup>th</sup> president. I’ve taken time to
consider what my grandparents, who came from that generation, would have made
of such a man; a man known to ‘say it as it is’ with little thought or care for
the potential impact of his actions or words; a man prone to boisterous claims
and empty promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his own quest for
power, Trump took political advantage of a beleaguered faction of the populace,
promising easy solutions to complex issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In contemplating what the
WWII generation would have thought of Trump had he run for president then instead
of now, I come back to the thought that the men and women who came of age
during that period saw several demagogues enter the world stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">From the blood and ashes of WWI rose Spain’s
Francisco Franco, Japan’s Hideki Tojo, Italy’s Benito Mussolini, and Germany’s
Adolf Hitler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Trump, they spoke to
the disenfranchised, the angry, and the malcontent to whip up a messiah-like
devotion from their followers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
student of history, I watched in utter disbelief as Donald Trump, a present day
‘rabble rouser’ known for insult and vitriol, rose within a breath away from
holding the highest political office of a country that became the world’s
premiere power following WWII. I look back on history for answers, and while I
find those answers in the past, there’s little reassurance that things will
work out well for the world when we fail to heed the lessons of that past.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">While
we give justified praise to the men and women who took on the fascist
dictatorships that threatened to darken the world during WWII, it’s worth noting that, as a
whole, they were only able to attain their greatness under the steady, brave
leadership of men like Winston Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was Churchill in particular who spoke out against the threat that was Hitler, showing an uncanny understanding
of the danger Hitler posed to civilization. History has rightly sided with the
Anglo-American coalition that fought against totalitarianism, but to truly gain
insight, we’d need to compare the Allied populace and leaders to those of whom
they fought against. We also need to consider that even 'good' men like FDR
were not infallible; they, too, were capable of falling prey to the ignorance
and hate of their times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us not forget
that it was President Roosevelt who approved the rounding up of a whole race,
interring all Japanese-Americans for the duration of the war with no reason
except for the discrimination of their race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This ill-advised executive decision rightly besmirches FDR’s otherwise
intact presidential reputation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a
greater sense, to fully understand the ‘greatest generation’ that saved
civilization from tyranny, we’d need to also consider those of their generation they fought against.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the 1930’s
made way for a new decade, Adolf Hitler was at the precipice of world
domination. He and his fascist friends
had reached that point by having taken advantage of the economic depression and
moral degradation that the First World War and subsequent treaty had inflicted
upon Germany. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To achieve their aim, they
carefully chose to scapegoat an entire race for the troubles they had endured
since their defeat at the end of the First World War. They began to slowly seep
the public’s collective consciousness in misinformation and lies in their
effort to sway public opinion their way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They offered over-simplified and ill-conceived solutions to the weighty
economic issues that had befallen the German people as a result of the
disastrous Treaty of Versailles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
there were decent Germans who stood against Hitler, the finely-tuned,
manipulative, armored Nazi machine allowed Hitler to quickly and forcibly
remove any and all political threats that stood between him and ultimate
power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once that power was achieved, a
war-weary world continued to vacillate and waiver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great Britain’s Neville Chamberlain will
forever be infamously tied to the claim that he had achieved ‘peace for our
time’ after meeting with Hitler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had
allowed his naiveté to cloud his better judgment. The choice Chamberlain and
the world made to ignore the risk Hitler posed would eventually
lead to over 60 million people being killed between the war years of 1939-1945.
Chamberlain and others like him chose to give credence to Hitler’s false
promises; placing undue reliance on his word for the sake of blind belief that
the world could not possibly return to the blood of the previous World
War.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They chose willful ignorance, refusing
to contemplate the consequences of their own actions (or, in this case,
in-actions).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They rationalized and failed
to see how they would be justifiably judged by future generations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of what could be gleaned from the years
immediately preceding the Second World War is the hazard of placing faith in a
demagogue who arrives<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on the world’s
stage willing to demonize factions of society while promising to correct the ills of the world single-handedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As countries minimized Hitler’s words and
actions, Winston Churchill alone warned of the dangers of ignoring the threat
Hitler posed and the risk it meant to civilization; and, still, the world
abandoned reason, minimized the peril, belittled Churchill’s warnings as
overblown and exaggerated, and gave free reign to Hitler’s rise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When contemplating the weight and extent of what freedom-loving people of that generation needed to overcome to earn the title of the
‘greatest’, we must consider that before they had to endure the
trials and tribulations that Hitler set into motion, they had to suffer through
the appeasement of the less forward-minded members of their generation; those who were
willing to ignore, condone, or make excuses for Hitler’s actions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">History informs that there will
always be narcissistic leaders who wish to impose their will upon the world
with the intention of rending silent the decency and peace in which people wish
to live. Their will is driven by their whims and for the sole purpose of satisfying their personal lust for power and
control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too often, history has proven
that when we follow such leaders, we not only fail to heed history’s lessons,
we are doomed to repeat the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Totalitarian leaders enforce complete adherence to what they desire. They bristle at any form of criticism, demanding utter acquiesce to their ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Balancing decisive leadership, cooperation,
and diplomacy is not a part of their repertoire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Freedom of speech and public dissent are
squashed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truth is deemed only
accessible through the mouth and ideas of the leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Information is manipulated and warped to such
a degree that truth is no longer recognizable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>History does not look kindly on dictator-like personalities when they
are placed in positions of power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
insatiable egos and need for power quickly overcome any semblance of reason in
times of great decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">During the
election process, Donald Trump’s detractors claimed their uneasiness regarding
his temperament, and wondered if it was conducive to the job for which he sought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> They described their fear over his racist, xenophobic talk. </span>Students of
history have gone so far as to compare Trump to the likes of Hitler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Conversely, t</span>hose who voted for Trump have claimed indignation
at their candidate (now President-elect) being compared to the notoriously evil
Hitler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They become angry at the
thoughts of being compared to those who supported Hitler in his own rise to
power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter the degree or
relevancy of such a comparison (to which history supports), those who voted for Trump must bear some responsibility and ownership, no matter how much or little they choose to accept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Donald Trump’s own
admission, through his own recorded words and deeds, there is a blatant
disregard for decency and truth that we would be remiss to ignore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To ignore the relevance of history is for us
to be as morally culpable as those who turned a blind eye on the fascist past
that almost destroyed civilized humanity in the mid-twentieth century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hope is that we, the present
generation,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will hold the new
President-elect to the standards that are allowed by democracy; to use our
voices to rail against any outright injustice or act of degradation and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>immorality that is beneath the office he
will soon hold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To fail at this task
would be to be just as guilty as those who ignored the egregious actions that
led the world to near cataclysmic depths during the reign of death and
destruction of the Second World War.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">On this, the 75th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor, in</span>
honor of those who risked everything to fight against the fascist bonds of totalitarianism,
we need to ensure that we learn from the lessons of that time. We must continue to hold our new President-elect accountable for his decisions. By understanding our history, we hope to prevent him and the world from taking regressive
steps; steps that would only serve to harken back to the dark period in history that was the Second World War.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-size: large;">We owe it to those who lived and fought through that war that much. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to ensure that what they fought for and achieved will not be lost. In doing this, we will have paid them the due diligence their sacrifice deserves.</span></span></span></div>
Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-51370039514632332202015-12-23T07:13:00.001-08:002017-11-17T11:32:50.192-08:00Author's Notes from THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 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:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Author’s Note<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> 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.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> 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.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> 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.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> 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.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> 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.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> 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.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> 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.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Amy M.
Ferguson<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">September
2012</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-87003774212816357872015-10-21T06:03:00.000-07:002016-12-07T11:19:40.282-08:00A conversation with English author David Cook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">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). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here's what he had to say to some of the questions I posed to him:</span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>For those readers who don’t know,
what is the Fire and Steel anthology?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>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.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>What led you to revise and expand The
Soldier Chronicle novellas now?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>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. <o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>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.</em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p><em></em></o:p></span></span><br />
<em>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em><br />
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>You’ve shared in the past that you
gained your love of history, in part, thanks to the influence of your father. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How important do you think a working knowledge
of the past is, especially as it pertains to younger generations?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></i></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>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.</em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em><o:p></o:p></em></span></span> </div>
<em>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span></em>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em><strong>How would you describe your research
& writing practices?</strong></em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></em></span></span><br />
<em>
</em>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>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.</em></span></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></em> </div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>What draws you to the time periods
of which you write?</strong></span></span></i><br />
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>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. <o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>At the core of each one of your
stories is the journey of an individual soldier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To go further, each of your novella’s heroes
is forged by his experiences in war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
do you as a writer get into the mindset of a soldier, particularly one who
lived two centuries ago?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></i></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>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.</em> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>You’ve written 5 novellas to date in
the Soldiers Chronicles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you offer
readers any glimpses of what to expect in book 6?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></i></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>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.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve written a
story about Robin Hood which has its place in that time period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any plans to write anything else about that
tumultuous time in England’s history?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></i></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>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...<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>As a whole, Americans have sometimes
been accused of lacking a curiosity for or about anything historical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></i></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">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.</span> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">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.</span></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">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.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">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!</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-86691502176022812482014-12-16T10:48:00.000-08:002016-12-21T07:16:10.348-08:00In Memory of Corporal Steve J. Peakler on the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGMx1Yp1wimTqazSH8cnPrCp-HEqGFCD1tOSJyJeo_tcBmYanHh3zxzOhQmKP0v6pSBXgzZ_Nep5biqWwTZXJ94QZmj0-e2yzkQzLzdVZIulcXw2R73VGukzXP-GCYXCIu68kRAE5wkM/s1600/Grandma+Morelli+&+Grandma+Greco+w+Steve+Peakler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGMx1Yp1wimTqazSH8cnPrCp-HEqGFCD1tOSJyJeo_tcBmYanHh3zxzOhQmKP0v6pSBXgzZ_Nep5biqWwTZXJ94QZmj0-e2yzkQzLzdVZIulcXw2R73VGukzXP-GCYXCIu68kRAE5wkM/s1600/Grandma+Morelli+&+Grandma+Greco+w+Steve+Peakler.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">This month marks the 70<sup>th</sup>
anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, that famous WWII Allied victory that
proved to be the final blow to Hitler’s efforts towards world domination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By in large, since the Allies’ successful
landing on the Normandy shores of France six months earlier, the Allies had
pushed Hitler and his forces to the brink of defeat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bulge was Hitler’s last great chance to
stem that tide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was during the Battle
of the Bulge that Corporal Steve J. Peakler of Dunmore, Pennsylvania was killed
in action on Dec. 21, 1944 at Elsenborn Ridge in the Ardennes forest of
Belgium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was 28 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steve was one of the 19,000 Americans who was
killed during the battle that lasted from Dec. 16, 1944 to Jan. 25, 1945.</span></span><br />
</div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">History often credits the fight for
the hub town of Bastogne as the key turning point in the battle, but it is
important to note that Elsenborn Ridge was just as central, if not more crucial
to the Allies’ victory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Bastogne,
the Elsenborn Ridge was a hub from which key roads sprung; roads that led to the
essential Meuse River and the tactical port city of Antwerp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Americans stationed there were burdened
with the task of preventing the most elite of Hitler’s troops from reaching the
nearby towns, towns that held large amounts of supplies – supplies the Germans
would need if they were to advance the battle.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Steve was attached to the 38<sup>th</sup>
Infantry Regiment of the 2<sup>nd</sup> U.S. Army Division present at the
battle that December.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At Elsenborn
Ridge, Steve and his fellow Americans successfully stopped the strongest
armored units the Germans had in play during the battle – renowned Panzer tank
units esteemed so highly by Hitler himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
It's worth noting that t</span>he only American sector of the front line that wasn’t pushed back by
the German advance during the Battle of the Bulge was at Elsenborn Ridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Corporal Peakler was one of 5,000 Americans
who gave his life to defend that essential, defensive, Allied position.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">In an address to the House of Commons
in London following the Battle of the Bulge, Winston Churchill said, “This is
undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war and will, I believe, be
regarded as an ever famous American victory.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seventy years after that battle, we should remember all those like Steve
Peakler who gave their own lives and futures to ensure that we might enjoy ours
in the peace that this victory and others like it secured for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">Corporal Peakler is buried at the
Henri-Chapelle American War Cemetery in Liege, Belgium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was posthumously awarded the Purple
Heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He entered service on Jan. 24,
1941 as a Private in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rests with 7,992 other American soldiers
who were killed during WWII and buried at Henri-Chapelle Cemetery in
Belgium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the seventieth anniversary
of that famous battle and Steve’s passing, we owe Steve and all those who gave
so unselfishly of themselves to remember and honor their sacrifice with the
respect and dignity it so rightly deserves.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-64702261790211985102014-09-12T11:25:00.000-07:002015-12-23T07:21:31.838-08:00A review of Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption <span style="font-size: large;"> Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
by Laura Hillenbrand, is the remarkable true story of Army Air Force
Lieutenant Louis Zamperini. An Olympian from the 1936 Berlin games,
Zamperini’s life as a world-class runner would be turned upside down as
he found himself pulled into WWII with the rest of his generation.
Zamperini would become a bombardier in the Army Air Force, finding
himself stranded on a raft for weeks with two other survivors after
their plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean. From here his story becomes
an incomparable study on the nature of one man’s endurance to survive
the harsh truths of war. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> After the Japanese pulled Louie and
pilot Russell Allen Phillips from the ocean, the unspeakable cruelty at
the hands of the American airmen's captors becomes beyond what is
considered acceptable among civilized people. With a total disregard
for the Geneva Conventions' rules that were put in place after WWI to
ensure the humane treatment of prisoners of war, the Japanese embarked
on a torturous & unjustifiable rampage against their prisoners. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Unbroken
is certainly not an easy read, but it demands to be read as it speaks
to the greatness of Louis Zamperini’s generation and what they achieved
for the world through their courage. His story does not end with the
conclusion of the war nor with his liberation from the prisoner of war
camp, but continued through to his redemption. His post-war story is a
stark reminder of what the survivors of war must have endured to reclaim
their lives (if they were so lucky to do so). Fortunately for Louis
Zamperini and those whom he touched and loved, he was able to find a
place of forgiveness, peace, and joy again in his life. Author Laura
Hillenbrand’s telling of how he achieved this conclusion for himself is
well thought-out and delivered. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I wanted to read this book
before the premiere of the movie about Mr. Zamperini’s life due in
theatres in December of 2014. Mr. Zamperini passed away recently,
before his story was projected onto the screen for the world to see.
Before he did, Louis Zamperini showed the world what it meant to survive
with dignity and grace, and showed how he was able to transform the
struggle and strife he experienced during the war into forgiveness and
hope. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Great books are transformative. Unbroken is one of those
-- it stays with you long after the final page has been read. With what
Louis Zamperini and those like him endured, we should expect no less.
</span> Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-81802223356112183692014-05-02T10:35:00.000-07:002015-12-23T07:21:57.738-08:00Reflections<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">It’s been almost 1 ½ years since <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Sanctity Of Love And War</i> was first published.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since that time, I’ve been fortunate enough
to have taken part in many book club discussions, book signings, and a book
reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve also had the pleasure to
be interviewed about the experience of writing the novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each experience has led to a greater
awareness of myself in relationship to the book that I’ve written.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since this was the time of year when I first
handed-in my original manuscript to an editor, I thought it was an appropriate
time to reflect upon the process of arriving at the final draft of the book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">It was April of 2012 when I first made the decision to
publish the novel I’d been working on for almost two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I had first begun to write, it was with
the belief that no one but I would ever read the words I had committed to the
page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The act of writing was and remains
to be a very unique and personal experience for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allowing the public access to my inner
thoughts, even if they were in the form of fiction, was a daunting
prospect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I let go of those fears, I
decided that I wanted to incorporate my own internal questioning with what I
had come to know of the world around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This included my past relationships as well as what I had learned
spiritually from those who were more evolved than I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">My sense of grounding was rooted in my upbringing,
particularly as it pertained to the influence my maternal grandparents had in
my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My siblings, cousins, and I all
benefited from their strong sense of family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To this day, we don’t take for granted those lessons that were handed
down to us by our grandparents -- first generation Americans who had the right
set of values and priorities in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
many ways, I felt more connected to their generation than I’ve ever really felt
to my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a child I would sit with
them, soaking in their stories and influence, knowing even then how fortunate
I was to have their presence in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
result of this truth, the character of Piper was born. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To a large extent, the decision to plunge Piper and the
character of Bo into an internal struggle for acceptance derived from my
experiences as a drug and alcohol counselor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The years in that field have never left me, and despite the fact that I
have been out of that line of work for almost twelve years, I still identify
with it, and, in many ways, still consider myself an addictions therapist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was always intrigued by the sense of
acceptance when the world doesn’t bend to one’s whims, the possibility that
someone could surrender to the idea of powerlessness, and the human capacity to
let go in the face of doubt and fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve had mentors, friends, and clients who successfully made these
things a part of their personal creed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their own struggles with addiction as well as their ultimate ability to
transcend them brought them to a deeper understanding and appreciation of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made me wonder how someone without the
hurdle of addiction but who’s still plagued with doubts and struggles might
arrive at the same place of spiritual peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In place of addiction, I chose the circumstances of war in which to
place my heroine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Piper, already
predisposed to being a thoughtful, deep soul based on the influence of her
grandfather, was ripe for the internal struggle that a war would bring to her
life.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I think back on the beginnings of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Sanctity Of Love And War</i>, it was a forgone conclusion that it
would be set during one of the most pivotal times during my grandparents’ lives
– World War II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My memories of my
grandparents coupled with my experiences as a drug and alcohol counselor were the
foundation for the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the day
the original manuscript was sent to my editor, I’ve been able to connect with
so many wonderful people from that generation – my grandparents’ generation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are very few left in my family who were
alive during that time, and each day, as a nation, we lose more and more from
that generation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s out of the deepest
regard for them that the characters from the novel were created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I recommend to everyone to seek out those still living from
that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it’s a visit to a
local veterans’ home, a talk with a family member, neighbor, or friend who was
living during the time of that war, or a trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the
WWII Memorial, the small effort you make to connect to the past would be
rewarded tenfold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you allow yourself
to be open to the past, you can hear the voices and lessons clearly drifting
through the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a lesson I
learned as a little girl listening to and spending time with my grandparents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The idea of being a present and willing listener was only
heightened when I became a drug & alcohol counselor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was here that I learned to see the power
of humble transcendence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The recovery concepts of
acceptance and surrender are living symbols of survival and humanity, two key
points I hoped to cover in the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully,
the lessons learned from the generation that survived World War II as well as
those gained from working with those who have survived their ordeals with addiction
have been thoughtfully laid out in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Sanctity Of Love And War</i>.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Writing remains for me a self-exploratory way to try to
understand the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a licensed
therapist, I appreciate the importance of self-exploration in context with
one’s past, present, and potential.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
started out as an honest effort at self-discovery and insight into the world
around me provided me with so much more than I could have ever dreamed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The insights, connections, experiences, and
relationships that have arisen from the publication of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Sanctity Of Love And War</i> have been humbly gratifying –
something for which I will forever remain thankful.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-44709710746420828152014-01-15T07:36:00.003-08:002015-12-23T07:22:14.756-08:00Honoring the Generation that inspired THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR is set during one of the most tumultuous times in our nation's (and the world's) history. Almost 70 years have passed since the end of World War II, but the legacy of that generation is one that I think is important for present and future generations to revere. It's no secret that my respect for the generation of WWII was one of the main reasons why I chose that time period for my novel. There are valuable lessons to be learned from that time, and ongoing respect to be paid to those who lived through it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Recently, my nieces and nephew joined me in delivering cookies to the veterans of WWII who reside at the Gino Merli Center in Scranton, Pennsylvania. I felt this would provide a positive lesson for the younger set of this present generation so they might understand the gift that the WWII generation has given to them through their sacrifices. My nephew in particular was interested in speaking with the veterans. We spoke at length to a gentleman who was present and who vividly recalled the events of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He told my nephew his memory of playing sports with his friends when the surprise attack began. It was wonderful to see the interest in my nephew's eyes as this elderly man held his attention through his compelling storytelling. My nephew was in awe to be speaking to a living war hero, someone who went on to fight in the war and come through to live and tell the tale. What was perhaps the most compelling part of the story was the fact that there was no bravado or ego involved in its telling -- something quite typical of the generation who lived that war.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I'm a firm believer that history shouldn't and need not merely be words written on some dusty pages. It should be a living, breathing reminder of what has happened in the past. Our history teachers have a challenge to invite interest on the part of their young students; to seek out the living remnants of the past; to inform in such a way as to ignite passionate curiosity in the young minds of the present generation. This isn't an easy challenge, but it's one I think we owe to those who sacrificed what they did so that we might be free to have open discussions about our past. It's a challenge, but it is possible. All one needs to do to understand this possibility is to imagine the face of a young boy who reverently listened as an old man spoke of the past. This elderly man, a living history in and of himself, held a young boy's interest in his hands as he relived for him an infamous day in history over 70 years ago.</span>Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-19140684980897191542013-11-09T16:43:00.000-08:002015-12-23T07:22:51.188-08:00A Life Well Lived<i> </i><br />
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<i></i><br />
<i> <span style="font-size: large;">The Sanctity Of Love And War</span></i><span style="font-size: large;"> 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, <i>The Sanctity Of Love And War</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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 <i>Foreward</i> to Richard A. Singer, Jr.'s book <i>Your Daily Walk With Great Minds</i>. I was reminded again why I chose to heed the wisdom of his teachings. David wrote: <i>The secret of a good book is that it reaches into the reader's heart and touches him/her at a deeper level</i>. He went on to further write:<i> 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</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> In part, <i>The Sanctity Of Love And War</i> 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 <i>deeper capacity for love</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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: <i>There is something in the physical act of writing that releases our creative responses and leads to self-understanding</i>. Writing <i>The Sanctity Of Love And War</i> 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 <i>The Sanctity Of Love And War</i>:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <i>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.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>Thank you, David, for being a guiding force in my life and for helping shape and influence the writing of <i>The Sanctity Of Love And War</i>. Your legacy of kindness will live on in all those whom you touched and loved. </span>Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-80759259743999823252013-10-25T06:26:00.002-07:002015-12-23T07:23:16.093-08:00Great Works Of Modern Historical Fiction<br />
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<span class="readable"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="font-size: large;">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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Sanctity Of Love And War</i>
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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are nine examples of historical fiction
at its best:</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="readable"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Light In The Ruins</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>by Chris Bohjalian</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span class="readable">A beautiful
narrative of WWII that is both compelling and riveting, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Light In The Ruins</i> 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. </span><br />
<span class="readable"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Light In The Ruins</i> 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 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lost Wife</i> 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. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lost Wife</i></b> by Alyson Richman</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span class="readable"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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. </span><br />
<span class="readable"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.
</span><br />
<span class="readable"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
anyone who loves historical fiction, especially set in the era of WWII, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lost Wife</i> 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.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><strong><em>The Book Thief </em></strong>by Mark Zusak</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> 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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One such book is Markus Zusak's beautiful novel, THE BOOK THIEF.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good historical
fiction invites us to become more understanding of the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It prompts us to delve into the possible
feelings of those who lived through the events of which we read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't
see how any person with feeling could not be moved by this novel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Those Who Save Us</i></b> by Jenna Blum</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
piercingly poignant novel that I found myself struggling to put down once I
began to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through her prose, Jenna
Blum keeps the reader wishing to read more, despite the sometimes disturbing
subject matter. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Those Who Save Us</i> is
a tale of survival in Germany in a time fraught with great dangers and ethical dilemmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a story of what
a mother is willing to do to protect her child in a time of moral ambiguity and
upheaval.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is beautifully told, of an
era that is deserving of our attention. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The English Patient</i></b> by Michael Ondaatje</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ondaatje’s story is haunting and
pure in its telling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The characters
invoke us to become a part of their world, something essential to great
storytelling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s because of the successful degree in which this is done
that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The English Patient</i> stands among
the greats of WWII historical fiction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Atonemen</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">t</i> by Ian
McEwan</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Atonement</i> is an aptly titled novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The English Patient</i> before it, this novel was turned into
film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The English Patient</i>, the film <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Atonement</i>
is cinematically dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps this is
because the themes of the book require it to be so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result of these themes, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Atonement</i> 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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Corelli’s Mandolin</i></b> by Louis de Bernieres</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every once in a while, an author is
able to display magic with his or her choice of words and writing style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Corelli’s
Mandolin</i> is such a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certain
passages are so moving, they take more than one reading to fully appreciate
what’s being said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider the
following:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then
subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to work out whether your roots have
so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because this is what love is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love itself is what is left over when being
in love has burned away.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The English Patient</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Atonement</i>,
this novel was made into a film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike
the prior two, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Corelli’s Mandolin</i>
does not fare as well on the screen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the hands of author, Louis de Bernieres, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Corelli’s
Mandolin</i> achieves a level of magic not often found in modern
literature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of his hands, the magic
is lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This novel should be savored
for its literary genius.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the
passage above, it’s the kind of book that deserves to be read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reader will be paid in kind through the
beauty of Louis d Bernieres’ prose.</span><br />
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<span class="readable"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Children And Fire</i></b> by Ursula Hegi</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="readable" style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stones From
The River</i> (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.
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Children and Fire</i> 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, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Children
And Fire </i>has left me excitingly anticipating Hegi’s next book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stones From The River</i></b> by Ursula Hegi<br />
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<span class="readable"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've read all of Ursula Hegi’s books
and have yet to be disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found
this to be her finest work. In fact, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stones
From The River </i>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. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stones From The River</i> 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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For readers who want to complete the series: to
date, the Burgdorf novels by Hegi include (in order): 1<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. Stones From The River</i>, 2. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Floating
In My Mother’s Palm</i>, 3. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Vision Of</i>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Emma Blau</i>, and 4. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Children & Fire</i>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-52323857859039619282013-08-04T07:15:00.002-07:002015-12-23T07:23:37.960-08:00Family Connections <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Shortly after publishing <i>The Sanctity Of Love And War</i>, 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. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-63547363727264597222013-07-30T15:34:00.002-07:002015-12-23T07:24:03.118-08:00Promoting THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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 <i>really </i>took the time to communicate thoughtfully and with care. If nothing else, <i>The Sanctity Of Love And War</i> is a commentary on that time. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> For anyone interested in reading the article about the book from <i>Happenings Magazine</i>, I've included the link below:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.happeningsmagazinepa.com/2013/07/02/dunmores-amy-m-ferguson-debuts-novel/"><span style="font-size: large;">www.happeningsmagazinepa.com/2013/07/02/dunmores-amy-m-ferguson-debuts-novel/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I want to inform readers that <i>The Sanctity Of Love And War</i> 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.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Thanks again to all those who showed up for the book signing, <i>Happenings Magazine </i>and <i>The Scranton Times</i> for the wonderfully thought-provoking interviews, as well as all the readers who continue to read and share their thoughts with me about <i>The Sanctity Of Love And War</i>. Readers can e-mail me at:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">amy.ferguson02@aol.com</span><br />
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<br />Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-50608806818466241452013-05-20T07:08:00.001-07:002015-12-23T07:24:20.621-08:00Building A Base Of Readers <span style="font-size: large;"> It's been a little over five months since <em>The Sanctity Of Love And War </em>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 <em>The Sanctity Of Love And War</em>, 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 <em>Sanctity</em> 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. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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. <em>The Sanctity Of Love And War</em> was a story worth telling. It was my pleasure to have written it and to be in a position to share it with you.</span>Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-41410548489045980262013-04-28T07:21:00.001-07:002015-12-23T07:24:41.309-08:00Perspectives <span style="font-size: large;">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.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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 -- <em>How can someone who has not lived during that time and who does not have the</em> <em>benefit of years write a profound commentary on the world?</em> My answer is that anyone who is willing to be a true witness to the world around them is capable of the same insight. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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.</span>Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-91956300284343542012013-03-31T09:32:00.000-07:002015-12-23T07:25:17.308-08:00Connections To The Past <span style="font-size: large;">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. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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.</span>Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-40676349188613831242013-03-03T12:02:00.001-08:002015-12-23T07:25:36.021-08:00My First Book Club Meeting <span style="font-size: large;"> I've had the pleasure of attending my first book club meeting to discuss my novel, <em>The Sanctity Of Love And War</em>. 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.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> When the group came to the debate the meaning behind the title, <em>The Sanctity Of Love And War</em>, 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 <em>settled</em> 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, "<em>The Sanctity Of Love And War</em> 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 <em>because</em> 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 <em>sanctity</em> could be ascribed to the word <em>war</em> can certainly be debated as it was in this book club meeting. After all, aren't all good debates worth the discussion? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I want to thank again Cathy, Frannie, Jo-Ann, Alice, and Ann Marie for the enlightened discussion of the book. As a writer <em>and</em> a reader, it was certainly a positively wonderful and appreciated experience.</span>Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-48247563647903095702013-01-25T06:20:00.001-08:002015-12-23T07:25:53.419-08:00Book Clubs<span style="font-size: large;">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 <i>The Sanctity Of Love And War</i>, 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 <i>The Sanctity Of Love And War</i> on my website:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amymfergusonthesanctityofloveandwar.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.amymfergusonthesanctityofloveandwar.com</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">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 <i>The Sanctity Of Love And War</i>. I've been lucky enough to be invited to attend a book club meeting where we will do just that!</span>Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-86378304891183187812013-01-07T05:10:00.001-08:002015-12-23T07:26:06.798-08:00Honoring History <span style="font-size: large;">As those of you who have already read <em>The Sanctity Of Love And War</em> 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.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Fergiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556930399776289785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079676521196335615.post-28447987135580772812012-12-14T08:00:00.000-08:002012-12-13T20:33:02.364-08:00First book, first blog post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The writing of my first novel has
been quite a journey from the time I began almost two years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along the way, I’ve learned a lot about
myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First off – I learned that I was
capable of completing a writing project that required so much time and effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This, in and of itself, was a feat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the joy of creating, it’s a challenge
to write at times, especially when the writer has a full time job that is <i>not
</i>writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I am not egotistical
enough to think that I’ve written a masterpiece, I am pleased that I was able
to see it through to its completion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact, no one but me knew that I had previously attempted to write a novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back in college, I had a vision of a story
set in England during the early nineteenth century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose the time and setting was dictated
by my love of one writer – Jane Austen – who, to this day, remains my literary
heroine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got so far as writing an
outline for the book, filled with character descriptions and family trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even wrote a couple chapters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, perhaps because of a lack of confidence
and vision (despite what I felt at the time was a vision), I eventually dropped
the project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, I focused squarely
on setting my course in my chosen profession of counseling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Graduate school, followed by two more years of
schooling for further certification were the result of that choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Six years in the drug and alcohol field and
then (and now) working in the field of school counseling kept (and keeps) me
pretty busy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In spite of this, the dream
of writing a book never left me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Looking
back, I’m glad I didn’t finish writing that initial book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The timing wasn’t right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed to grow as a person in order to
write the kind of book I had always envisioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have always been drawn to the 1940’s, in large part, as a result of
the connection I shared with my maternal grandparents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In college, I used my love of history to earn
a minor in the subject.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, the
notion of combining the love I had for my grandparents with my love of history
seemed right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It indicated to me that my
goal would be to see my original dream of writing a book come true by creating
a compelling historical fiction novel set in a time that, while I didn’t
experience firsthand, had felt, nonetheless, real to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Every
one of our experiences leads us to where we are today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every relationship – every love we’ve felt
and lost shapes and defines us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, if
we are an open recipient to the world around us – including the past, we begin
to see our place in the universe a little differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We begin to see that we’re more connected to
each other and the past than we ever imagined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve taken bits and pieces of my own self and relationships and chose to
weave a bit of them into the telling of this story through some of the
characters created in the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Obviously, I didn’t live during the 1940’s, but as the character of
Piper came to life, I felt I knew her innately and intuitively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not to say that I <i>am </i>Piper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In truth, I understood aspects of who she
was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reality is I don’t think I’m
nearly as evolved as some of the characters of this book prove to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a way, I created certain characters who
modeled for me the kind of attitudes and beliefs I find noble and for which I
have <i>tried</i> (yet often failed) in my own life to ascribe to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with each of us, I am still very much a
work in progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This book, with its
lofty vision of spiritual redemption, is my attempt to make sense of the world
and my questioning of it.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br />Amy Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05271134835456164574noreply@blogger.com6