The Time Has Long Passed for Social Justice for All Americans

Author's Note: 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.

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.
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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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'.

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.

Watch "President John F. Kennedy's Civil Rights Address" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/7BEhKgoA86U

Watch "DeOldify Colorization: Martin Luther King - I Have A Dream Speech in color! [HD]" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/c2th10qbzBU

Watch "Robert F Kennedy Announcing The Death Of Martin Luther King - A Great Speech" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/GoKzCff8Zbs

In Honor & Memory of WWII Hero Lieutenant Anthony Francis Gilroy

     This December marks the fifth anniversary of the publishing of The Sanctity of Love and War, 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 Author's Notes knows, the book's roots are steeped in memories of my grandparents who lived during the time period of Sanctity -- the 1940's, and specifically, the years of and directly following World War II.  In those same Author's Notes, 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.
     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.
     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.
     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.
     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.
     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: 'Sleep on, sleep sound', 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.

Historical perspective of the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election on the 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

It’s been 75 years since the United States entered World War II.  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.  Today, only 10% of the men who took on Hitler and the other fascist leaders of the Axis Powers still live.  I've been thinking a lot about their generation since learning Donald Trump would be our nation's 45^th 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.  In his own quest for power, Trump took political advantage of a beleaguered faction of the populace, promising easy solutions to complex issues.  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.  

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.  Like Trump, they spoke to the disenfranchised, the angry, and the malcontent to whip up a messiah-like devotion from their followers.  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.

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.  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.  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.  This ill-advised executive decision rightly besmirches FDR’s otherwise intact presidential reputation.   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.  

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.  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.  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.  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.  Once that power was achieved, a war-weary world continued to vacillate and waiver.  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.  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.  They chose willful ignorance, refusing to contemplate the consequences of their own actions (or, in this case, in-actions).  They rationalized and failed to see how they would be justifiably judged by future generations.  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 on the world’s stage willing to demonize factions of society while promising to correct the ills of the world single-handedly.  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.  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.

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.  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.  Totalitarian leaders enforce complete adherence to what they desire. They bristle at any form of criticism, demanding utter acquiesce to their ideas.  Balancing decisive leadership, cooperation, and diplomacy is not a part of their repertoire.  Freedom of speech and public dissent are squashed.  Truth is deemed only accessible through the mouth and ideas of the leader.  Information is manipulated and warped to such a degree that truth is no longer recognizable.   History does not look kindly on dictator-like personalities when they are placed in positions of power.  Their insatiable egos and need for power quickly overcome any semblance of reason in times of great decision. 

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.  They described their fear over his racist, xenophobic talk. Students of history have gone so far as to compare Trump to the likes of Hitler.  Conversely, those who voted for Trump have claimed indignation at their candidate (now President-elect) being compared to the notoriously evil Hitler.  They become angry at the thoughts of being compared to those who supported Hitler in his own rise to power.  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.  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.  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.  My hope is that we, the present generation, 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  immorality that is beneath the office he will soon hold.  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. 

On this, the 75th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor, in 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.  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.

Author's Notes from THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR

    

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

Author’s Note

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amy M. Ferguson

September 2012

A conversation with English author David Cook

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How would you describe your research & writing practices?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Memory of Corporal Steve J. Peakler on the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

This month marks the 70^th 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.  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.  The Bulge was Hitler’s last great chance to stem that tide.  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.  He was 28 years old.  Steve was one of the 19,000 Americans who was killed during the battle that lasted from Dec. 16, 1944 to Jan. 25, 1945.
 

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.  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.  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.

Steve was attached to the 38^th Infantry Regiment of the 2^nd U.S. Army Division present at the battle that December.  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.  It's worth noting that the 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.  Corporal Peakler was one of 5,000 Americans who gave his life to defend that essential, defensive, Allied position.

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.”  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.

Corporal Peakler is buried at the Henri-Chapelle American War Cemetery in Liege, Belgium.  He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.  He entered service on Jan. 24, 1941 as a Private in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.  He rests with 7,992 other American soldiers who were killed during WWII and buried at Henri-Chapelle Cemetery in Belgium.  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.

A review of Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

     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.

     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.

     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.

     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.

     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.         

Reflections

It’s been almost 1 ½ years since The Sanctity Of Love And War was first published.  Since that time, I’ve been fortunate enough to have taken part in many book club discussions, book signings, and a book reading.  I’ve also had the pleasure to be interviewed about the experience of writing the novel.  Each experience has led to a greater awareness of myself in relationship to the book that I’ve written.  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.

It was April of 2012 when I first made the decision to publish the novel I’d been working on for almost two years.  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.  The act of writing was and remains to be a very unique and personal experience for me.   Allowing the public access to my inner thoughts, even if they were in the form of fiction, was a daunting prospect.  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.  This included my past relationships as well as what I had learned spiritually from those who were more evolved than I. 

My sense of grounding was rooted in my upbringing, particularly as it pertained to the influence my maternal grandparents had in my life.  My siblings, cousins, and I all benefited from their strong sense of family.  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.  In many ways, I felt more connected to their generation than I’ve ever really felt to my own.  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.  As a result of this truth, the character of Piper was born.

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.  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.  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.  I’ve had mentors, friends, and clients who successfully made these things a part of their personal creed.  Their own struggles with addiction as well as their ultimate ability to transcend them brought them to a deeper understanding and appreciation of life.  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.  In place of addiction, I chose the circumstances of war in which to place my heroine.  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.

When I think back on the beginnings of The Sanctity Of Love And War, it was a forgone conclusion that it would be set during one of the most pivotal times during my grandparents’ lives – World War II.  My memories of my grandparents coupled with my experiences as a drug and alcohol counselor were the foundation for the book.  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.  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.  It’s out of the deepest regard for them that the characters from the novel were created. 

I recommend to everyone to seek out those still living from that time.  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.  If you allow yourself to be open to the past, you can hear the voices and lessons clearly drifting through the years.  It’s a lesson I learned as a little girl listening to and spending time with my grandparents. 

The idea of being a present and willing listener was only heightened when I became a drug & alcohol counselor.  It was here that I learned to see the power of humble transcendence.  The recovery concepts of acceptance and surrender are living symbols of survival and humanity, two key points I hoped to cover in the book.  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 The Sanctity Of Love And War.

Writing remains for me a self-exploratory way to try to understand the world.  As a licensed therapist, I appreciate the importance of self-exploration in context with one’s past, present, and potential.  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.  The insights, connections, experiences, and relationships that have arisen from the publication of The Sanctity Of Love And War have been humbly gratifying – something for which I will forever remain thankful.

Honoring the Generation that inspired THE SANCTITY OF LOVE AND WAR

    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. 
     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.
     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.

A Life Well Lived

     

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

Great Works Of Modern Historical Fiction

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

The Light In The Ruins by Chris Bohjalian

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

The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman

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

The Book Thief by Mark Zusak

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

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

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum

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

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

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

Atonement by Ian McEwan

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

Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres

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

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

Children And Fire by Ursula Hegi

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

Stones From The River by Ursula Hegi
  

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