Cindy Hval

Debut Writers Tell All!

April 14, 2016 Cindy Hval

Please join me for this panel during which we will dish about the path to publication.

Admittance is free! Saturday April 16, 2016 1:45pm – 3:00pm
Spokane Convention Center 334 W Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201

During 2015, six female authors in Spokane launched their debut books, leading to the obvious question, What’s in the water? The group was profiled in the Inlander, each with different perspectives on how their book came to be published. During Get Lit!, they will discuss their rising success in publishing, from getting an agent to editing their manuscripts to promoting their books. Sharma Shields explores the mystical side of the Pacific Northwest as she follows her protagonist’s obsession to find Bigfoot in The Sasquatch Hunter’s Almanac. In War Bonds, Cindy Hval, a columnist for The Spokesman Review, tells the often overlooked stories of couples and their romances during World War II. Stephanie Oakes, author of The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly, crafts the poetic tale of a young girl coming to terms with her dark past in the Kevinian cult, which cost not only years of her life but also her hands. S.M. Hulse gives hope to graduate students in her MFA-thesis-turned-novel Black River, a modern-day Western set against past violence in its characters’ lives. In the young adult novel You and Me and Him, Kris Dinnison explores the bonds of friendship as two characters struggle to maintain their relationship while interested in the same guy. This panel will be moderated by Chey Scott, writer and listings editor for the Inlander.

GetLit

War Bonds

The wacky world of Creative Nonfiction

April 12, 2016 Cindy Hval

Ever wanted to learn more about the world of Creative Nonfiction? Please join Julie Riddle, Elissa Washuta and myself on Friday at Spokane Community College for a discussion of the ins and outs and twists and turns of Creative Nonfiction writing. The panel is part of EWU Get Lit! Programs.
Did I mention the event is free?
Click the link for details.

GetLit

War Bonds

‘My brother was there….’

April 7, 2016April 7, 2016 Cindy Hval

A year after the publication of War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation, the book signings and speaking events start to blur together.

I’ve met so many wonderful people– many of them WWll veterans, who share their memories of their time of service.

But at this week’s event something amazing happened. At every reading I share from Chapter One: Band of Gold. It’s the story of Jerry and Nancy Gleesing.

When they were expecting their first child, Jerry, who served with the 15th Air Force, 459th Bomb Group, was shot down and had to bail out over Hungary. He was quickly captured and spent 3 months as a prisoner of war in Mooseburg, Germany.

It’s a moving story that often prompts tears– including my own. As I read, I noticed an older gentleman take of his glasses and wipe tears as they streamed down his face.

He waited in line to by a book. “My brother was there,” he said. “At the POW camp in Mooseburg. He was on that plane.”

Unbelievable! He looked at the picture below, to see if he could pick out his brother, but his eyesight if failing. He had me sign the book for his 90-year-old brother, who’s still alive and resides in California.
I only wish Jerry Gleesing was still here, so I could tell him I found one of his crew.

War Bonds

Three exclamation points and a hug!!!

April 5, 2016 Cindy Hval

20160405_115624 — *War Bonds at the Lions Club*

I had a wonderful War Bonds reading/signing event at the Central Lions Club in Spokane on Tuesday.

This group gives back to our community in myriad ways, so it was great to have an opportunity to speak at their weekly meeting.

Afterward during the book signing a lovely lady asked me to sign a copy to Bob Baker, a WWll vet. I gladly did and added, “Thank you for your service.”

Then she asked, “Do you give hugs?”

Well of course I do. Especially when someone has just bought my book 😉
I gave her a warm hug and turned to greet the next person in line. A few minutes later, I noticed the lady had returned with her copy. She waited patiently and when it was her turn she had another favor to ask.
“Could you add ‘Happy 90th Birthday,’ underneath your signature she asked.

Happy to oblige, I asked, “Who is Bob Baker?”

“He’s my boyfriend,” she replied, with a shy smile.

I wrote, Happy 90th Birthday!

She seemed pleased, but had one more request.

“Could you add two more exclamation points?”

I did so and teased, “Please don’t tell any of my journalist friends I did that!”

So there you have it– a three-exclamation-points-and-a-hug book signing. Lions may just be my new favorite civic group!

20160405_135639 — War Bonds at the Central Lions Club, Spokane

War Bonds

The Small World of Writing and War Bonds

April 1, 2016 Cindy Hval

So there I am minding my own business at 8:15 AM, waiting in a long line for coffee in the hotel lanai in Honolulu when I hear a voice.

“Hello there, honey!”

I turn to see a little lady in a Hawaiian print shirt.

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It’s Myrt Powers from chapter 30 of War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation!

Myrtt and her husband, Walt live in Cheney, WA. but have wintered on Oahu for 30 years. Turns out Walt swims at the hotel pool every morning at 8 AM. Keep in mind the Powers will celebrate their 70th anniversary in December!

It was wonderful to catch up with Myrt so far from home.

The next day I toured the Army Museum at nearby Fort DeRussy. This sign caught my eye.

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War Bonds and Love Stories– both are with me everywhere 😉

War Bonds

Making Pearl Harbor Personal

March 29, 2016 Cindy Hval

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I knew I was in trouble when I read the sign for Ford Island and starting crying.After many years of interviewing and writing about Pearl Harbor Survivors I was for the first time, walking where they walked.

My husband and I were celebrating our 30th anniversary on Oahu and Pearl Harbor was one of our first stops.

Chapter 11 of War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation tells the story of Warren and Betty Schott who lived on Ford Island and both survived the horrific attack.

I pictured Warren’s desperate drive to get his wife to safety. They’d spoken of shrapnel falling from the skies– of the road shredded by machine gun fire– of the terror and the noise.

We watched a short film featuring actual footage of the attack. A scene of sailors and soldiers pulling the wounded and dead from the Harbor made me gasp. That’s what Warren had done in the aftermath– it was the one thing he didn’t want to discuss with me over the course of many interviews. It was the only thing he refused to speak of with his wife and best friend of 76 years.

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As we boarded the boat that took us to the USS Arizona, I thought of Pearl Harbor Survivor Ray Daves, who died in 2011. His friend George Maybee perished aboard the Arizona. His remains are entombed in the waters below the memorial. The throng of tourists quieted. The only sound was the snapping of the flag in the wind as I found Maybee’s name among the more than 1,000 names engraved. I wished I could tell Ray.

All of the stories, all of the interviews over the years in no way prepared me for the magnitude, the solemness of this sacred place.

Remember Pearl Harbor. Indeed, I will never forget this place, these people, their sacrifice.

Here are links some of the stories I’ve written about those who survived the Day That Will Live in Infamy.

World War ll Vets Remember

World War ll Vets Educate Students

A Sailor Remembers

Fond Memories of Ray Daves Endure

Survivors of 1941 Attack Bring History to Life

Grateful for Vet’s Story

Pearl Harbor Survivors Mark 73rd Anniversary in Spokane

The World has Lost Yet Another WWll Hero

Pearl Harbor Survivor’s Story Comes to an End

Pearl Harbor Witness: ‘It was so scary!’

War Bonds

Writing the Weather

March 15, 2016March 15, 2016 Cindy Hval

Sometimes writing is like the Pacific Northwest weather. Moments of brilliant sunshine, quickly followed by ominous dark clouds. A patter of light rain that suddenly turns to snowflakes. Snow. In March!

My mood and my output fluctuated with today’s weather. I’m almost done with the outline and organization of my second book. I slid into my desk chair full of optimism as the sun poured through the windows of my borrowed office.

Then doubts swept in with the clouds. This is a lot of work. Who is going to want to read this anyway? Do I really have anything original or entertaining to say?

Rain gave way to sudden snow flurries. An idea for another book popped into my mind. Maybe that’s what I should be working on? Maybe that’s the market I need to pursue….

My energy and excitement for my current project flagged. Chilled, I shrugged on a sweater and stared at my screen. Too many tabs open. Too many doubts nagging.

That’s the writer’s life. Moments of absolute confidence in your voice– your words; followed by the dark empty silence of self-doubt.

I finished the section I’d started and packed up my laptop. Stepping out into the damp gray, I longed for the warmth and confidence of the morning. Scanning the horizon I saw a flash of color– the faint beginnings of a rainbow. A promise. Whatever the weather the words will come.

War Bonds

Books: Buy Local!

March 9, 2016March 9, 2016 Cindy Hval

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Local authors rock!

They sit on my bedside table waiting to be read. The stack topples over and spills to the stacks on the floor below.

I LOVE books and I especially love books by local authors! Here in Spokane our literary community is thriving. It’s so cool to go to a bookstore and find books by people I know– people who live and work in our community!

Stephen King is great. I’m sure John Grisham is a nice guy. But I’d rather spend my dollars supporting local authors.

The only problem? I’m getting ready to pack for a trip and I can’t fit all of these on my carry-on!

I suppose I could get an e-reader. My stacks would diminish and I could take all the beach reads I want. But then I wouldn’t have this colorful stack of books to pick up and pore over.

Plus, these are signed copies!
Support your local authors. Buy books and buy local!

PS: All of these lovely volumes are available at Auntie’s Bookstore– an independent bookstore that keeps Spokane’s literary scene, thriving!

War Bonds

Capturing Stories

March 7, 2016 Cindy Hval

12803047_1034459979925962_2464215764931817271_n[1] I recently returned from the beautiful Skagit Valley in Washington State. The tulips weren’t in bloom yet, but the daffodils offered gleaming fields of gold!

I was there to teach a writing workshop called “Capturing the Stories of the Greatest Generation.”

The workshop was for a regional meeting of Life Enrichment Directors from a large senior housing corporation. The purpose was to better equip the staff to preserve the precious stories of their residents.

These folks are so aware that they are in a unique position to capture the stories of the men and women who served both at home and abroad during WWll.

We covered basic interview how-to’s and discussed different formats for sharing the stories.Then we moved on to specific tools and prompts that make members of this generation feel more comfortable sharing as well as allow them easier access to their memories.

I hope to offer this workshop in many senior housing or retirement facilities soon, as well as open it to the public at some point.

Prior to the class I gave a War Bonds reading for the residents. Afterward, I spent time chatting with many of them and getting a glimpse of their stories.

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A lovely lady purchased a copy of the book for herself and her husband, Bill. Bill has Alzheimer’s, but enjoyed the reading. While he was unsure of the date or where he lived, he certainly knew his bride. “This is my sweet Eloise,” he said, beaming. Then he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.

“Sweet Eloise” was a popular song 66 years ago, when they wed. Bill has lost a lot of his memories, but that song and his wife’s smile still shine through the fog of Alzheimer’s.

I hope it always will.

War Bonds

My favorite type of book buyer

March 1, 2016March 1, 2016 Cindy Hval

I know authors shouldn’t play favorites, but I confess I do have a favorite type of book buyer.

As I reflect on a year spent reading and signing at bookstores, libraries and civic groups, etc. one type of book buyer never failed to make me smile.

It’s the buyer who says, “I’m going to read a chapter to my husband/wife/partner every night before bed.”

You can’t write a book like War Bonds without being a romantic soul and thinking of my book being shared this way thrills me to the tips of my hot pink toes.

What could be better than knowing the love stories of the Greatest Generation are safe in the hands of new generation of lovers? 11001726_10203518846031682_9073187678075970162_n[1]