author events – Page 3

Bonds of Love & Remembrance

November 30, 2015December 24, 2015 Cindy Hval

In honor of Pearl Harbor Day, local author Cindy Hval shares excerpts from her captivating book, War Bonds: Love Stories from the Greatest Generation. Local jazz group, Hot Club of Spokane, sets the mood with 1940s love songs. Don’t miss this wonderful event!
CHENEY
Saturday, Dec 5, 2pm
Sponsored by the Friends of the Cheney Library

DEER PARK
Monday, Dec 7, 7pm
Sponsored by the Friends of the Deer Park Library

MORAN PRAIRIE
Tuesday, Dec 8, 7pm
Sponsored by the Friends of the Moran Prairie Library

SPOKANE VALLEY
Wednesday, Dec 9, 7pm

So excited to pair the music of the Greatest Generation with the stories from War Bonds in a series of events for Spokane County Library District!

Click my events page for more details.

War Bonds Cover Photo

War Bonds

War Bonds at Spokane Veterans Forum

October 16, 2015 Cindy Hval

Cindy Hval with Myrt and Walt Powers and Harold and Shirley Tucker.

Last night, two couples featured in War Bonds Love Stories From the Greatest Generation were guests at Spokane Veterans Forum.

The Veterans Forum is a group of veterans and Gold Star Mothers who serve as mentors to men and women coming through the Spokane Veterans Court.

The Spokane Veterans Forum (SVF) provides training support, fellowship,
camaraderie and help to veterans from any Veterans Enhanced
Therapeutic (VET) Court.

Organizers showed the Northwest Profiles video featuring the two couples and then I facilitated a discussion about relationships during and after military service.

The veterans and their mentors proved to be a warm and responsive crowd and gave the Powers and the Tuckers a standing ovation at the conclusion of our discussion.

How wonderful to see these members of the Greatest Generation honored, respected and valued for the wisdom they have to offer us.

War Bonds

Recapping Night at the Library

September 21, 2015 Cindy Hval

Auntie’s Bookstore was on hand with copies of the author’s books.

What a great event! Night at the Library featured readings by six authors. PEN/Robert W. Bingham Award winner Shawn Vestal read from his soon-to-be-published novel Daredevils. Sharma Shields read from The Sasquatch Hunter’s Almanac. Bruce Holbert read from his as yet unpublished 3rd novel. I shared from War Bonds and poets Maya Jewell Zeller and Laura Read, shared some of their work.

Best of all, new friends were added to the Friends of the Spokane County Library, so we can schedule more fantastic programs like this!

Thanks so much to all who attended and for all who support their local libraries!

War Bonds

Lifelong Love of Libraries

September 16, 2015 Cindy Hval

When I was a child my dad was in the Air Force, so we moved a lot. Finding the library in each new town made the transitions easier– walking through the doors felt like coming home, no matter where those doors were.

That’s why it’s such a thrill to find copies of War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation on library shelves.

And tomorrow I’ll be one of six featured authors at a special event called Night at the Library.

Emceed by KXLY’s Kris Crocker, the event will showcase The Friends of the Library and provide information on how you too, can be a member! It’s free! Snacks are provided, a no-host wine bar will be available and Auntie’s Bookstore will be on hand so you can purchase signed copies of your favorite authors latest books!

I love libraries and I hope you do too!

War Bonds

Night at the Library

September 14, 2015September 14, 2015 Cindy Hval

Really excited about this upcoming FREE event! Enjoy short readings by six local authors, including myself, Sharma Shields, Bruce Holbert and Shawn Vestal. Mingle among the stacks, have some tasty treats,grab some wine at the no-host bar and purchase selected books from Aunties Bookstore.

Hope to see you September 17, 7 PM at Spokane County Library, Argonne Branch, 4322 N Argonne Rd Spokane, WA

War Bonds

70 years and still in love

September 11, 2015 Cindy Hval

Kerri Thoreson, photo

I had the delight of catching up with Fred and Nathalie Mitchell in Post Falls, Idaho, yesterday. Their story “Happy Trails” is featured in chapter 21 of War Bonds.

The group at the reading got a kick out of Nathalie’s Love Lesson: “I get the last word and that’s that!”

That arrangement has worked well for them. They will celebrate their 70th anniversary in November!

War Bonds

Why do you still cry?

August 13, 2015August 13, 2015 Cindy Hval

“Why do you still cry? Aren’t you used to the stories by now?” my 15-year-old son asked.

He was curious. He’d just attended a War Bonds reading with me at the North Spokane County Library because he’s taping a few video clips of my presentation.

The answer is, no, I’m really not “used to the stories.” For example, when I read about a POW’s reaction to seeing the American flag raised when his camp was liberated, I remember the tears that rolled down his wrinkled cheeks when he told me the story. I cried with him that day.

I’m tearing up just thinking about it, now. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to read that paragraph without tears. These stories are true. These people are real. If their stories don’t evoke some kind of emotion in me, the writer, they’ll never resonate with you, the reader.

It was an especially moving reading for me because Dean and Betty Ratzman were sitting in the front row.

Dean’s heart had been damaged by Dengue fever during the war in the Pacific. He was told he wouldn’t live past age 40. Yet there he sat in the front row with Betty, his wife of 69 years.

Tears of joy. Tears of sadness. And an awful lot of laughter.

How blessed I’ve been to hear these stories and to share them with the world. I hope I never get used them.

War Bonds

Special guests at War Bonds reading

August 11, 2015 Cindy Hval

Dean and Betty Ratzman, June 23, 1946

So delighted that Dean and Betty Ratzman will join me at Wednesday’s War Bonds event at the North Spokane Library!

The Ratzmans have been married for 69 years. Their story is featured in chapter 18, “Letters From Home.”

Here’s a chance to meet a couple from the Greatest Generation and have them sign your copy of War Bonds. Auntie’s Bookstore will be handling sales and 10% of all copies purchased will go to the Friends of Spokane Country Library!

War Bonds

See you Wednesday at the North Spokane Library!

August 10, 2015 Cindy Hval

Really excited about this reading at “my local” library on Wednesday!

War Bonds

Still Things She’d Like to Know

July 27, 2015 Cindy Hval

Had a wonderful reading/signing event Saturday, at a local retirement center. The crowd was enthusiastic and engaged and asked wonderful questions. But the best thing was that three very special people live at Fairwood.

Melba Barton (left) is featured in chapter 16, “The Farmer’s Wife,” and Barbara and Louis Anderson’s story is told in chapter 28, “Keeping Time.” As you can tell from the photo above, Louie is still just as dapper and handsome now as he was in 1943 when he served as a B-17 pilot during WWll.

I was very moved during the Q&A Barbara said she’d learned more about Louie’s war experiences during the interviews for War Bonds, than she’d learned in 69 years of marriage. She added, “But there are still things I’d like to know– still questions he hasn’t answered.”

And Louie smiled and looked away.

A special thank you to all who’ve purchased, read or reviewed War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation. Because of you, these stories live on.