authors – Page 17 – Cindy Hval

A visit with a reader in Colorado

April 29, 2015 Cindy Hval

Yesterday, I got this note from Casemate Publishers.
“We had a reader call, and she would like to thank you for War Bonds. She was a WWII bride, who recently lost her husband.”
So, I called Gloria in Colorado and we had a lovely visit. She said, “I just finished War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation and I wish it was TWICE as long. It just took me back.”

Like so many War Bonds couples, she and her husband met on a blind date. “When he got back to the barracks that night, he told his buddies, ‘I just met the girl I’m going to marry!'” Gloria recalled.

They married only to spend the first year of their life apart as her husband served overseas. “I loved being an Army wife,” she said.”My husband and I lived through all those things you wrote about.He passed away last month at 95. We had 69 happy years together.”

She thanked me for calling. “I just wanted to tell you how much I loved War Bonds. I can’t wait for your next book.”

I hung up the phone, humbled that she’d enjoyed the book enough to call my publisher and tell them. Conversations like this, from people who lived through WWll are a privlege I don’t take lightly.

Thank you, Gloria.

War Bonds

The best part of being an author is spending time in bookstores!

April 27, 2015 Cindy Hval

Bookstores are the best places on earth and since War Bonds was released in February, I’ve spent a lot of time in bookstores.

On Friday, I had a reading at the Well-Read Moose in Coeur d’ Alene. This charming store features the perfect trifecta: books, wine and coffee! And my friend, Phil, aka Idaho Dad came to visit!

On Saturday, I signed copies of my books at Barnes & Noble in Spokane Valley. War Bonds BN Valley A rainy day meant lots of people browsing the shelves. The staff was welcoming and wonderful and kept me supplied with coffee. Even better, War Bonds bride, Bonnie Shaw came to visit! War Bonds Valley BN

I love it when my War Bonds family attends a signing. The Shaw’s story is featured in a chapter titled, “Little Things Add Up To Love.”

An even bigger surprise was a visit from Eric Loer and his family! He said, “I’m Eric and my picture is in your book!”

Yep. That’s baby Eric above featured in his parent’s chapter “From Sailor to Preacher.”

And that’s Eric below with his wife, son and granddaughters.

At every signing or reading event, I feel like my War Bonds family grows.

What a wonderful thing!

If you weren’t able to attend these events, I signed lots of extra copies, so autographed books are available at both of these locations.

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Gift idea! Hint: Mother’s Day is coming!

April 22, 2015 Cindy Hval

Okay. This lovely lady got a copy of “War Bonds” for her birthday, but still– don’t you think books make great gifts?
Also, notes and pictures like this just make my day. Keep ’em coming 🙂

“My mother, Alice Rankin, was thrilled with the autographed copy of War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation that I gave her for her 84th birthday today. My late father, Ron, was a WWII and Korean War veteran and my parents had been married for 55 years when he died in 2004. Thanks Cindy!”

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Together Again

April 17, 2015 Cindy Hval

At last night’s “War Bonds” event at Studio 107 in Coeur d’Alene, I learned Nick Gaynos had passed away on April 1.

I can’t be too sad, since he so wanted to be with his beloved Tex who died June 3, 2014. And I’m beyond delighted that he was able to attend the reading at the Coeur d’Alene Public Libary on March 11 and receive his copy of “War Bonds.” He brought the piece of shrapnel that almost nailed him at Pearl Harbor to the reading. When he turned to the chapter (Damn Yankee) about he and his bride, he lingered over her photos. “Isn’t she pretty?” he asked.

Yes, she is, Nick and I’m so happy you’re together again.

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Letter from Maryland (Hooray for Libraries!)

April 9, 2015 Cindy Hval

Just received this wonderful note from Mary in Maryland.

Mrs. Hval,

I saw your book “War Bonds” on a display table at my local library in Cockeysville, Maryland and checked it out. I had recently read “War Brides” by Helen Byran, a historical fiction, so I was most interested in reading another aspect of marriage/relationships during WWll– this one true. I very much enjoyed your book.

You are so right to remind us about the “greatest generation” and all that they did for us. Thank you again for writing your book so we could learn about these special couples. I look forward to reading your next book.

I now enjoy reading your column in the “Spokesman Review”– life on the west coast is not much different from life on the east coast. I can relate.

Beyond thrilled that War Bonds is being read across the U.S. and hooray for all the libraries that place it on their shelves!

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What a month!

March 19, 2015 Cindy Hval

Cindy Hval at War Bonds book launch, February 22, 2015.

One month ago today marked the publication date for War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation.

What a month it’s been! Two weeks ago Casemate Publishers informed me the first print run of War Bonds had already sold out and new print run ordered! There are still copies in stores aross the nation, but the major book distributors are out and are waiting for the next run due on or before April 19.

To me this response means these stories resonate– not just with members of the Greatest Generation but their children and grandchildren, too.

Since the book launch at Auntie’s Bookstore, I’ve done several author reading/signing events. (See scheduled events here.) At each event people come up and share stories involving family members who served during WWll. Their stories move and inspire me.

I am so grateful to those who’ve purchased War Bonds and have written blog posts or posted reviews on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Goodreads. I’m thankful for the book stores, libraries and other groups who’ve invited me to do reading/signing events and most of all for the people who show up!

I’ve always felt these stories deserved to be shared and these people deserve to be honored for their committment and sacrafice on the battlefield and on the homefront.

How wonderful to find that so many agree.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Here’s to a third print run!

War Bonds book launch at Auntie’s Bookstore, February 22, 2015.

War Bonds

These are some beautiful chicks

March 6, 2015March 6, 2015 Cindy Hval

Saw this gorgeous display at Barnes and Noble, yesterday. Such an incredible feeling to see stacks of my books in stores! But what’s really wonderful is the feedback from readers.

Yesterday, I spent an hour and a half at Auntie’s Bookstore signing pre-ordered copies of War Bonds. Since it was a public signing, I got to interact with folks who stopped by the signing table.

One fellow wearing a Vietnam veteran cap seemed especially enthralled with the photos. “These are some beautiful chicks,” he said.

I told him my mother is of the opinion that women were better looking in the ’40’s and ’50’s.

“Nah,” he said. “They just took better care of themselves.”

Then his eyes grew dim. “Even when my wife was dying of cancer, she’d try to fix herself up for me. She’d put on a little lipstick…. She just wanted to look nice.”

“She must have loved you very much,” I said.

He took off his glasses and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “Yes,” he said. “She did.”

War Bonds

Dad

March 5, 2015 Cindy Hval

Been thinking about my dad a lot lately.
March is his birth month and death month.
Here he is at Harmon Field in Newfoundland during the waning days of WWll.
He would have loved all the War Bonds hoopla and been at every signing and event. Because of my dad’s military career, I feel completely at ease interviewing veterans– especially WWll vets.
What kind of man was my dad?
He was so warm and kind that the man he shared a room with during his last hospitalization came to his funeral in a wheelchair having just been released from the hospital that day.
He knew my dad for three days and already loved him.

Wasn’t I blessed to have had a dad like that?

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Idaho, Illinois, Oregon, Connecticut, oh my!

March 2, 2015 Cindy Hval

What fun to hear from readers across the United States as copies of War Bonds arrive!

Jeri in Illinois.

Cis in Idaho

Dean and Betty Ratzman, feaured in chapter 18 “Letters From Home.”

I love receiving photos of folks (or their pets!) with the book. You can email your pictures to dchval@juno.com, I’d love to hear from you!

In addition, please consider posting your reviews on Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Goodreads. In today’s competitive book market positive reviews on the sites above really helps to spread the news!

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The photo that made me cry

February 24, 2015 Cindy Hval

Two little girls poring over War Bonds at the book launch on Sunday at Auntie’s Bookstore.

Jadyn’s (on the left) grandparents, Bill and Jay Warren are featured in the book. She and her best friend Elisa couldn’t wait to dive into the stories.

I can’t tell you how important it is to me that these people and their stories are not forgotten. Seeing children discovering their grandparents in a new light is unbelievably moving and makes the five-year-journey from idea to publication seem so worthwhile.