books – Page 11 – Cindy Hval

I admit it. I Googled myself. Don’t tell me you haven’t! But what I found today, delighted me! Two reviews that I’d never seen.

The first was this lovely mention of War Bonds from a blog called Doodles and Words.

“War Bonds– Love Stories of the Greatest Generation by Cindy Hval is a collection of beautiful and loving memories of couples who met during World War II. She recounts how these men and women met and stayed together for decades despite many obstacles. Who doesn’t love a good story? Well, what about 36 of them?

“Everything’s built on friendship. He’s been my best friend for 77 years.” – Betty Schott”

And the second came from Pearl Harbor!
Pearl Harbor Survivor Couple – Betty and Warren Schott

“We first heard about the Pearl Harbor Survivor Couple, Betty and Warren Schott, in an article in the Spokesman-Review by Cindy Hval. This remarkable couple was living on Ford Island when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

They heard an explosion and Warren quickly recognized that Pearl Harbor was under attack from an enemy. Many others on Oahu at the time thought that it was a drill, but Warren saw the rising sun on the wing of a Japanese plane flying overhead.

Warren Schott watched as the USS Utah was torpedoed. He then took his wife and another family living below them to safety. Warren did not seek safety himself, instead he returned to Battleship Row to help victims of the attack.

“I took one of the boats and picked up our fellows who were in the water,” he recalled. The men he pulled out were covered in oil.

Betty Schott did not sit idly by herself.

“They put us to work immediately, Betty said. “We unloaded guns and filled fire extinguishers.”

This Pearl Harbor Survival Couple was married for 76 years before Warren Schott passed away in May 2014. Betty lived another year and passed away on July 5, 2015.

We appreciate the excellent story from Cindy Hval about this fascinating couple and the impression they left on her. You can read Ms. Hval’s stories about the Schotts here and here or in her book below. We salute you Cindy Hval for your story and we salute the Schotts for their service to our country.

For more stories about love during wartime, read Hval’s highly rated book: War Bonds.”

Moral of the story? Don’t be afraid to Google yourself– you might find nice surprises like these:-)

War Bonds

Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Fall Trade Show

October 5, 2015October 5, 2015 Cindy Hval

I had a wonderful time at the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Fall Trade Show in Portland, Oregon this weekend. My publisher invited me to join their Northwest sales rep and sign copies of War Bonds.

I met many wonderful booksellers from across the area and got to see my friends from Auntie’s Bookstore in Spokane and from The Well Read Moose in Coeur d’ Alene.

The show was packed with vendors, representatives from all sizes of publishing houses, authors and most importantly– independent booksellers.

These are the folks that get our books into the readers’ hands, so it was a wonderful opportunity to be able to personally introduce them to War Bonds.

Seeing booksellers’ eyes light up when I explain the premise of the book and show them the fabulous photos within it was great fun, and Portland is a fabulous city to visit.

War Bonds

Sharing Hearts– and War Bonds!

October 1, 2015 Cindy Hval

I had a wonderful time in Davenport, Washington, where I was the guest speaker for The Lincoln Hospital Foundation’s annual Sharing Hearts Luncheon.

The organizer had adorned the stage with her father-in-law’s WWll uniform and her mother’s wedding dress.

They had this beautiful book table set up for me and I ended up selling every copy of War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Genereration, I had!

The people of Lincoln County are gracious and generous. It was a delight to be a part of their yearly fundraising campaign.

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

Queens of the Page

September 17, 2015September 17, 2015 Cindy Hval

So honored to be included in this list of talented ladies. Spokane is a great place to live and work and is home to many accomplished artists and writers.

There must be something in the water, they say.

That’s surprising, for a city like Spokane, others note. How does it have so many successful authors?

In a remarkable instance of serendipity, 2015 has been a standout year for Spokane writers, especially its female authors. By the end of the year, six of these women will have had book debuts spread across its 12 months.

This trend isn’t really surprising or strange. Spokane and the greater Inland Northwest region’s writing community is flourishing of late, experiencing a new literary golden age not seen since local icons Jess Walter and Sherman Alexie blazed a trail more than a decade ago. Both names continue to boost Inland Northwest writers’ profiles.

Back in January, Spokane-bred authors Sarah Hulse and Sharma Shields released their Western-rooted novels — Black River and The Sasquatch Hunter’s Almanac, respectively — days apart, each attracting large crowds to Auntie’s Bookstore readings on chilly winter evenings. Less than a month later, Spokesman-Review columnist Cindy Hval launched her book publishing career with a nonfiction collection, War Bonds: Love Stories from the Greatest Generation, about couples who met and married around the time of World War II. June saw the stunning debut of 27-year-old librarian and teacher Stephanie Oakes’ young adult novel, The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly, about a teen girl who escapes from an oppressive religious cult. The breakout trend continued the following month with local business owner Kris Dinnison’s modern tale of friendship for teen readers, You and Me and Him. And before the year is over, Asa Maria Bradley, a Spokane Falls Community College physics professor and recipient of the YWCA Women of Achievement Award, plans to release her first novel, a paranormal romance titled Viking Warrior Rising.

Continue reading Chey Scott’s Inlander story here.

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!