Author
Author Deanna Davis gave a copy of War Bonds to her stepmom and received this lovely thank you note which she shared with me.
Her stepmom writes, “The stories moved me to tears many times remembering your dad and the special relationship we shared.”
Notes like this lift my spirits during this busy and often exhausting season of readings, signings and speaking engagements. The greatest gift you can give an author is to let her know that you connected with the words on the page.
Approximately every three minutes a memory of World War II – its sights and sounds, its terrors and triumphs – disappears.
According to statistics released by the Veteran’s Administration, our World War II vets are dying at a rate of approximately 492 a day. This means there are approximately only 855,070 veterans remaining of the 16 million who served our nation in World War II.
In writing War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation, I was able to preserve the stories of 36 couples– their memories of the war and their reflections on building a lasting love in its aftermath.
Thirty six stories.
A drop in the bucket.
It’s the untold stories that haunt me.
I’m really happy with the work Bob Lawrence and Bill Fitzner did on this segment of Northwest Profiles featuring War Bonds couples Harold and Shirley Tucker and Myrt and Walt Powers.
It’s so wonderful to have video of these special people and to be able to have them share snippets of their stories in their own words.
Click here to see the segment. http://video.ksps.org/video/2365498944/
PS: The War Bonds book giveway sponsored by Spokane Talks Online, is still going on. Enter to win here!
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Spokane Talks Online is offering a copy of War Bonds in their latest give away!
Simply like the post below on their Facebook page and enter to win.
Local author of the book—”War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation”—Cindy Hval, was a guest on our show, and we are giving away her book for free! Follow instructions below to enter, and check out Cindy’s recording on Business Talks at SpokaneTalksOnline.com
1. Like this post
2. Confirm your entry here (won’t ask for any information, just to agree to rules & confirm: http://tab.fo/wsvcvqz (+ see rules)
For official rules click on the link above.
So thrilled that two of the couples featured in War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation will appear in a segment of “Northwest Profiles” a program on KSPS TV.
Here are Harold and Shirley Tucker being interviewed by producer Bob Lawrence. The Tucker’s chapter is titled “Romance on Wheels.”
Have to admit I teared up when Harold said, “We love each other now more than ever.”
Bob Lawrence made sure to get their autographs!
Then it was out to Cheney where Myrt and Walt Powers were interviewed. They have a unique story “The Marine and the Sailor.” Myrt was the Marine. Or is the Marine. As she said, “There are no ‘former’ Marines.”
This six-minute segment will air at 7 PM on Thursday May 28th on KSPS TV. The stations coverage area includes Western Montana to Central Washington and from Oregon north to Central Alberta.
Hope you’ll all tune in to hear and see these amazing people. You’ll be glad you did!
I had a wonderful time catching up with James and Helen Loer, today.
Their story is featured in Chapter 7, “From Sailor to Preacher.” I hadn’t seen the Loers since I interviewed them for the book, four years ago. I’m happy to report they are still married, though James assured me during the interview, “I can tell you right now this isn’t going to be romantic!”
The Loers celebrated 67th anniversary in January.
Tomorrow I’ll be signing copies of War Bonds at the Book & Game Company in Walla Walla, Washington.
Famed for it’s wineries, downtown Walla Walla has a great shopping district. And if you haven’t bought your mom, wife or grandmother a Mother’s Day gift yet, come in and see me and get a signed copy of War Bonds 🙂
There’s more information in this write up from the Walla Walla Union Bulletin.
Christy Woolum, who teaches school in the Inchelium school district in Washington, sent this photo of student, Nathan Loer, reading War Bonds: Love Stories from the Greatest Generation.
She writes, “I think this student deserves extra credit for reading your book in class.He proudly showed off the story about his great- grandparents.”
I absolutely agree!
One of the reason’s I’m so passionate about this book is evidenced in this photo. Younger generations need to know about the sacrifices and struggles their grandparents and great grandparents endured during and after World War II.
Though not geared toward young readers, War Bonds is certainly appropriate for them to read. If it’s not in you school library, don’t you think it should be?
The old real estate adage, “location, location, location,” came to mind Saturday when my book signing table was placed next to the Bestsellers table.
It was my first signing at a Hastings store. I have several more scheduled and I hope the other stores place me this close to the Bestsellers. It’s fun to dream about War Bonds showing up on that table!
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.
Cindy Hval 