Cindy Hval – Page 36

A city that appreciates military service

May 14, 2015 Cindy Hval

. The Spokane Lilac Festival has established a long-held tradition of celebrating local military personnel as well as law enforcement, firefighters and teachers at their annual All City Civic Military Luncheon.

It was such an privilege to be invited to be their guest speaker and to share about War Bonds at the event.

Like the members of the Greatest Generation, the men and women recognized today, understand courage, committment and sacrifice. What better way to honor Greatest Generation than to continue to build on the foundation they laid for us?

So proud that Spokane continues to be a city where military service is recognized and applauded.

War Bonds

War Bonds in Walla Walla

May 8, 2015 Cindy Hval

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.

War Bonds

This student deserves extra credit!

May 6, 2015 Cindy Hval

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?

War Bonds

On being a bestseller

May 4, 2015 Cindy Hval

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!

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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.

War Bonds

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!”

War Bonds

Special Book Signing Event With WWll Couple

April 16, 2015 Cindy Hval

Cindy Hval with Rusty and Marie Clemons

I was delighted to spend a little bit of time with Rusty and Marie Clemons yesterday at a local Barnes & Noble store. We had an impromtu signing because their daughter was visiting from Montana and wanted to take a stack of War Bonds back with her.

Rusty and Marie have been married 68 years and are still just as sweet and fiesty as ever. Their story is told in Chapter Six “Dishpan Hands.”

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Cindy Hval interview on Spokane Talks Online

April 14, 2015 Cindy Hval

Had a lovely conversation about War Bonds with Kent Adams of Business Talks.

You can dowload the podcast or just click the link and listen online. The program is Business Talks: War Bonds— the 5th one down from the top.

Enjoy!

Thanks SpokaneTalks Online!

War Bonds

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!