Author
If you haven’t yet read or purchased War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation, here’s a chance to read an excerpt in the January/February edition of Nostalgia Magazine.
The Luck of the Draw tells the story of Fenton and Violet Roskelley. The pair met when Fenton’s unit was assigned to Violet’s regiment in Cornwall, England.
Pick up a copy of Nostalgia at news stands and bookstores throughout the Inland Northwest or order online.
In writing War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation, my own experiences as a military wife gave me insight into the unique challenges these couples faced when military deployments separated them.
I had a taste of single parenthood during my husband’s active duty days. Hats off to the wives and the husbands who hold down the fort and keep the family running when their spouse is deployed.
I’m thankful that the military is now recognizing that when one member of the family serves, so does the rest of the family.
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.”
Today marks the 70th annivesary of the invasion of Okinawa. By the end of the 82-day battle, Japan had lost more than 77,000 soldiers and the Allies had suffered more than 65,000 casualties—including 14,000 dead.
Tom McKay survived, but not unscathed.
Here’s an excerpt from War Bonds, chapter 32, “Sharing the Ride,” in which Tom relates a horrific skirmish he endured in Okinawa.
“One afternoon, we crested a hill and they let loose and killed both point men and shot the medics. It was kill or be killed. I had four hand grenades and I was big and strong. I could throw them farther than they could.”
He hunkered in against a rock and exchanged fire with the enemy. “It went on all morning long. I got five or six guys.” Finally, he felt a bullet tear through his right shoulder. It went out through the back of his arm, shattering his shoulder. “It didn’t even knock me down,” said Tom. “I said, ‘Well. They got me.'”
Certain he was going to die; he staggered to a clump of bushes. “I didn’t die right then, so I drank a couple canteens of water and ate a handful of hard candy.”
Then he got up and though wounded, killed two more enemy soldiers and led his men on an attack that caused the enemy to retreat. He returned to his company with valuable information that enabled the troops to reach their objective with a minimum of casualties.
For his heroic efforts he received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
Many men died that day and somehow a newspaper thought Tom had been one of them. Thankfully, the first thing he’d done while recuperating from his injury was to write his wife a letter. He had to use his left hand, but she could make out his scrawl and still treasures that letter.
He wrote, “If wishing would help, I’d be with you now.”
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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.![10411286_10152695030512338_2758579272347860213_n[1]](https://cindyhval.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/10411286_10152695030512338_2758579272347860213_n1.jpg)
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.
Writing War Bonds has been a five-year journey with many highs and lows.
The thrill of getting signed with a great agency. The disappointment of realizing your agent’s a dud.
The tremendous excitement of receiving a contract with a great publisher. The sinking realization that you still have a whole lot of work to do on your manuscript and only a few months to get it done.
The joy of receiving the first round of advance review copies. The dread of finding that yep, there’s more words to be written and a just few weeks to write them.
The amazing experience of opening that first box of final copies and resisting the tempation to dump them on your bed and wallow in them. (Not good for the covers. Plus paper cuts.)
Then the dawning knowledge that you have to market the book, talk about the book, have your picture taken for the book, hound people to talk about the book. Daunting for an introvert for sure.
But then comes the moment when it suddenly all becomes real. A friend posts a photo of your books on display at a local bookstore and it hits you– people are going to buy your book and read it!
The stories you felt so worth telling are going to be read. The people you wrote about won’t be forgotten.
And you laugh and maybe cry, but mostly you stare the photo of the stacks of books and breathe a prayer of gratitude.
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Kindle readers are already devouring War Bonds (e-reader versions released 2/10!) And now, Open Road Media, the marketing company promoting the digital sales of War Bonds, has released a sneak peek of the book!
Click the title below to read the full chapter.
Yesterday was a brutally long and busy day. But when I finally dragged myself through my front door– look what was waiting for me! ![10994337_846085385430090_4486539032574964268_n[1]](https://cindyhval.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/10994337_846085385430090_4486539032574964268_n1.jpg)
The books look fanatastic! I’m so pleased with the design. The folks at Casemate Publishers have done a great job with War Bonds.
From a vague idea five years ago, to a printed, hardcover, fully illustrated book today– it’s been a wild ride.
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Exciting news for Kindle and Nook lovers. “War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation” is now available in e-book format!
You can download it from Amazon or Barnes & Noble today!
While I prefer the comfort and familiarity of a book in my hands, I know many readers prefer the ease and convenience of e-readers, so I’m thrilled War Bonds is offered in both formats.
If you do download it from Amazon, be sure to post a review. I’m anxious to hear from readers!
Out of 36 couples featured in “War Bonds Love Stories From the Greatest Generation,” 12 couples are still living and loving. Of those 12 couples, eight have confirmed that they will attend the Book Launch on February 22 at Auntie’s Bookstore with another two, possibly attending.
How exciting is that ?
These folks have been married from 68 – 72 years.
If you’ve ever wanted to thank a WWll veteran for his service, or meet people who’ve been married longer than many of us have been alive, now is your chance!
Hope you will join me in honoring these amazing people.
Cindy Hval 