HOPE AT DAWN releases today!

My first WWI romance is out today!!! You can read Chapter 1 on my Facebook author page. 

If you live in Utah, I'm doing a signing on Thursday, June 26th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the American Fork Library with Amish romance author Jennifer Beckstrand. There will be food, door prizes, and of course, clean romance! Books are available for purchase at the event.

If you live outside of Utah or are unable to make it Thursday night, I'm also hosting a Facebook launch party on Wednesday, June 25th from 10:00 to noon (MDT). Fans of Jennifer Delamere, fellow inspirational historical romance author with Grand Central, and Jennifer Beckstrand won't want to miss this party - both authors will be "stopping by" and giving away books!

WWI Tidbit - Remembering

Poppies have long symbolized those who fell on the battlefields of France during WWI - largely because of the poem "In Flanders Fields" written by John McCrae in May 1915 about the Great War.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

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This year - and this summer, in particular - marks the 100th-anniversary of the start of WWI, with these key dates:

June 28, 1914 - Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated by a Serbian

July 28, 1914 - Austria declares war on Serbia

August 1, 1914 - Germany declares war on Russia, Serbia's ally

August 3, 1914 - Germany declares war on France, Russia's ally

August 4, 1914 - Great Britain declares war on Germany in response to Germany invading Belgium

Having studied much about this war and the time period, I'm thrilled to have my Of Love and War series release during this anniversary year - taking readers from the home front, to a war hospital near the front lines, to England in 1920 as the world struggles to recover from the effects of the Great War. 

And speaking of release - HOPE AT DAWN comes out in two weeks!

Just Can't Get Enough WWI (part 2)

There are two movies set right before and during WWI that I absolutely love - not only for research purposes but because of the story lines and the way they capture the time period.

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The first is a BBC production called The 39 Steps (2008), starring Rupert Penry-Jones, one of my favorite British actors. The story takes place right before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand that catapulted the world toward war. The main character is framed for a murder he didn't commit and subsequently becomes caught up in tracking down a German spy ring in Scotland. It's a story of intrigue and mystery but also humor and romance. 

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The second is Flyboys (2006), starring James Franco. This is the story of some of the first American pilots to fly with the French in WWI. It's a fantastic film that shows not only the danger of being a pilot at the time but also the gorgeous French countryside and even a glimpse of No Man's Land.

Have you seen either of these movies?

*HOPE AT DAWN was selected as a Night Owl Reviews top pick! Read the review here.

**If you missed Just Can't Get Enough WWI (part 1), you can read it here.