Night of Flames: A Novel of World War II
by Douglas W. Jacobson
Paperback

List Price: $16.95
Published in 2008
ISBN-10: 1-59013-166-5

A STORY OF COURAGE
Lessons from 70 years ago

American airman, George Watt, was a gunner aboard a B-17 flying a mission from England to the Ruhr valley in Germany on November 5, 1943, when his plane was shot down near the Belgian village of Zele. He parachuted to earth and landed in an open field, drawing the immediate attention of local Nazi authorities. While Watt hid in a ditch the local townspeople distracted the authorities pointing off in the wrong direction. Before long, one of the locals approached him and led him to a rural homestead where he was given civilian clothing and warm food. A few days later Watt was taken to Brussels where he was interviewed to make certain he wasn’t a spy and was soon off to Paris and on to safety in Spain. Watt didn’t know it at the time but he had been aboard the “Comet Line”.

The Comet Line was Europe’s largest and most successful underground escape line during World War Two. Established in 1941 by 24 year old Andree de Jongh and her schoolmaster father, the Comet Line transported more than a thousand Allied aviators and other soldiers to safety during the course of Nazi occupation. Andree escorted over one hundred of these soldiers to safety herself, following the secret, intricate route from Holland and Belgium, through occupied France, then overland on foot over the Pyrenees Mountains to Spain.

Traveling by trains, bicycles, horse-drawn carts and on foot, with falsified documents and borrowed clothing, Allied soldiers would be passed from one set of Comet Line operatives to another in the perilous route to freedom. The dangers were equally acute to the operatives themselves as capture by the SS or Gestapo meant imprisonment, torture and, in most cases, death. Indeed, the danger was so real that by the end of the war almost one Comet Line operative was captured and executed for every Allied soldier rescued. Yet hundreds of common people, farmers, merchants, housewives, young and old, put themselves at risk to aid the war effort by bringing these young soldiers to safety.

They say that every good novel must come from the heart, an inspiration that captivates the soul and drives the author to tell the story. Such was my inspiration in writing NIGHT OF FLAMES: A Novel of World War Two. I have been reading about and studying World war two for most of my adult life. When I encountered the story about the Comet Line, I was captivated, inspired and compelled to pay tribute to this very real story of human courage, a story of Unlikely Heroes.

But the real beginning of NIGHT OF FLAMES goes back a few more years. In 1993, my daughter married a young man from Belgium and moved to Europe, setting our family on a course that has forever changed our lives. Over time, while traveling to Europe two or three times a year, we became very close friends with my son-in-law’s parents. They are wonderful, caring people who are several years older than we are. They were young children during the German occupation of Belgium—young, but old enough to remember. They didn’t talk about it at first, in fact they still don’t, its over, it happened a long time ago, and they survived. End of story. But gradually, as they realized I really wanted to know, they began to tell me the stories. They told me about living in the cellar while their city was being bombed, about not having anything to eat for months on end and German snipers shooting at them while they scavenged in the streets for food, about my son-in-law’s grandfather being dragged away from the family home by the Gestapo in 1941. . . then returning five years later when he walked home from Germany.

Like the stories of the Comet Line, the experiences of my Belgian in-laws inspired me. It made it real.

And I spent the next five years writing Night of Flames: A Novel of World War Two.

In 2008, shortly after the publication of NIGHT OF FLAMES, I was contacted by an organization in Brussels that endeavors to keep alive the memory of the Comet Line. Shortly thereafter I was privileged to meet with this group and especially to meet three surviving agents of the Comet Line. They are all delightful, energetic women in their mid-eighties who were kind enough to share their memories with me and were delighted to have their story told by an American author so many years after the war. When asked why they did it, why they took such an enormous risk for young men they didn’t know, their answer was simple: “We did it for freedom.”

Douglas W. Jacobson is an engineer, business owner and World War Two history enthusiast. Doug has traveled extensively in Europe researching stories of the courage of common people caught up in extraordinary circumstances. His debut novel, Night of Flames: A Novel of World War Two was published in 2007 by McBooks Press, and was released in paperback in 2008. Night of Flames won the “2007 Outstanding Achievement Award” from the Wisconsin Library association. Doug has also published articles on Belgium’s WW2 escape organization, the Comet Line and other European resistance organizations. Doug is finishing up his second historical novel set in Europe during WW2, focusing on one of history’s most notorious war crimes.

Giveaway:
Open worldwide.
One winner on October 30.
How to win? It’s easy. On October 30, I am going to check who has left the most comment. That person will be the winner.

Tags: Dorothy Thompson, Douglas W. Jacobson, Pump Up Your Book Promotion

Guest Post

Training to be a Writer

A friend’s daughter who is interested in writing asked me a question recently that got me thinking.  She wanted to know what kind of special training you needed to be a writer, and I realized that I’d had no formal training at all. Oh sure I’d written letters and memos, term papers and manuals, and even at work I’d strive to make my year end reports and risk assessments readable, even entertaining, with a good rhythm and a nice flow, but other than reading Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies (great book), and asking lot’s of questions from the talented and generous people at RWAC, my local RWA chapter, it was learn as you go.

Some people will tell you take English, English Lit, or creative writing courses and I’m sure they don’t hurt, but I never did. Neither did several of my writer friends. I studied psychology and have always loved reading history and biography.  One writer friend is a lawyer, another is an ex police officer, and one friend raises horses, and writes mystery romances that revolve around horse racing. There’s a lot to be said for writing what you know, and what your life experiences have taught you. In the end you can learn the mechanics of grammar etc through coursework, but story telling is something that comes from within you and your experiences I think.  Most editors will excuse minor problems with the first, if the second fires their imagination.

Before trying my hand at writing I worked as a trail guide, in harness racing, with aboriginal groups in the Arctic, and as a psychologist.  I’m surprised at how often a little something I learned along the way makes it into a story. My background in psychology helps me with my characters; my background with horses comes in handy writing historicals as they were so much a part of daily life, and some of the things I learned in the North I used in a paranormal I was working on.

I think you do have to have certain skills or traits to be a successful writer, and a bit of luck doesn’t hurt either. Obviously you need a broad imagination and you have to love storytelling. All the authors I know are avid and eclectic readers, whatever their backgrounds. I think reading a wide range of books is a huge help. It also helps to be observant. Wherever you go you’re surrounded by rich material to draw on.  If I’m at the beach I’ll close my eyes and listen, hear the waves, the seabirds, people’s laughter and conversation. I’ll describe what the sun feels like on my face, what I taste, the salt in the air, etc.

Every day is different, every place is different, and each person is unique. Take pen and paper and the time to note what’s going on around you and you will always have fuel for descriptive prose. I remember one particular day when I was sitting in an out door café people watching and an odd looking fellow caught my eye as he was walking by. He turned and smiled, as if he knew I was watching him, and he had the sweetest face. Some of you may recognize him in the pages of my new release, Highland Rebel (in stores in September!). If you’ve had the chance to read it I’d love to know who you think he is, or you can always send me a note. Thanks so much for having me here today, and please feel free to comment or ask questions.

Highland Rebel by Judith James, in stores September 1, 2009!

Amidst the upheaval of Cromwell’s Britain, Jamie Sinclair’s wit and military prowess have served him well. Leading a troop in Scotland, he impetuously marries a captured maiden, saving her from a grim fate.

A Highlands heiress to title and fortune, Catherine Drummond is not the woman Jamie believes her to be. When her people effect her rescue, and he cannot annul the marriage, Jamie goes to recapture his hellcat of a new wife…

In a world where family and creed cannot be trusted, where faith fuels intolerance and war, Catherine and Jamie test the bounds of loyalty, friendship, and trust…

About the Author

Judith James has worked as a legal assistant, trail guide, and counselor. Living in Nova Scotia, her personal journey has taken her to the Arctic and the West Coast. Her writing combines her love of history and adventure with her keen interest in the complexities of human nature and the heart’s capacity to heal. For more information about Judith, please visit http://www.judithjamesauthor.com/

Contest:
Thanks to Daniel of Sourcebooks for this fabulous giveaway.
Open to US and Canada. No PO Box please.
Two (2) winners on September 18.

Winners will be announced within a week of the deadline. Please make sure to subscribe to this blog’s feed to find out if you’re a winner. Please contact me within  1 week of posting the winners, or I get to pick another winner.

+1: Blog or link to this contest on your sidebar.
+1: Tweet, stumble, or facebook this contest. Make sure to leave me link where I can find it.
+1: Visit Sourcebooks and let me know which books you find interesting.
+1: Visit Judith James site and tell some something interesting about Judith James.
+1:

Participating Blogs:

Tags: Danielle Jackson, Judith James

I got this flowers last week, and half of them still blooming right now. I’m so impressed. No special occasion, but I love getting them, especially when there’s no reason to get them. I haven’t quite figured out what my favorite flower is. I know I’m partial to rose,  but I like most of the roses I get. What about you? What’s your favorite flower?

Please contact me with your mailing addresses (NO PO Boxes please), or information if I need to draw an alternate winner. When you contact me, make sure to mention the following:

Title of the book you won
Name as you signed it when you won
Name
Address

My Forbidden Desire
by Carolyn Jewel
Mass Market Paperback, 384 Pages
List Price: $6.99
Published in 2009
Publisher: Forever
ISBN-10: 0-446-17824-1
__________
3. Estella
6. LuAnn Morgan
8. Caitie
10. Beverly G
15. Mariela
__________

A Hint of Wicked
by Jennifer Haymore
Mass Market Paperback, 432 Pages
List Price: $6.99
Published in 2009
ISBN-10: 0-446-54029-3
__________
2.  couchpapaya
4. Lori Barnes
8. Raelena
11. Dottie
13. Mariee
___________

Tags: Carolyn Jewel, Jennifer Haymore

Writing as a Sacred Path: A Practical Guide to Writing with Passion and Purpose
by Jill Jepson
Paperback, 256 Pages
List Price: $15.95
Published in 2008
—My Take—
This is a treasure of a book. It’s perfect for anyone who writes a lot or one who contemplates writing. This book is a tool and an inspiration. There are many useful exercises which help. My favorite part of the book is the one called “Strategy and Skill for the Warrior Writer”. I like the metaphors and the techniques illustrated there. It all comes down to practice, practice, and practice. Nobody gets a black belt without it. This book is a keeper. I am very thankful to Dorothy for giving me a chance to read and own this awesome book. This is a keeper.

—Guest Post—

I have been asked many times how I came to write Writing as a Sacred Path. This was one event on my journey.

The small room is lit by flickering candlelight, revealing shelves laden with religious pictures, symbols, and statuettes. In the center sits a small boy, his knees pulled up to his chest, his limbs trembling as if he is chilled despite the thick blankets wrapped around him. His mother, a tiny woman with sad eyes, sits next to him.

Facing them sits Maria Morales-Lopez, the curandera—healer. She is dressed in a colorful cotton skirt, her black hair hanging in a thick braid down her back. I am in the corner, feeling like an intruder, even though I am here with the permission of both the patient and the healer. I have come to the highlands of Guatemala to explore spiritual traditions, and Maria is letting me watch her work.

The curandera closes her eyes to meditate. Silence falls. The boy clings to his mother. There is a sense of something very important happening, very profound. As I watch from my corner, a question pops into my head: What is my purpose here? The boy and his mother have come for healing. The healer is here to help. But what do I have to offer?

At last, Maria speaks. “I know why your son is ill. And I know what to do for him.” She explains that tensions in the family are make the child sick. There is too much fighting, unpleasant disagreements. Bringing peace to the family will heal him. She will also give them two mixtures of herbs for the boy to take to bring down his fever and rebuild his strength.
The mother is deeply grateful. Maria refuses pay. After they leave, I, too, thank Maria. “This is my work,” she says simply. “It is a sacred gift.” I feel an uncomfortable stab. This woman, who has never been outside her village and has no formal education, does work that is essential, perhaps life-saving. And what do I do? I don’t know if I’m feeling envy or self-doubt, or just a deep longing to do something valuable with my life, but I can’t stop going back to that question: What is my purpose? Not just here at this moment, but in life?

I leave the village the next week. Walking to the road to meet my bus, my backpack full of notes, I pass a group of children playing. One of them is the boy who, a few days earlier, was so ill. He is still pale, but his eyes are bright, and he is laughing. Once again, I feel that longing to offer the world something of value.

The bus arrives, I climb on board, and it rumbles off. I watch the coffee fields pass against an intensely blue sky. To pass the time, I pull out my notes and begin to organize them. I jot down some ideas. In my notebook, I write a paragraph about my experiences, then another. I am soon lost in my writing. For two hours, on the jostling bus, I write about Maria and the boy.
And that is when it strikes me. I did have a purpose for being at Maria’s the day the boy was healed. I wasn’t just a hanger-on, an intruder. I was the story-catcher, part of the ancient lineage of those who observe and record and pass on what they have seen. Not many people can ever watch a curandera in the Guatemalan highlands. But many can see her through my writing. Suddenly I remember why I do this work, and my spirits rise. I am a writer: This is my gift to the world.

Jill Jepson is a traveler, professor, and transformational life coach, and the author of three books and over 60 articles. She holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Chicago as well as degrees in writing, psychology, social science, and Asian studies. Using her extensive travels to places as diverse as Guatemala, Syria, Siberia, and Afghanistan, her writing explores spiritual traditions, history, culture, personal growth, and the writing process. Through her business, Writing the Whirlwind, she offers coaching and online workshops for writers, activists, and others. You can visit her website at www.writingthewhirlwind.net.

Giveaway:

Open worldwide. Contest Ends in August 31

How to win:
We’ll play word association game. You just look at the word from the previous post and write your association. For example, the word is “shoes”. You can follow it with “sexy” or “painful”, whatever comes to mind. Make sure do the thread comment. Hit the “reply” link inside the box where the word you’re associating is from.

You can play as often as you want. Make sure there are two other people between your comments to any word thread. If there’s not enough people, feel free to bring your friends over to win.

I will announce the winner in my blog within one week of the contest deadline. The winner will have one week to send me their address, or I pick another winner. I might be able to send email, but that’s a little spotty because of time constraint on my part. Make sure to subscribe to my fed so you can check if you have won.

Tags: Dorothy Thompson, Jill Jepson, Pump Up Your Book Promotion

My Forbidden Desire
by Carolyn Jewel
Mass Market Paperback, 384 Pages
List Price: $6.99
Published in 2009
Publisher: Forever
ISBN-10: 0-446-17824-1

About the book:
TORN BETWEEN…
Alexandrine Marit is a witch in mortal danger. An evil mage craves the powerful, mysterious talisman that supplies her magic, and the only person who can keep her safe is a dark and dangerous fiend called Xia. With his fierce animosity toward witches, he’s hardly the ideal bodyguard. Yet as days turn into nights, she can’t deny the white-hot passion between them.

DESIRE AND TEMPTATION
Xia hates witches. They enslave and mercilessly kill his kind. But he’s been ordered to protect Alexandrine, who, to his surprise, has a spirit he admires and a body he longs to possess. With the mage and his henchmen closing in, Alexandrine and her protector must trust the passion that can unite them…or risk losing everything to the enemies who can destroy them both.

About the author:

Carolyn Jewel has been writing stories ever since she could scribble. Now that she’s grown up (mostly) she writes historical and paranormal romance because she loves history and imagining the lives of people who lived in years past, and because she’s fascinated by the loves and travails of the not-exactly-human in any time period.

Giveaway:
Five winners on August 15.
Canadian and US addresses only. No PO Boxes please.
To win a copy of this book, answer this:

What’s the best first sentence of a book you’ve read? If not best, what’s a good one that you’ve recently read? Dont’ forget to mention Title and Author.

Be sure to subscribe to my blog post to find out if you’re a winner. Thanks to Anna for this fabulous giveaway.

Tags: Carolyn Jewel