Author Patty Smith Hall & An Unsung Heroine of WWII (Giveaway)
My guest today is a relatively new author Patty Smith Hall who is offering a copy of her latest to a commenter. She loves to write about WWII. Her’s Patty:
Why unconventional Women?
“One of the questions I’m asked quite a bit is why do I write about such unconventional women–strong heroines, always determined to do the right thing even if it means going up against the social norms. A person that younger women can look up to, can model their lives after.
A woman like the kind lady I met at my very first book signing for Hearts in Flight, one of my World War II books.
I’d love to give you her name, but at the time of this article, I’ve been unable to reach her to get permission. But I can still remember when I met her, sitting on the front row, holding hands with the man she’d spent a lifetime with. After I’d given my talk, I approached them and learned that they both had contributed to the war effort, he as an engineer on the B-29 that had been built at the Bell Bomber Plant where my story was based. He’d later went on to work on the ground floor of what became Eastern Airlines.
But it was her story that grabbed me.
Like many of the women of her time, she’d wanted to find a way to contribute to the war effort. In the end, she took a position as a secretary for one of the airlines. Her first months there was spent pushing papers and checking identifications of the hordes of workers needed to build the planes America needed. Then one day, her supervisors came to her with a unique opportunity, a way of making an impact.
Enlisted for espionage
They enlisted her to become one of a handful of homeland informants, working down on the plant floor with the people she’d helped hire on and reporting any information that might be considered helpful to the enemy combatants to the United States. She didn’t tell me much about her experience, taking the war motto ‘lose lips sink ships‘ to heart. The struggle she must have felt, pitting the family and friends she loved against her country. How difficult that must have been! But she did it for the good of our nation.
An unsung heroine worthy of a story.”–Patty
To purchase, click here. Hearts Rekindled (Love Inspired Historical)
Blurb for Hearts Rekindled:
“I’m Here to See My Daughter.”
She never thought she’d see John Davenport again. Merrilee Daniels Davenport’s former husband has returned to their small Georgia town after fighting in the Pacific. And now the soldier is bearing a letter from the little girl he didn’t know he had. Merrilee wishes that she and her daughter could lean on John’s able shoulders, but her new assignment as a homeland informant won’t allow it.
Twelve years have only made Merrilee more beautiful in John’s eyes. Back then, he was the proud fool who walked away. Now all he wants is to prove he can be the husband she deserves, and the daddy his daughter needs.
For more about Patty and her latest book, drop by this months author Q & A on GoodReads. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1684712?order=a&page=3
QUESTION: Do you enjoy stories set in the WWII era? Do you know someone who served in WWII? Leave a comment and be enterred into the book drawing.
My father was a disabled veteran and most of my uncles served. My book Bette has a similar situation for the heroine.I wish I’d met the lady that Patty interviewed! –Lyn
I haven’t read any books set in WWII but would love to.
Yes I do like to read books from this WW ll era. And yes I did have a brother who served in this war. I was about 9 or 10, but remember it. Also, 2 brother-in-laws and one that served, but was released because of asthma. Lots of cousins,an uncle, and friends o the family. Two friends died. They were 2 of 4 brothers serving. A great sacrifice for that family. I remember the people of America all pulled together to support our men and women. And the ones at home did whatever they could do to help. So unlike today, when too many spend their time in marches and complaining. My daddy worked in a shipyard in Houston, TX. I would love to win your book. Thanks! Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
Lisa, thank you for coming by. Personally, I love the research that goes along with writing historical romance, mainly because I love discovering women who played a part in history.
Blessings,
Patty
Kathleen, thanks for dropping by.
A cook! That’s an important job, keeping everyone fed. One of the best stories I heard in my research was about a cook who mixed up a concoction of fruit cocktail, French brandy, vanilla and cream before a bomber pilot strapped it to the bottom of his plane and flew at about 30,000 feet. He came down with tooty fruity ice cream for the troops!
Blessings,
Patty
I would love to win your book! My uncle was a cook in the Army. A very dear man. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
Bonnie, thanks for dropping by–my dad was a little too young to be in WWII. He was nearly two when Pearl Harbor drew the USA into the war. But both my grandfathers helped build the local bomber plant and my maternal grandmother worked there in the kitchen.
Blessings,
Patty
Paula, thanks for coming by. What I’ve found in my research is that there are many women throughout our history who’s stories haven’t been written. Like my grandmothers–one who worked at the local bomber plant despite being pregnant with her third child; the other who lost her life and two of her children due to the shortage of antibiotics during the war. To me, they were heroines too!
Blessings,
Patty
Thanks for coming by today, Susan! I had a second cousin who died at Pearl Harbor–didn’t know it until my grandma gave me the family Bible and I found the newspaper write-up pressed between the pages.
Blessings,
Patty
My Dad was in WW2. I haven’t had the opportunity to read many books during this time period, so it would be a welcomed book to my home library. Thanks for the chance!
Hi Patty and Lyn
great story today of an unsung hero, she was a strong dedicated woman to do what she did at that time. thanks for sharing the story with us. I like your book info and will be watching for it. enjoyed your comments today.
Love reading about history! I know it must take a lot of time and effort to find all the info you need to write this type of book. So TY from those of us who love this type of reading that a Christian can enjoy!!
Yes I do like stories from that era and my dad was in World War 2.
Patty, I remember that lovely couple sitting on the front row!! They were so sweet sitting there holding hands! What a joy to read her story!! I look forward to it!!
My Curtis told me many stories about his time in the Army Air Force during WWII, some would make me laugh and others make me cry. He was an airplane mechanic and was stationed on Tinian in the Pacific. He was the one to check out the Enola Gay the day before they loaded the bomb on her. He told me about that day, too. Such memories that literally changed the world!
God bless you for telling the women’s stories, too!! They, too, changed the world!!
Hugs,
Anne
You are most welcome, thanks for letting me come.
Danie, thanks for coming by today!
My mailing address is
Danie Walther
11286 Meadow Glen Way East
Escondido,Ca 92026-7009
Lyn,
I love hearing world war 2 stories and reading about them too And yes my dads dad served in world war 2. He was a weather forecaster he never actually got to see action but he did work over seas, in Inda, it was very cool. He has past on but it’s pretty cool when he did talk about it. And I love going too war mamorials and seeing what year they were born and we’re they served. I am so thankful for the men and woman who put there lives on the line so that we can live in a Free country. Also I have a cousin who is a Marine and who is out of the service now but who served and did 2 tours one in Iraq and the other in Afganistan he was the one who would bring water to the guys who were out in the fields in the big humvies and he also was a gunner too. He’s my Hero !!! I love him so much. Now he is out and training to be a cope
I would love too read your book. oh.hello.hiya@gmail.com