THE GREATEST GENERATION ~ Cleo Lampos

                              Learning About the Greatest Generation

Retirement delivered many opportunities for speaking to senior groups and at extension classes of local colleges. Several historic fiction books hit the market, and life sailed along with my husband and cat in a Chicago suburb. Then, in November 2019, I read Jennie Allen’s book, Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul.

I prayed that God would do anything in my life that would draw me closer to Him.

Gail Kittleson e-mailed me two days later.

An author of WWII historic fiction, Gail asked if I would want to co-write a book about the food that people ate during the war. After praying about this, I decided to jump full into the project. Research is one of my library skills honed over the years.

The range of material was vast. Trips to the library yielded books on WWII to read. The internet produced articles, memoirs, and PHD. Dissertations on the topics of military chocolate bars, ration kits, sugarless baking, foxhole foraging, the Victory Gardens, the Land Girls, Donut Dollies, and how the Dutch ate tulips. The women of North Platte, Nebraska, who served food to over 6 million GI’s in four years astounded me. Recipes and photos for all for all these topics bubbled from friends cleaning out their attics, historical archives, and government sources. A coffee table album on the topic complete with quotes, articles, photos and recipes resulted.

Then Gail and I decided to bring the sacrifices and ingenuity of celebrating Christmas during the war to the album format. Again, conversations with elderly friends, relatives, and reading memoirs gleaned so many insights. Reading books like Soldiers of a Different Fabric brought the stories of chaplains at Christmas to light. Compilations of accounts of POWs and GIs in the field at the season of Christ’s birth allowed the emotions of the time to come into our writing. Photos from private parties made their way to this book.

So much happened to me emotionally as these projects were researched.  My uncles enlisted during the war but spoke little about their experiences. Uncle Melvin took us to the cemetery in Des Moines, Iowa, every time we visited him so we would remember the Sullivan Brothers and see all the white crosses. Now, I read the accounts of the sailors and soldiers in foxholes and on ships in hostile countries sharing their fears and hopes.

 My appreciation for the Greatest Generation increased as I read the letters of mothers and wives who put up a brave front even as they scrounged every day to make ends meet. The words of President Roosevelt, the volunteering of Eleanor Roosevelt, and the inspiring quotes of Eisenhower, Nimitz and MacArthur stirred a piece inside of me that had long lay dormant.  The folks who lived through WWII represented the best of our nation.  They are in a class by themselves.

It is with humility and pride that Gail Kittleson and I present the companion books that give the present generation a glimpse into the valor and courage of our parents and grandparents. The Greatest Generation.

Featured Books Will Release in September 2020

The Food That Held the World Together

World War II Christmas Scrapbook

Authors: Gail Kittleson and Cleo Lampos

Publisher: Wordcrafts Press

Genre: Historical non-fiction

Two companion books

Target Audience: High school to adult seniors who love history

Gail Kittleson

Gail Kittleson creates women’s historical fiction from her northern Iowa home where she lives with her husband, a retired Army chaplain. She is a frequent speaker and workshop presenter at libraries and other venues.

Cleo Lampos

Cleo Lampos is a retired schoolteacher who speaks to adult extension classes at local colleges, writes fiction, enjoys quilting, and helps her urban gardener husband on their Chicago suburban plot.

Soul Surgery and Thanksgiving by Gail Kittleson

A RE-RELEASE FROM 

Author Gail Kittleson

IS

Soul Surgery and Thanksgiving

~And a Giveaway~

Don’t you love it when life fits what’s happening in a book you’re reading? In the World War II novel I’m re-releasing, my heroine Addie faces “soul surgery,” and caring for a loved one with sudden-onset dementia, I can relate. So on this Thanksgiving, what am I thankful for?

We want to learn and grow, and ask God to change us. But then we must let go of trying to control the outcome. As we feel torn apart, the perceived results may seem impossible to accept, and our goal becomes keeping ourselves from crawling off the altar. 

IN TIMES LIKE THESE

Addie experiences this in her struggles with her husband Harold, who takes out his anger on her when the county draft board refuses to call him up for duty. Living out her mother’s victim posture in response to her father’s selfish choices and neglect, Addie believes she must be doing something to cause Harold’s verbal abuse and prays to be changed.

She doesn’t ask to become a stronger woman or to believe she’s as lovable as everyone says—her best friend Kate, her neighbor down the road, her former teacher, and even her mother-in-law. She doesn’t ask for the Allies to lose their first battles after the Pearl Harbor attack, which only heightens Harold’s fury.

And she certainly doesn’t ask for the courage to stand up to her own personal bully—that’s the farthest thing from her mind. But soul surgery gradually alters her perspective and takes her to places she’d never dreamed. If you’ve ever dealt with a holier-than-thou egomaniac who couches brutish behavior in religious phrases, you’ll cheer for her.

You’ll also journey with Kate as she encourages Addie while searching London for her downed RAF pilot husband, and enjoy the lost art of letter writing. And you’ll see both young women’s gratitude for the little things in life.

My new cover graphics and the release date (scheduled for December) have yet to arrive, but I’ll issue an update on my blog www.gailkittleson.com as soon as I hear. Like many things, it’s out of my hands, but I’m giving thanks anyhow!

About Gail: An Iowa farm girl, Gail Kittleson earned her MA in Teaching English As A Second Language and taught ESL and college expository writing. After publishing a memoir, the World War II bug bit her, resulting in seven Women of The Heartland novels. 

Gail’s husband shares her delight in historical research, their grandchildren and gardening in Northern Iowa.

 The desire to increase appreciation for the tremendous sacrifices made for our freedom motivates Gail’s writing and her book talks. She loves cheering other writers through facilitating workshops, does some freelance editing, and leads women’s programs and retreats.

  

You may connect with Gail on Facebook and discover more about her books at www.gailkittleson.com or on amazon.com. 

Giveaway! Gail would like to offer one free e-copy of the new In Times Like These to one commenter. Giveaway runs for one week, ending next Wednesday, December 4, 2019, at Midnight O'clock Central time. To enter, just leave your name and contact information below so we can contact you should you be our winner.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read, and thanks to you, Peggy, for allowing me to share.

And thank you, Gail, for being my guest today. 

Gratitude and Thankfulness ~ Gail Kittleson ~ Devotional

Please welcome my friend and author Gail Kittleson to Whispers in Purple. I hope you will enjoy her devotional offering for today. The floor's all yours, Gail

In 1864, Folliott S. Pierpoint wrote the words to “Sacrifice of Praise,” which we often sing around Thanksgiving. “...Lord of all to Thee we raise, this our sacrifice of praise...” This old hymn lists many reasons to give thanks, even when troubles surround us. For more about this hymn, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_Beauty_of_the_Earth

 November naturally tips me toward thankfulness, so here I go again. Not a bad direction, especially with so much negativity and criticism in our society. 

Someone working on a memoir activity, said, “When asked to recall childhood holidays, something sad or unpleasant always comes up.”

I could relate, but also shared something I wrote recently titled Turning Around Our Memories. We have the power to revolve memories like shiny Christmas decorations and watch how at every angle, they reflect light.

Not one to promote less than honest perusal of the past,  I do believe we can shore up our ability to focus, like a movie director, on various aspects. And from spending more than enough time on the negative side of memory, I have learned how unhealthy downward spirals can be.

Gratitude can become a habit. How can I not be thankful to get to spend my time doing what I love? Writing has always been my vocation, though it took some time to give myself fully to it. But that makes the process mean even more.

Every new book release reminds me to give thanks. Melody Beattie, whose writing helped me a great deal a few decades ago, says: “Gratitude makes sense of our past, gives peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

What could be more important than understanding our experiences, enjoying the present moment, and embracing what is to come with clarity? Sounds like a recipe for satisfaction to me.

So, on this beautiful blog created by my fellow author, I salute gratitude. So much for which to give thanks—health, hope, work, family, our very life! None of these are perfect, but each brings joy.

Right now, I am grateful for another book coming out soon. This World War II novella means a lot to me because novella writing is new, but the writing process has been satisfying.

About the book: (coming soon!)

The heroine, a young woman who sacrificed her dreams for the war effort without complaint, has garnered my respect. Many of us may have made similar choices—hopefully, we have come to see that second chances abound and that we sometimes see the full picture a little later in life.

 My heroine makes this discovery in 1944, beset with worries about her little brother deployed in the South Pacific, her father, who stubbornly refuses to acknowledge signs of his own decline, and her future, not what she had hoped. But someone else is concerned about all of this, as well.

I hope readers enjoy traveling through this season of life with her. It gives me pleasure to share this glimpse of the cover, which I just received last week.

Last but not least, thank you, Peggy, for allowing me to share.

About Gail:

When Gail's not steeped in World War II historical research, writing, or editing, you'll find her reading for fun, gardening, or enjoying her grandchildren in Northern Iowa. She delights in interacting with readers who fall in love with her characters.

Women of the Heartland, Gail's World War II series, highlights women of The Greatest Generation: In Times Like These, April 2016, With Each New Dawn, February, 2017 (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, and Word Crafts Press, December, 2017.) 

The Cornerstone ♦ New Year Thoughts ♦ Gail Kittleson

New Year Thoughts

from Gail Kittleson

Jesus, the Cornerstone

"The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:22-24 [NKJV]

 Another year almost past...everyone remarks how they go faster and faster as we age. It gets tough to remember what we were doing last year at this time...were we entertaining company on this date, or was that the year before?

Experts encourage us to focus on one day at a time—good idea, because that really gives us enough to take in at once. Although this Psalm refers to the full Gospel day—the coming of salvation to the world through Jesus’ death and resurrection, that “day” makes a pivotal difference in each twenty-four-hour period of our lives on this earth.

C. H. Spurgeon, in his sermon #1420, writes, “What day is this which the Lord has made? ...it is a Sabbath day, the beginning of a long line of Sabbaths. The day in which our Lord Jesus rose from the dead is now sacred to rest and holy joy. Let us keep it with reverent love and bless God for making it—...” (spurgeongems.org)

Others have delved into the meaning of the word sabbath, and hold various views on which day of the week to observe. But considering that sabbath refers to stopping and resting, we can gladly leave all that wearies us—for example, striving to win God’s favor or trying to please everyone.

Ahh...as the old Pepto Bismol ad says, “Oh, what a relief it is.” And this concept can bring us relief and joy every single day of the new year.

: When Gail’s not steeped in World War II research, drafting scenes, or deep in an edit, she does a limited amount of editing for other authors. She also facilitates writing and creativity workshops, both in Iowa and Arizona, where she and her husband spend part of the winter in the amazing Ponderosa pine forest under the Mogollon Rim. Favorites: walking, reading, meeting new people, hearing from readers who fall in love with her characters. 

Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/GailKittlesonAuthor

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/gailkittleson/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/106969195211961187796

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3459831.Gail_Kittleson

Twitter: www.twitter.com/GailGkittleson @GailGkittleson

Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gail-kittleson-b0693543

Now, sit back and enjoy this beautiful rendition of One Day At a Time by Lynda Randle, and be blessed. (Courtesy Bill and Gloria Gaither)

A Purpose True - Book Spotlight - Gail Kittleson

A PURPOSE TRUE - Book Spotlight featuring author Gail Kittleson

 Though War Breeds Cruelty and Injustice, Grace Yet Prevails

Southern France - Spring, 1944

German panzer units crisscross the region, dealing ruthless reprisals against the French Resistance, and anyone suspected of supporting its efforts. Secret Operations Executive (SOE) agent Kate Isaacs is tasked with providing essential radio communications with the Allies, while her guide, Domingo Ibarra, a Basque shepherd-turned-Resistance fighter, dedicates himself to avenging the destruction of his home and family.

Thrown together by the vagaries of war, their shared mission, and common devotion to liberty, the last thing Kate and Domingo anticipate is the stirring of affection that threatens to blossom into love. But how can love survive in the midst of the enemy’s relentless cruelty toward innocent citizens?

Everything hinges on the success of the Allied Invasion - L’Invasion.

Purchase Links: 

Kindle: http://amzn.to/2hDgpcQ
Papaerback: http://amzn.to/2hNwekV

When Gail’s not steeped in World War II research, drafting scenes, or deep in one edit or another, she does a limited amount of editing for other authors. She also facilitates writing workshops and classes, both in Iowa and Arizona, where winters find her enjoying the incredibly gorgeous Ponderosa forest under the Mogollon Rim. Favorites:  walking, reading, meeting new people, and hearing from readers who fall in love with her characters.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/GailKittlesonAuthor
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/gailkittleson/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/106969195211961187796
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3459831.Gail_Kittleson
Twitter: www.twitter.com/GailGkittleson @GailGkittleson
Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gail-kittleson-b0693543

HOPE: A Devotional by author Gail Kittleson

Hope

by Gail Kittleson

Hope - from Pixabay

             

            “You alone are my hope...” Jeremiah uses the Hebrew word qawa, similar to the word for trust. (Jeremiah 17:17 NLT)

            Hope means to trust in, wait for, look for, or desire something or someone; or to expect something beneficial in the future.

In Spanish, the verb esparar means both to hope and to wait. We wait for spring because we trust that winter will fade. Warmer winds will blow, as they do every year. We count on it.

Male Northern Cardinal - Pixabay

We also await answers to our prayers for wholeness and increased faith. If we see God as faithful, caring, and powerful, hope comes a lot easier. On the other hand, our woundedness can hinder trust.

My World War II characters experience this truth. Sometimes it’s difficult for Addie to believe things will ever change in her marriage. In the sequel, the merciless Waffen SS atrocities in Southern France overwhelm Addie’s best friend Kate.

But for these heroines, hope shines in the midst of struggle. They both must wait to see the end for which they long. Thus, there’s plenty of room for hope to affect their attitudes and individual growth.

Twenty-seven times, the Greek Old Testament translates qawa as hupomeno, "to wait, to be patient, to endure.” In the presence of suffering, this term implies patience in bearing affliction while hopefully awaiting deliverance. If I tried for hours, I couldn’t better express the attitude my characters exhibit in their struggles.

I hope readers find encouragement for their own difficulties through embracing Addie and Kate’s stories. This is what happens with us as we follow Biblical characters facing hard times.

For all of us, things look bleak at times—that’s when hope flutters in and encourages us.            

  

Hummingbird from Pixabay

       Emily Dickinson obviously knew hope intimately:

      “Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

Gail Kittleson
http://www.gailkittleson.com/
www.facebook.com/GailKittlesonAuthor

http://amazon.com/author/gailkittleson

www.twitter.com/GailGkittleson @GailGkittleson