Guesting today

Today I'm over at Unusual Historicals talking about crime and punishment during World War I.

Tuesday Comings and Goings: Guest Blogging

Today I'm over at Unusual Historicals blogging about a day in the life of...a WWI soldier.

There are a lot of different soldiers: Americans, English, French, Flemish, Germans, Ottomans, Russians, Austrians, and Hungarians.



Then there are airmen, those in the trenches, sailors, and the various other fronts such as the Russian front or the Dardanelles and Gallipoli.

Thank a Veteran

Today is Veteran's Day or Armistice Day around the world. It celebrates the end of World War I (or The Great War) on November 11, 1918 at 11am: the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. From The US Department of Veteran Affairs:

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

Originally, celebrations were observed with parades and public meetings, and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m. Act 52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a approved on May 13, 1938, made the November 11 a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day."

Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II and after Americans fought in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

On October 8, 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated:

"In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."

So today, despite having off, no school, or just another day of your week, please remember those who fought, past and present, in our Armed Forces. They deserve our respect, our thanks, and our gratitude no matter what your politics are.

Holidays and short stories

They're coming. Thanksgiving is this Thursday, next you know Christmas'll be here in like a week, and bam! New Years. Do people actually breathe during the season? I'm not sure I do, but that's not the point.

Holidays=holiday stories. Holiday stories=writing holiday stories. Writing holiday stories=what holiday can I write about? All, the squeaky cogs of the brain.

I already have 2 (possibly 3) Christmas stories coming out this year. But there are other holidays. New Years aside, there's Valentine's day, St. Patrick's day, Easter, Flag day...you get the picture.

In one of the Christmas stories I submitted, there are 4 women and the men in their lives. No, this isn't Sex in the City by Isabel Roman. Nothing near that. More like Four Calling Birds. Which is what I named it, but Ravenous might change it, and they're more than welcomed to. So, my Four Calling Birds are only beginning their romantic holiday journey.

What's an author in the midst of holiday anxiety to do but propose further stories for her 4 couples? Propose 6 more holiday for her 4 couples, that's what.

We'll see if Ravenous accepts these proposals. In the mean time, I have other stories to write. Like the female pharmacist in 1918 London and her scared war hero home from Flanders. When he isolates himself from the world, only she can bring him back to the world. But what happens the morning after?