Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 455

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Nov. 2, 1942: At El Alamein, Montgomery’s British Eighth Army breaks German lines. In New Guinea, Australians reoccupy Kokoda and its airfield. Future Supreme Court justice Earl Warren is elected governor of California, and Will Rogers is elected to US Congress. Torpedo from U-518 hits dock at Bell Island, Newfoundland, only direct German attack on North American land in the war; two ships are sunk.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Nov. 1, 1942: Marines drive across Matanikau River on Guadalcanal. US ceases production of liquor—warehouses contain a four-year stock.

On Distant Shores - The Book Cover Is Here!

I'm thrilled to reveal the book cover for On Distant Shores , the second book in the Wings of the Nightingale series! As always, the team at Revell did phenomenal work! On Distant Shores will be released August 2013 (not June as I originally announced), and is already available for pre-order at ChristianBook.com, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

The Wings of the Nightingale series follows three World War II flight nurses as they find friendship, love, and peril in the skies and on the shores of the Mediterranean.

Here's the back cover copy for On Distant Shores :

"Lt. Georgiana Taylor has everything she could want. A comfortable boyfriend back home, a loving family, and a challenging job as a flight nurse. But in July 1943, Georgie’s cozy life gets decidedly more complicated when she meets pharmacist Sgt. John Hutchinson. Hutch resents the lack of respect he gets as a noncommissioned serviceman and hates how the war keeps him from his fiancée. While Georgie and Hutch share a love of the starry night skies over Sicily, their lives back home are falling apart. Can they weather the hurt and betrayal? Or will the pressures of war destroy the fragile connection they’ve made?

"With her signature attention to detail and her talent for bringing characters together, Sarah Sundin pens another exciting tale in her series featuring WWII flight nurses. Fans new and old will find in On Distant Shores the perfect combination of emotion, action, and romance."

Vesuvius and Pompeii are important settings in the story, and the photo on the cover was taken by my husband on our vacation to Italy in July 2011!

So what do you think of the cover?

 

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 31, 1942: Luftwaffe raid on Canterbury hampered by barrage balloons. New song in Top Ten: “When the Lights Go on Again.”

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 30, 1942: Germans remove 100 Jewish children from a children’s home in Brussels, Belgium for deportation, but public outcry leads to their return. At El Alamein, Australians push north to the sea, trapping enemy force, most of which escapes west.

Lessons from the 1940s - Vote!

How many of you will be glad to see the election season come to an end? I will. I'm sick of the deluge of phone calls and junk mail and spam, of the obscene quantities of money spent, of anger and snark masquerading as debate, of cheesy smiles and perfectly coiffed heads.

It beats the alternative.

While the United States has been spoiled by over two hundred years of democracy, in the grand scope of human history, democracy is still new and revolutionary. Historically, monarchies are the norm. The lives of ordinary people were dictated by one individual who received that position by accident of birth - or by murder and intrigue. Even now, dictators and extremists rule by fear and terror, and ordinary people keep their mouths shut - or else.

During the World War II era, the world was threatened by cruel dictatorships - so threatened that the Communist USSR made a worthy ally of the democracies. We forget how close we came to losing our freedom.

In the United States we have the freedom of speech, topped by the amazing freedom to vote. Next week you and I can enter a booth and tell our elected officials exactly how we feel without fear of a midnight knock on the door. Don't take that privilege lightly. Do your research and make informed choices, not based solely on party. And don't take that privilege for granted - make the time and cast your vote.

See you in the voting booth!

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 29, 1942: U-boat wolf pack sinks 7 ships in Allied convoy HX-212 off Cape Farewell. At El Alamein, Rommel makes strong attacks against Australians on northern flank.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 28, 1942: Rommel forms up for counterattack at El Alamein, which is broken up by Allied air attack. Actor Clark Gable commissioned as a second lieutenant in US Army Air Forces after completing Officer Candidate School.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 27, 1942: Germans secure Caucasus Mountains. Himmler orders liquidation of last major Ukrainian ghetto, at Pinsk.

International Giveaway Winners!

Thank you to everyone who participated in my International Giveaway Day! I was stunned to see so many wonderful people from Portugal visit! There were 15 entries for Nas Asas do Amor , the Portuguese version of A Distant Melody, and 3 entries for Der Klang Deiner Gedanken , the German version. No one entered for the Dutch books, so I'll continue my search for homes for them!

The winner of Nas Asas do Amor is...Celia Ornelas!

And the winner of Der Klang Deiner Gedanken is...Kara Isaac!

Celia and Kara - thank you for leaving your email addresses. I'll contact you so I can get the books in the mail.