K.C. Sprayberry's Blog, page 98

Notifications III

Good morning and welcome to Monday Blogs. This month, our theme is military novels. We’re talking about service to our country and the ultimate price some pay today. All of the stories are fictional but in some ways they will seem very real to some readers. As a military veteran married to another veteran, I know the pain and anguish suffered by those left behind. My heart goes out to every family experiencing this pain.
They survived McCarthyism. They made it through the trials and tribulations of their son and daughter bickering all the time in order to see which of them would get something first. James and Anne Montrose proudly sent their boy to Korea when his country called him to duty. Their daughter volunteers at a local rehabilitation hospital as part of her training to be a nurse. She doesn’t talk much about what she sees, but she has decided to complete her nurse’s training as soon as the war ends. It’s 1952. The action in Korea began in June of 1950 and appears that it won’t end for a very long time. Auf Weiderseh’n Sweetheartby Vera Lynn plays on a radio, the volume turned up high from the neighbors across the street.
She was making supper, a meal her husband and daughter never missed. It wasn’t much, just a roast with mashed potatoes and new peas from their garden. For certain, she’d put some biscuits in the oven and perhaps make up a peach cobbler for dessert. The only thing she wished was that their son was here to enjoy the bounty of their gardens and trees.
“Hey, I’m home.” Her husband walked into the kitchen. “Smells wonderful, as always, Anne.”She glowed with pride. When they were first married, her cooking skills weren’t up to par. She’d wanted to enjoy her life, not become a wife and mother. Yet, this wonderful man convinced her that she could practice on him, so she’d be wonderful when their children came around.
“It’s nearly done.” She busied herself mashing the potatoes. “Is Ellen home yet? I didn’t hear her come in.”
“I thought I saw her down the street, talking to that Abrams boy.” James shook his head. “Pity he was 4F. Folks around here say he could have hidden that limp he got from his busted leg if he tried a bit harder.”
“Pshaw.” She put the bowl of potatoes on the table and checked the roast; it was nearly done resting. “Why just looking at him you’d know he broke his leg badly. It’s nearly an inch shorter than the other one.”
A car stopped outside their house at the same moment the front door opened.
“Daddy,” Ellen called. “There’s a car stopping. It says United States Marine Corps on the door.”Fear clutched Anne’s heart. She’d heard whispers of what this particular car means. Untying her apron, she handed it to Ellen.
“Put the food on the table,” Anne said. “I’ll be with your father.”
The knock on the door drove her fear to heights she’d never before experienced. James pulled her to his side and opened the door. Two men in Marine Corps uniforms faced them.
“Ma’am.” The older man tipped his hat. “Sir.” He faced her husband. “We’re sorry to inform you that your son, Ethan Montrose, was killed in action.”
This man may have said more. Anne stopped listening. Tears ran down her face in a river. Ethan was her first born. He’d survived so many childhood escapades that she’d once told him he was invincible.
The men from the Marine Corps said their goodbyes and left. Anne walked woodenly into the kitchen, noticing her daughter held a dish towel over her face. The food remained on the table for hours before they stopped crying and thought about eating. About K.C. Sprayberry
Living a dream she’s had since she first discovered the magic of books. K.C. Sprayberry traveled the U.S. and Europe before finally settling in the mountains of Northwest Georgia. She’s been married to her soulmate for nearly a quarter of a century and they enjoy spoiling their grandchildren along with many other activities.
A multi-genre author, K.C. Sprayberry is always on the hunt for new stories. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times and drives her to grab notebook and pen to jot down her ideas. Those close to her swear nothing or no one is safe if she’s smiling gently in a corner and watching those in the same room interact. Her observations have often given her ideas for her next story, set not only in the South but wherever the characters demand they settle.

Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Facebook Twitter Website Goodreads Amazon 
Google + Pinterest Manic Readers AUTHORSdb
Authorgraph Email

Keeping A Promise

Good morning and welcome to Sunday Blog Share. Today, we’re focusing on promises. It’s easy to make a promise, but keeping one can be almost impossible, especially if the promise is made by or to a member of the armed forces.
Laura and Mark are in love, deeply in love. He’s a Marine during Vietnam and she’s just become a nurse. In a moment under a Hawaiian moonlight night, they make a promise that they will dance on the beach during the summer solstice. Can they keep their promise despite the hardships of war? Will they reunite under a summer solstice moon?

Moonlight Dancing eBook on Amazon
Moonllight Dancing print book on Amazon

Blurb
A promise leaves them wondering about the future.
Summer Solstice of 1968 brings major changes for Laura and Mark. Each worries about his returning to Vietnam, even though he’s due to finish his enlistment in the Marine Corps in a little over a year. In a moment of madness, their decision to give in to their heated emotions leaves both determined to do the right thing.
Laura and Mark marry right before he returns to the war, each pledging to stand on a beach on the next Summer Solstice and dance in the moonlight. A year later, mere moments after they connect on separate beaches and keep their promise, their lives change drastically. A firefight ends badly and Mark is captured. Laura now has to raise their daughter alone, without any reassurance she’ll see her husband again.
Will each maintain their faith and be reunited under a Summer Solstice moon?


Excerpt
The moon hung low over the Hawaiian beach. We were listening to the surf and dancing to music, relaxing and trying not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow was when our guys would return to the war in Vietnam. Right now, in this moment, we were experiencing a beautiful forever.
Waves lapped up against the white sand, a quiet beat underscoring the music. Mark and I were slow dancing in each other’s arms, gripping each other tightly, ignoring what the near future held. I refused to believe that he had to go away for another year. For me, only tonight, the Summer Solstice, existed to remind me of the relationship we’d had for so long and how I wished it would last forever.
He was my guy, the man I gave my heart to so many years ago. That he was a Marine and in a horrible war everyone hated boggled my mind.
“Love you with all my heart,” he whispered in my ear.
“Love you more,” I whispered up against his bronzed chest. “Oh, Mark, why can’t we stay here forever?”
The scratchy background of a local radio station cut off for a moment. The DJ was on now, talking about tomorrow’s weather—the same as it had been for this whole week, a balmy seventy-two degrees with maybe some clouds in the late afternoon, and the surf would be fine all day.
“And now, folks,” this DJ said. “A special dedication, from Mark to his girl, Laura. Angel of the Morning, for his beautiful angel that he has to leave tomorrow.”



About K.C. Sprayberry
Living a dream she’s had since she first discovered the magic of books. K.C. Sprayberry traveled the U.S. and Europe before finally settling in the mountains of Northwest Georgia. She’s been married to her soulmate for nearly a quarter of a century and they enjoy spoiling their grandchildren along with many other activities.
A multi-genre author, K.C. Sprayberry is always on the hunt for new stories. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times and drives her to grab notebook and pen to jot down her ideas. Those close to her swear nothing or no one is safe if she’s smiling gently in a corner and watching those in the same room interact. Her observations have often given her ideas for her next story, set not only in the South but wherever the characters demand they settle.

Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Facebook Twitter Website Goodreads Amazon Author Page
Google + Pinterest Manic Readers AUTHORSdb 
Authorgraph Email

Vacations

Good morning and welcome to Sharing Saturday. This month has been all about military families and some of the problems they encounter. Today’s post is right along those lines. What do you do if your spouse is deployed when vacation time arrives?
What you don’t do is postpone the vacation. Speak to your spouse before they deploy. Make a plan and follow through with it. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate vacation, just some time for you and the kids to take a break and have a lot of fun.
Next, don’t feel guilty about taking this break from your normal routine when your spouse is in a war zone. They’ll understand that you need some fun time along with the kids.
Finally, once you arrive at your destination, enjoy yourself. Let your kids be happy kids. Don’t belabor the fact that Mom or Dad isn’t around. Instead, take lots and lots of pictures. Make sure you’re in some of those pictures. You can share them once you’re home and talk about all the things you did.
Now, you have another vacation to plan. Maybe the kids will lose a day or two of school, but when your spouse returns, your family needs time to decompress and learn how to interact again. Plan a weekend away, or a few days during the week where you take off to visit a local attraction. Take more pictures, so your kids have happy memories of both parents on vacation. This is as important to them as it is to you.
Whatever you do, however you decide to take a vacation, remember to have a lot of fun and don’t feel guilty. You deserve a break too.


About K.C. Sprayberry
Living a dream she’s had since she first discovered the magic of books. K.C. Sprayberry traveled the U.S. and Europe before finally settling in the mountains of Northwest Georgia. She’s been married to her soulmate for nearly a quarter of a century and they enjoy spoiling their grandchildren along with many other activities.
A multi-genre author, K.C. Sprayberry is always on the hunt for new stories. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times and drives her to grab notebook and pen to jot down her ideas. Those close to her swear nothing or no one is safe if she’s smiling gently in a corner and watching those in the same room interact. Her observations have often given her ideas for her next story, set not only in the South but wherever the characters demand they settle.

Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Facebook Twitter Website Goodreads Amazon Author Page 
Google + Pinterest Manic Readers AUTHORSdb 
Authorgraph Email

New Base ~ New Friends

   
Good morning and welcome to Friday Feelings. This month is all about military families and today we’re talking about getting to the new base and starting the process of making a whole new set of friends.
You’re at your new base. Everything is unpacked. The kids are in school and hopefully not having too much trouble acclimating. Your spouse is at their duty station and if the text you just received is right, won’t be home until very late tonight. It’s just you and a too clean house and hours to walk around the neighborhood and make friends.
Except…
You’ve done this once too many times. You know what everyone will want to know. Where did you come from? How many kids do you have? What’s your husband’s or wife’s specialty? Are you going to get a job? Will you be at the meeting of the spouse’s club?
It does get old. You feel as if you should have flyers made up and stick them on doors or windshields, with pictures of you and your family and all of your vital statistics. Just so you don’t have to answer the same questions.
Relax. Don’t call the printing shop just yet. Okay, it’s hard being the new family on the block, especially if that block is made up entirely of military families. Yes, this is a rite of passage everyone goes through and  yes, they feel exactly like you do.
Before you enter the shark infested waters of walking out the door and joining the post “get the family off for their day” groups, take a moment to think about what you really want. Of course, at some point, you’ll have to meet them. But you can control this. Have you thought of hosting a “Hi! We’re new!” party? Maybe in your backyard or a local park. This can be tentatively scheduled so the kids and your spouse are present. The relaxed atmosphere will make for easier conversation… well, except for that one person who has to know everything about you in minute detail. No worries there. They’ve already done this to everyone else. In a group environment, you may even get a hand dealing with this person when the others speak up and add tidbits they’ve already heard.
Seriously, this is a rite of passage you can’t avoid. It’s as important to fitting in as your spouse reporting for their duty on a daily basis. Yes, it gets very intrusive when you’re trying to unwind from the move, but the longer you avoid this moment the harder it will be.
Wait… there’s someone walking their dog. Go on. Introduce yourself. Get this party started!


About K.C. Sprayberry
Living a dream she’s had since she first discovered the magic of books. K.C. Sprayberry traveled the U.S. and Europe before finally settling in the mountains of Northwest Georgia. She’s been married to her soulmate for nearly a quarter of a century and they enjoy spoiling their grandchildren along with many other activities.
A multi-genre author, K.C. Sprayberry is always on the hunt for new stories. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times and drives her to grab notebook and pen to jot down her ideas. Those close to her swear nothing or no one is safe if she’s smiling gently in a corner and watching those in the same room interact. Her observations have often given her ideas for her next story, set not only in the South but wherever the characters demand they settle.

Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Facebook Twitter Website Goodreads Amazon Author Page 
Google + Pinterest Manic Readers AUTHORSdb 
Authorgraph Email

Dealing with Teens

 

Good morning and welcome to Thursday Thoughts. This month, we’re focusing on the military family and the tribulations they go through. Today, it’s all about changing schools.Military families generally have children in them. These kids are often called military brats. Some are pretty bratty but most are very mature for their age and in tune with how their lives differ from their civilian counterparts.However, the one thing that will turn your teen into a surly mass of disagreeable two-year-old is hearing they have to change schools, especially if it’s the middle of the year and they’re nearing graduation. To them, this isn’t a new family adventure, it’s all out war. If you thought being on the battlefield was hard, try convincing a teenager they will be moving with you without screaming and yelling.How best to work with your teen once they’ve come down from the ceiling and is only glaring at you? Get on the internet. Show them where you’ll be and start discussing the best high school in the area, where the best hangouts are, the sort of things they’re interested in. Once they’re hooked, you can allow them to take the next step.Didn’t say this would be easy, did I?The packing part can quickly evolve into a new war once they discover they can only have two suitcases of their stuff. That includes not only clothes but personal items they simply can’t do without until your goods arrive, which can take several months. Oh, this won’t be easy at all.Yet, it can be as simple as telling them they get exactly two suitcases and a single carryon bag. Now, they have to decide what they’re going to pack for the flight. Remind them that they can’t use electronics during the flight so maybe a couple of good books will keep them occupied. Also mention they’ll want to be comfortable, so sweats or loose pants and a shirt are probably their best bet, along with comfortable but closed shoes. Imagine that heavyset person nearby stepping on their toes. Yeah, let’s not go there.Now that your teen is happy and planning what to take, remind them nail polish really can’t go with them. Promise to replace that as soon as possible but give them the image of opening their suitcase and finding all their favorite clothes covered in those colors. Many people say younger children are a real problem, but honestly it’s the teen who can give you the most trouble. They’re being uprooted from a place they’ve known for a long time. Their friends will be gone, probably forever. Everything they’ve had to count on will vanish and they’re headed to a place where they don’t know anyone. Create an adventure and you’ll have a contented teenager.


About K.C. Sprayberry
Living a dream she’s had since she first discovered the magic of books. K.C. Sprayberry traveled the U.S. and Europe before finally settling in the mountains of Northwest Georgia. She’s been married to her soulmate for nearly a quarter of a century and they enjoy spoiling their grandchildren along with many other activities.
A multi-genre author, K.C. Sprayberry is always on the hunt for new stories. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times and drives her to grab notebook and pen to jot down her ideas. Those close to her swear nothing or no one is safe if she’s smiling gently in a corner and watching those in the same room interact. Her observations have often given her ideas for her next story, set not only in the South but wherever the characters demand they settle.

Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Facebook Twitter Website Goodreads Amazon Author Page 
Google + Pinterest Manic Readers AUTHORSdb 
Authorgraph Email

Duty First

Good morning and welcome to wwwblogs. Today, we’re talking about the military family and the things they experience. A married military member has two duties—to their country and to their family. It’s a difficult situation to overcome and has led to harsh words but those willing to go the distance do their best to smooth the troubled waters.
One thing that is pounded into someone’s head once they take their oath of service is that duty comes first. This is especially difficult for a person who either enters the military with a family or has one after a few years. Family can provide military members with a release after the end of a long day or deployment, or they can add to frustrations building within the person. Either way, the military member has to learn how to compartmentalize those emotions and work through their frustrations without losing their cool.
Sounds pretty harsh. Right?
I’m a veteran. I also had a family while I was in the service. Yes, it is harsh to have to mash down your frustrations and deal with family when all you want to do is relax after a long day or deployment. One of the first things you’ll learn if you’re ever in this position is that you aren’t alone. There are always people you can call on if you feel things are moving far too fast for you to control.
While duty must always come first because you took the oath, that doesn’t mean your family should be ignored. It’s up to the military member to learn how to put away their frustrations at the end of the day and be Mom or Dad for a good time with their kids. They need to be aware of their spouse’s feelings too. In turn, the family needs to be aware that Mom or Dad, while seeming to be normal might need for everyone to leave them alone for a while, while they decompress and release the things they’ve seen or experienced throughout the day.
Actually, that sounds a lot like a non-military family. And it very much that way. Just because you wrote a blank check to Uncle Sam for up to and including your life doesn’t mean you can’t have the normalcy those who aren’t in the military enjoy.
One of the things my family and I did while overseas in Germany was to participate in Volksmarches on the weekends we had free. Quite simply, a volksmarch is a planned walk of 10, 20, or 40 kilometers. You move at your own pace. Once the walk is over, you stick around and enjoy the party with the locals. Saturdays and Sundays provided this much needed decompression time while also allowing my family to make wonderful memories and be together.
There are other ways to become part of the community outside your base if you have a family. This will prepare your kids for the day when you’re retired or take your discharge and aren’t in the military any longer. That transition is a lot harder than most people realize, especially for the kids, who you expect would dive into it enthusiastically.


About K.C. Sprayberry
Living a dream she’s had since she first discovered the magic of books. K.C. Sprayberry traveled the U.S. and Europe before finally settling in the mountains of Northwest Georgia. She’s been married to her soulmate for nearly a quarter of a century and they enjoy spoiling their grandchildren along with many other activities.
A multi-genre author, K.C. Sprayberry is always on the hunt for new stories. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times and drives her to grab notebook and pen to jot down her ideas. Those close to her swear nothing or no one is safe if she’s smiling gently in a corner and watching those in the same room interact. Her observations have often given her ideas for her next story, set not only in the South but wherever the characters demand they settle.

Find out more about my books at these social media sites:   Facebook  Twitter Website Goodreads Amazon Author Page 
Google + Pinterest Manic Readers AUTHORSdb 
Authorgraph Email

Separated by War

 
Good morning and welcome to Tuesday Blog Share. Today, we’re talking about families separated by war. It’s a fact of life for the military member and their spouse/children. Duty calls and they can’t ignore their duty. Waiting at home for word from your loved one is as difficult as it is for the individual serving in a war zone.
1968 – the year of war protests, of deserters running from their duty, and of soldiers serving in an unpopular war. Laura and Mark hold onto the fact that his tour will end fourteen months after they promised to dance under the summer solstice moon… until the unthinkable happens. Is their love strong enough to survive him being a POW?

Moonlight Dancing eBook on Amazon
Moonlight Dancing print book on Amazon

Blurb
A promise leaves them wondering about the future.
Summer Solstice of 1968 brings major changes for Laura and Mark. Each worries about his returning to Vietnam, even though he’s due to finish his enlistment in the Marine Corps in a little over a year. In a moment of madness, their decision to give in to their heated emotions leaves both determined to do the right thing.
Laura and Mark marry right before he returns to the war, each pledging to stand on a beach on the next Summer Solstice and dance in the moonlight. A year later, mere moments after they connect on separate beaches and keep their promise, their lives change drastically. A firefight ends badly and Mark is captured. Laura now has to raise their daughter alone, without any reassurance she’ll see her husband again.
Will each maintain their faith and be reunited under a Summer Solstice moon?


Excerpt

“I miss you so much,” she said. “Oh, Mark, I don’t think I can do this for another year.”
The last chorus of her song started. I leaned close to her ear and sang with Merilee Reese, my honky voice moment. I had to find a way to break the news to my girl before we returned to the base tomorrow, to where we would say making Laura laugh. That was the reason I bribed that DJ to play her song right at this goodbye until a year from now.
“I don’t want to say goodnight to you,” she whispered as soon as the song finished. “Mark, please don’t leave me alone tonight.”


About K.C. Sprayberry
Living a dream she’s had since she first discovered the magic of books. K.C. Sprayberry traveled the U.S. and Europe before finally settling in the mountains of Northwest Georgia. She’s been married to her soulmate for nearly a quarter of a century and they enjoy spoiling their grandchildren along with many other activities.
A multi-genre author, K.C. Sprayberry is always on the hunt for new stories. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times and drives her to grab notebook and pen to jot down her ideas. Those close to her swear nothing or no one is safe if she’s smiling gently in a corner and watching those in the same room interact. Her observations have often given her ideas for her next story, set not only in the South but wherever the characters demand they settle.

Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Facebook  Website Goodreads Amazon Author Page 
Google + Pinterest Manic Readers AUTHORSdb
Authorgraph Email

Notifications Part II

Good morning and welcome to Monday Blogs. This month, our theme is military novels. We’re talking about service to our country and the ultimate price some pay today. All of the stories are fictional but in some ways they will seem very real to some readers. As a military veteran married to another veteran, I know the pain and anguish suffered by those left behind. My heart goes out to every family experiencing this pain.
The war has gone on for so long. Mrs. Winston sent all three of her boys to serve their country. She’s a proud military mother, as evidenced by the placard in her front window. Every one of her neighbors with a son to send to protect liberty and freedom has the very same placard. They all gather once a week, to sew blankets or bake cookies to send to units on the front lines.
World War II has been going on forever. Her sons write when they can, but it’s not enough to keep her from worrying about their safety. Her heart is always heavy, always worrying about her boys. There were naught but barely out of high school when they enlisted. She and her husband raised their sons to be men who knew their duty.
A screech from outside her home has her wiping her hands on her apron and moving slowly toward the living room. It’s hot today, near a hundred, not unusual in Phoenix as summer desperately hangs on throughout September. There was little to no news about the action in Europe this morning on the radio. Two of her boys are there; the third is on a ship in the Pacific.
“I wonder who’s here?” Her husband folds his newspaper and lays it on the table. “Supper smells good, sweetie. Is that a roast you’re cooking?”
She nods, one hand rising to her throat. The vehicle outside is black, as are all vehicles these days. The markings of the United States Army are on the door. Two men approach their porch.
“Oh, Lord.” Her husband stares out the window. “Lord, be with our boys. Hold them in your loving arms.”
The knock comes, as she knew it would. Her feet feel as if they’re mired in cement. She couldn’t move, even if she wanted to. The door opens. Her husband steps back.
“Gentlemen,” he says.
“Mr. Winston,” the senior of the two men says. “Colonel Lighthouse, from the base. It’s about your boy, Samuel.”
Samuel is her baby, her youngest child, her bright hope for a better future. His first love is and will always be running free in the fields.
Dear Lord, let my Samuel run through the fields of heaven now.
“Sir, your boy was killed this morning in Germany.”
Colonel Lighthouse drones on and on. Mrs. Winston is no longer listening. She’s on her knees, praying and weeping. This war has just taken one of her boys. She can only hope the others return home to her whole and sane.


About K.C. Sprayberry
Living a dream she’s had since she first discovered the magic of books. K.C. Sprayberry traveled the U.S. and Europe before finally settling in the mountains of Northwest Georgia. She’s been married to her soulmate for nearly a quarter of a century and they enjoy spoiling their grandchildren along with many other activities.
A multi-genre author, K.C. Sprayberry is always on the hunt for new stories. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times and drives her to grab notebook and pen to jot down her ideas. Those close to her swear nothing or no one is safe if she’s smiling gently in a corner and watching those in the same room interact. Her observations have often given her ideas for her next story, set not only in the South but wherever the characters demand they settle.

Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Facebook Twitter Website Goodreads Amazon Author Page 
Google + Pinterest Manic Readers AUTHORSdb 
Authorgraph Email

A Hard Choice

  Good morning and welcome to Sunday Blog Share. Today, we’re talking about choices both men and women in the armed services face. Not only are those choices difficult, they can and often do create a lifetime of wondering if they did the right thing.
Mel is a rising star in the military of the early 1980s. A woman, she’s in a non-traditional job and unwilling to give up all of that when her best bud since they were young proposes to her. Her crushing response to his proposal of marriage sends Joe into a tailspin and he walks away from his own promising career to return home and settle for second best.
Will this couple reunite in the future? Do they have a second chance at love?

Two Hearts One Soul on eBoook Amazon 
Two Hearts One Soul print book on Amazon

Blurb
Can love be rekindled after a lifetime?
Mel dashes Joe’s hopes for marriage when she decides to pursue a career. Thirty years later, retired and without close family, she reunites with her first love.


Excerpt
Joe Stockton chided himself for picking this moment. Both he and the woman he loved, Mel Hoffman, had just come off a twelve-hour shift, preparing the F-16 jet fighter aircraft at Hahn Air Base in Germany for flight. Both were dog tired, ready for a hot cup of coffee and a tasty meal, and then to drop into bed until they had to report for duty again, about twelve hours from now.
Ah, quit being a coward. You love her. She loves you. Haven’t both of us said that many times since we got here?
They were stationed at one of the bases where the F-16 reigned supreme. Both of them were crew chiefs and expected to have a long and illustrious career. Although, if Joe had to admit it, Mel would do far better than he would. She had a certain drive to prove herself in this male-oriented world. Sure, he was good with a wrench, but she was better. And she knew how to deal with those at the top of the maintenance unit. Truth be told, he’d be happy to run a squadron as the NCOIC, but he could see Mel being someone who would be picked for all the prime positions at higher headquarters.




About K.C. Sprayberry
Living a dream she’s had since she first discovered the magic of books. K.C. Sprayberry traveled the U.S. and Europe before finally settling in the mountains of Northwest Georgia. She’s been married to her soulmate for nearly a quarter of a century and they enjoy spoiling their grandchildren along with many other activities.
A multi-genre author, K.C. Sprayberry is always on the hunt for new stories. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times and drives her to grab notebook and pen to jot down her ideas. Those close to her swear nothing or no one is safe if she’s smiling gently in a corner and watching those in the same room interact. Her observations have often given her ideas for her next story, set not only in the South but wherever the characters demand they settle.

Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Facebook Twitter Website Goodreads Amazon Author Page 
Google + Pinterest Manic Readers AUTHORSdb
Authorgraph Email

The New Kid

Good morning and welcome to Sharing Saturday. This month, we’ve been talking about military families and what they face. Today, it’s about being the new kid on the block… always.
One thing military families can count on is moving. Sometimes that happens three years after arriving on an assignment, other times it can be longer or shorter. There is no “I don’t want to go” allowed. The military member and their family are going to the new base, despite teary eyed teens screaming that you’re destroying their lives or small children angry they’re leaving their friends behind. The whole family is affected by this move and getting past being the new kid on the block is also a family issue.
You arrive at your new base. The drive into housing brings the usual feelings… everyone is watching you. You’re wondering if they’re thinking your vehicle is too big or too small, too expensive or too cheap. The kids are restive after being cooped up day after day. They want to get out and explore, but you’ve made a firm rule—everyone unpacks first. Once you’ve got the lay of the land, they may explore.
Your newly minted teenager is grumbling under her breath that she has nothing that’s anywhere as cool as the clothes the other teens are wearing. The younger children are jerking their heads in all directions, taking in the area and complaining the playground equipment isn’t the same as their last base. Your spouse is talking about meeting up with some of the people in his or her new unit, and you’re ready to explode.
Once you arrive at your assigned housing unit, everyone spills out. You holler that they have to help unpack the car and nearly swallow your tongue when your thirteen year old daughter stops in front of this tall, gangly, pimply faced teenage boy. They’re talking and it looks like they might even be laughing.
Hang on there, keeper of the family sanity. Don’t rush over too fast to remind your daughter about her chores. Let her meet a new friend and gently call her over to assist. You might even get some help from the boy in lugging the heavy stuff. Don’t look a gift bored teen in the mouth. They can do wonders for family morale.
Now that you’ve relaxed your rules, you notice people coming out of houses and heading in your direction. Their welcoming smiles put you at ease. Some are carrying boxes of pizza (because what military move is accomplished without tons of pizza) while others have soft drinks. Soon, you’re still the new kid but you feel like you’ve known these people forever.


About K.C. Sprayberry
Living a dream she’s had since she first discovered the magic of books. K.C. Sprayberry traveled the U.S. and Europe before finally settling in the mountains of Northwest Georgia. She’s been married to her soulmate for nearly a quarter of a century and they enjoy spoiling their grandchildren along with many other activities.
A multi-genre author, K.C. Sprayberry is always on the hunt for new stories. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times and drives her to grab notebook and pen to jot down her ideas. Those close to her swear nothing or no one is safe if she’s smiling gently in a corner and watching those in the same room interact. Her observations have often given her ideas for her next story, set not only in the South but wherever the characters demand they settle.

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