Showing posts with label Gail Kittleson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gail Kittleson. Show all posts

Thursday, September 30, 2021

My Story BEFORE The Story ~ Everett Herring ~ in ~ Land That I Love ~ by ~ Gail Kittleson

Everett Herring here, from Nottinghamshire, land of Robin Hood and too many pivotal historical events to mention. Since my father died in the Great War and Mother perished shortly thereafter in the Great Epidemic, Father’s parents have graciously reared me,

My delicate, beautiful wife—how could I ever have known what went on in her fragile mind?—is now passed from this earth. With her, she took my dignity, my vocation, and the only home I ever knew.

Now, along with Grandfather’s butler, William, and my young son Donnie, I take my leave of my homeland, bound for another. Our destination? Texas Hill Country, they call it, where we plan to start anew after unspeakable pain and sorrow here.

Some things, one never forgets—this is the positive and the negative of life. New relationships form as our journeys meander hither and yon, but the good we have experienced, along with the terrible, remain with us. With these memories inscribed on our hearts, we face inevitable change.

Our task? To pick up the pieces of the terrible and embrace the joys of the good. Much more easily said than done, but day-by-day, I take up this work, and as we move along to a new world, the delight of observing Donnie grow and learn gradually assuages my pain.

A great portion of the good lies in Donnie, and in William, Grandfather’s employee, but far more than that—his friend. Relying on his steadfast intuition and determination, I bid farewell to this land that I love.

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The author has graciously offered a free ebook for the drawing
Wednesday evening ~ October 6, 2021
You must leave a comment with your name to be entered into the drawing . 
We need to be able to contact the winner!

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    My Story Title:   Land That I Love

    My Story Genre:  Literary Historical Fiction

    My Story Released:   August 30, 2021








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The Author of My Story:    Gail Kittleson



 

Gail Kittleson believes in the power of story.

Her historical fiction centers on make-do characters who contribute to the needs around them in spite of obstacles and rise above change and circumstance.

She and her husband enjoy their grandchildren, research, and creating a cottage garden in their northern Iowa home.

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WHERE can the book be purchased?

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Thursday, August 06, 2020

My Story BEFORE The Story ~ Abby Ferguson ~ Second Hand Sunsets by Gail Kittleson

You might think of beauty as a gorgeous sunset or a bird’s song. There was a time in my youth when sketching the flowers and wrens in our yard in Poplar Bluff, Missouri brought me such joy.

Then war came, that terrible conflict between North and South. Elwood and I were young, and the fighting scarcely touched our community until the battle at New Madrid.

Suddenly, Elwood and his comrades, patriots all, went off to do battle, and in no time at all they came home—in the back of a wagon. The whole town gathered to see them off, this time to heaven. My name, Abby Ferguson, would never blend with Elwood’s now, and nothing would ever be the same.

Though Mama’s hollyhocks and the bittersweet over the back gate remained, the world turned dull for me. The cardinal called outside my window before dawn every morning, the sunset brought glorious tones, and work at Papa’s store continued, but with no meaning.

I used to ask Union soldiers passing through, “What of your adventures? Have you traveled in the wild territories west of here?

But with Elwood’s passing, all of my interest ceased. Even my passion for sketching disappeared. Elwood and I had such plans, you see. After we made our marriage vows in our little church, we would hitch up a wagon and head west.

We had heard the call echoing through this great land and had determined to set our course. Westward Ho!

Now, all those dreams were buried with Elwood under granite stone. What difference did my frivolous sketches make? What difference did anything make? How the days passed, I could not say, but they did, one after another.

I thought losing my beloved the very worst experience I would ever endure. But then one summer evening, Papa and Mama perished, too, as they worked late at the store.


Many weeks have passed. Still, I think Mama will sweep through the dining room to offer an herbal remedy to a hurting soul, or Papa might cross the threshold.

The devastating fire that took their lives perplexes our Marshall. How could this tragedy have happened? With both a back door and the front entrance, what had prevented two able adults from escaping on that fateful night?

The Marshall’s questions trouble me greatly. Did Papa have an enemy? There was no finer man in our town. An enemy? Unthinkable. And Mama…tears start again as I recollect upon her loving ways. At every turn, she reached out to the needy.

A melancholy mourning dove heralds the close of day and I ponder what lies ahead for me. I can scarcely bear the looks of pity from our townspeople, and must borrow Aunt Susan’s faith, for my own lies as shattered as my family.

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These days, support groups, abundant literature, and professional counseling help us navigate painful experiences. But during pioneer days, and especially in wartime, what did sufferers do with the many losses and transitions they endured?

Perhaps that’s the answer. One day, one moment at a time, they endured.

Second-hand Sunsets tells the story of a young woman who thought God had forgotten her and that her life was over. But despite her horrific trials, little reminders of grace find her in the untamed wilds of Arizona Territory. With time, she discovers that second-hand sunsets can offer beauty, too.
This novel will release sometime before Christmas. Please subscribe to my blog and watch for a notice of its release. Since the cover is not yet available, I’m sharing a photo of a gorgeous Arizona sunset, thanks to Horizon Worden and Lisa Delight.

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My Story Title: Second Hand Sunsets

My Story Genre: Western Historical

My Story Releases: Near Christmas 2020

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The Author of My Story:    Gail Kittleson

Gail Kittleson lives with her husband Lance in northern Iowa. A history buff long before they met, he shares her love for research. About ten years ago, the World War II bug big Gail, and she’s thoroughly addicted to the era. Her Women of the Heartland series and other stand-alone novels reveal make-do heroines who face great odds to make a contribution to the war effort.

In winter, Gail writes from Arizona's Mogollon Rim Country. Learning more about this rugged, beautiful land led to a developing story, and over a decade, she has gleaned new understanding of life under the Rim during the Civil War era. If someone had something to hide, this remote area would be perfect, and the word deceptive describes the antagonist in Second-Hand Sunsets to a T.

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Thursday, February 20, 2020

Our Story BEFORE The Story ~ Kate Isaacs & Addie Bledsoe ~ IN TIMES LIKE THESE

I’m Kate Isaacs, Addie Bledsoe’s best friend—we became best friends the moment we met in elementary school. Addie’s the main character in this novel, but I’m sharing this conversation we had about a year before this story begins.
Why? Because Addie is so embroiled in her own home front challenges with her husband, she can’t be objective about her situation. Still, because she’s so honest and shares from her heart, you won’t have any trouble detecting her viewpoint.
So, here’s how our little talk went.
“Oh, Kate, you know I love Harold and try to please him, but . . . something I say always gets him riled up and I end up . . . Like the other day, we were on the way home from church and Harold brought up draft board, since one of the members is also on the church council.”
“Really? That must be hard for Harold,”
“You can say that again—it’s enough to threaten his Sunday smile. Nobody wants to go to war more than he does. He was so disappointed he didn’t get to go when Joe did. ”
“Yes . . . they were always so close.”
“He got a postcard the other day. Sounds like the Navy’s sending Joe to someplace in the Pacific. I sure hope we can stay out of the war.”
“Me, too. What a nice guy Joe is. And you . . . you have so much more patience than I do. You know about my run-ins with Harold in the past.”
“But don’t you believe we should do everything in our power to make our husbands happy?”
“Sure. It’s just that I think our husbands should make at least the same effort we do. Anyway, I know you give it your best effort.”
Addie bit her lip and grew quiet.
“You’ve always given more than one-hundred per-cent in everything.”
“I want to help Harold in the worst way. He’s so miserable! But no matter how I try, he says I don’t comprehend his meaning.”
“Nobody can say you don’t try—that must count for something.”
“You’d think so, but sometimes I wonder.”
“Yet you never even think of quitting—you’re true to your vows.”
“Of course, just like you. I promised to love, honor and cherish Harold. That means listening to him, keeping the house clean and caring for the chickens and garden—helping out however I can.”
“Must be frustrating to feel you never please him.”
“That’s for sure.” Addie’s sigh came from a deep place. “He’s got a heavy load, all the responsibility of this farm, and his dad is so sick.”
“That would be rough, especially when our President places such stress on farming for the war effort. But you help with that, too—your victory garden . . .”
“Yes . . . it’s growing like crazy. And my chickens. See that old coffee can up on the shelf? That’s the money the egg man pays me once a week.”
“You’re making a difference, Mrs. M always said you would—remember she used to say you’d go far?”
“Maybe . . . But . . .” A faraway look fills Abby’s eyes as I wait for her to go on.
“I just wish I could be the kind of wife Harold deserves.”
The earnestness of her dark eyes, framed by her beautiful chestnut curls, tells me she’s worthy of the best life can offer. I don’t know how I’d ever have made it through our school years if she hadn’t moved to town.
I know these things take time, but Addie’s always so hard on herself. I’m glad that even though we’re so far apart, we can still write letters. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do!

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Our Story Title:   In Times Like These
Our Story Genre:  Women's Historical Fiction

Our Story Re-releases:   February 20, 2020
                                       (TODAY, READERS)

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The Author of My Story:    Gail Kittleson 
An Iowa farm girl (baby boomer), Gail Kittleson appeared with her thick glasses at the local library counter every Saturday of her childhood and hauled home a new pile of books. Later, she earned her MA in TESOL and taught English as a Second Language and college expository writing.

Over a ten-year period during her husband Lance’s deployments to the Middle East, Gail’s memoir developed, and another is presently with a publisher.

Since the World War II bug bit, she’s never been quite the same. Her Women of the Heartland fiction brings to life this challenging era’s make-do women, whom she loves to introduce to new readers.

Gail delights in historical research, grandchildren, gardening in Northern Iowa, and Arizona’s Mogollon Rim in winter. Facilitating workshops fulfills her teaching craving, and she also cheers other writers on through free-lance editing.

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Thursday, March 14, 2019

This Is My Story BEFORE The Story ~ Glenora Carson

Hi there,
I’m Glenora Carson. That’s Glen and Nora...do you think my father wished for a boy? Well, whatever his expectations, I’m playing a son’s role right now, until my brother comes back from the war. My friends say I’m making a big sacrifice, but isn’t everybody? After all, this world war demands a lot from all quarters.

If Mama hadn’t died when I was in high school, maybe I’d see it differently...but she did die, and the housekeeping chores became mine. But I had a really good friend back then. It was when Joe perished on the Arizona at Pearl Harbor that I knew I’d do whatever was necessary for the war effort. And then a couple of months later, my little brother Red enlisted.

To make a long story short, all of this led to me being here in our father’s garage. Every day, I don my overalls and roll under farm vehicles to figure out what’s wrong and how to fix things.
Nothing glorious about it, that’s for sure. I also attempt to make order from the mess behind the counter...unpaid bills and a sketchy log Dad keeps of who owes him what. These are hard times, and it’s not often someone pays cash on the spot.

It’s not often, either, that a day goes by without some distraught farmer coming in to lance complaints—we’re too slow, the blasted part broke again—you get the idea.

So you can imagine my relief when a wounded soldier returned to recuperate with one of Dad’s farmer friends. Slim dropped a hint to Dad that his nephew Hank would soon be back, and had a definite mechanical bent.
Of course, I held my peace...but one day this giant of a man walked into the garage and seemed instantly at home diagnosing engine problems. This gave me lots more time to work on the books.

I’d love for you to meet my Aunt Henrietta—I don’t see her often, with gas rationing. But when she comes for Thanksgiving or Easter, I can almost count on a trip to Damon’s Department Store in Mason City. Aunt Henrietta, would you like to add your perspective?

Of course. I’d do almost anything for my niece, the daughter I never had. I don’t know if you believe me, but I like our little excursions as much as you do. It’s good to get out, and you’re too young to be stuck in this little town.

(Readers, let me say out of Glenora’s hearing that she’s the most faithful daughter and sister my brother and nephew could have. But there is such a thing as sacrificing too much, and Glenora comes mighty close. After all, a young woman ought to have her own dreams, too. And she did...but she gave up her scholarship to Iowa State when my nephew Red enlisted. I understand her decision, but it still bothers me to see her working so hard and never having any fun.

Besides that, did she mention that she sees her height and angular face as undesirable to a man? I’m so grateful Joe, her high school beau, was looking for quality and inner beauty, because Glenora’s got them in spades. But I’m afraid she thinks love can never come her way again.

And her father...well, I have my own opinions of my brother Roy. He’s such a hard worker, and it was awful to lose his wife. But there are other women in town who could keep his house.

Of course, I would never broach this subject with him, because right now he’s hurting so much for Red, whose ship was struck by a Pacific typhoon. What else can happen?

Wait, don’t answer that. At least, as far as we know, Red is still alive. But waiting for word about him is taking its toll on Roy...on everyone.)

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My Story Title:   Kiss Me Once Again

My Story Genre:  Historical Romance ~ WWII

My Story Released:   December 2018


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The Author of My Story:    Gail Kittleson

Gail writes from northern Iowa, where she and her husband enjoy their grandchildren and watching historical documentaries. Love for the World War II era hit Gail later in life, and she’s hopelessly addicted. Her historical fiction honors Greatest Generation women who made a difference despite great odds. Her second love, teaching, leads to facilitating writing workshops and retreats, where she loves cheering others on in their vocation.

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Get Connected: 

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WHERE can the book be purchased?

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The author will be honored to gift a winner a signed copy of
KISS ME ONCE AGAIN
Be sure to leave a comment with an email address where you can be reached should you win.
DRAWING TO BE HELD WEDNESDAY EVENING ~ March 20 2019.

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