July celebrates Independence Day and Romance Conventions!

Aloha, mai ka iulai puke SOS America!
Aloha, here is the July newsletter for SOS America!

Before we start our celebrations, I remind readers that SOS America is now on Facebook - please send me an invite so we can connect!

Many countries celebrate Independence Day in July, including:
- July 1:  Somalia
- July 3:  Belarus
- July 5:  Venezuela and Algeria
- July 9:  Argentina
- July 10:  Bahamas
- July 14:  Bastille Day in France
(the revolution that lead to independence)
- July 20:  Columbia
- July 21:  Belgium
- July 26:  Maldives
- July 28:  Peru
- July 30:  Vanuatu

On July 4, the United States will celebrate its own independence - 244th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.  I've had to good fortune to live in Boston, Baltimore, and Washington, DC to relive the historical moments of the War of Independence.

I thank our military - past and present, active duty and retired, guard and reserves, CONUS and overseas, for the opportunity to live in freedom.  It is because of the military that we can read books uncensored.  I was moved by RJ Matson's editorial cartoon published by the St. Louis Dispatch on Memorial Day:

THE PEN IS MIGHTY GRATEFUL TO THE SWORD

recognizing the military's sacrifice for our freedom of speech. 

http://www.rjmatson.com/frames_S.htm
(scroll to May 30, 2010)

One of our SOS volunteers - Kelley from the RT Booklovers' Conventions - maintains a database of deployed personnel who request mail.  If you would like to correspond with a deployed Soldier, Sailor, Airmen, Marine, or Coastie, contact Kelly at:

Columbussos@gmail.com

Kelley also accepts donations of stamps!  She recently informed me that two NYT's best selling authors generously support her efforts to mail books to soldiers.  Although these two authors prefer to remain unnamed, I hope to see them (and thank them) at RomCon and RWA for their support of SOS!

I also note that we have many Canadian authors who generously support SOS, so it is appropriate that we celebrate Canada Day on July 1.  Wednesday Wanderings visited Canada for this special occasion:

http://sosaloha.blogspot.com/2010/06/wednesday-wanderings-celebrates-canada.html

Every commenter will receive a special treat from five Canadian authors - Kelly Armstrong, Mary Balogh, Vanessa Kelly, Ann Lethbridge, Michelle Rowan, and Lynsay Sands.  Just follow the directions on Wednesday Wanderings.

And Wednesday Wanderings will be giving away books in July and August:

- July 7:  Mary Gramlich, The Reading Reviewer, http://www.marygramlich.com/.  Mary reviews books for several publishers and has donated 20 books for me to giveaway to SOS readers!  

- July 14: Borders' RomCon.  I'll giveaway books from the RomCon in Denver, http://www.romconinc.com/index.php/convention

- August 4:  US Coast Guard's Birthday.  I'll giveaway books from authors connected to the Coast Guard.

- August 11:  RWA National Convention - I'll giveaway books from RWA in Orlando,  http://www.rwanational.org/cs/conferences_and_events

I wish you the best as you celebrate Independence Day around the world!

Happy reading!

Kim Adams
SOS Aloha Newsletter Editor
sos.america@yahoo.com
http://www.sosaloha.blogspot.com/

Wednesday Wanderings celebrates Canada Day!

Welcome to Wednesday Wanderings!  Last week, we visited the Eudora Welty House in Jackson, Mississippi.  Eudora is the First Lady of Southern Literature.  The winner from the commenters is Diane Gatson - I am mailing her a souvenir from the Eudora Welty House!

Before we start the celebrations today, I remind readers that SOS America is now on Facebook!  Send me a friend invite so we can connect!

July 1 is Canada Day.  In honor of the US's friendly neighbor and steadfast ally, let's celebrate Canada Day!

From the website, http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/jfa-ha/canada-eng.cfm:

"On June 20, 1868, a proclamation signed by the Governor General, Lord Monck, called upon all Her Majesty's loving subjects throughout Canada to join in the celebration of the anniversary of the formation of the union of the British North America provinces in a federation under the name of Canada on July 1st."

My first visit to Canada came when I was assigned to Hanscom AFB near Boston.  A group of lieutenants chartered a bus for a ski trip to Mont Treblant in Quebec, http://www.tremblant.ca/index.htm.

The snow was deep, the instructors were friendly, and the beer was fabulous.  In fact, our bus was overloaded with cases on the way home (long before 9/11 and border inspections).

But I came to appreciate the Canadian people when I moved to Germany to work for NATO AWACS, http://www.e3a.nato.int/  (they did not have this website when I worked for them two decades ago).  I still thank my Canadian friend Trevor for teaching me about the Canadian philosophy, "Where as the US is a melting pot, Canada is a mosaic."  

10 years later, I reacquainted myself with the Canadian military when my husband was assigned to a NATO unit in the Netherlands.  The Canadians made the most delicious moose milk for the annual Charity Ball!   We also participated in the Terry Fox Fun Run each September, http://www.terryfox.org/

Terry was a Canadian athlete who raised money for cancer research by running across Canada with an amputated leg.  Sadly, Terry lost his life to cancer but his spirit remains with the Canadian people.  His mother serves as one of the torch bearers in the Opening Ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

I became a romance fan in the Netherlands and now read several Canadian authors, including:

- Kelley Armstrong, http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/, author of the Otherworld contemporary fantasy series

- Mary Balogh, http://www.marybalogh.com/, was born in Wales, but traveled to Canada to become an English teacher turned Romance writer. 

- Vanaess Kelly, http://www.vanessakellyauthor.com/, author of Regency Romance that sizzles.

- Ann Lethbridge, http://www.annlethbridge.com/, author of Regency Romance from the heart.
Ann's alter ego, Michele Ann Young, is the President Elect of the Beau Monde, the Regency chapter of the RWA.

- Michelle Rowan, http://www.michellerowen.com/, author Paranormal Romances and Young Adult Fantasy

- Lynsay Sands, http://www.lynsaysands.net/, author of the Historical and Paranormal romantic comedy; her book, Single White Vampire, is a must read before attending the Romantic Times' Booklovers' Convention (the hero/vampire considers the veins on RT's Kathryn Falk, but his blood supply arrives just in time).

Let's not forget that Harlequin Enterprises, http://www.eharlequin.com/, is headquartered in
Toronto, Canada.  I thank Maureen Stead from Harlequin for her generous supports SOS America.

And my latest Canadian find - Kristie J from Ramblings on Romance, http://kristiej.blogspot.com/.   Kristie is the nicest blogger on the IInternet!  I look forward to meeting her at RomCon and RWA!

Do you have a favorite person, place, or thing from Canada?   Leave a comment and send your mailing address to sos.america@yahoo.com.  I have a special treat for all commenters from Kelley, Mary, Vanessa, Ann, Michelle, and Lynsay!  This promotion is open to US and international readers.

Next week, we visit Mary Gramlich, The Reading Reviewer, http://www.marygramlich.com/ plus a preview of RomCon, Thriller Fest, and the Turn The Page 15th Anniversary Event. 

Happy reading!

Kim

Wednesday Wanderings visits Eudora Welty in Jackson, Mississippi

I hope you are enjoying your summer ... and checking books off your summer reading list!   The following readers have won a prize for leaving a comment on the following visits:

- June 9/Word Wenches:  Chey
- June 11/King Kamehameha:  Gwyn Lacy
- June 12/Trooping of the Colours:  Mary Anne
- June 14/Army's 235th Birthday:  Danielle

Winners, please send me your mailing address to sos.america@yahoo.com. 

And a shout out to my new friend, Robert from the Cook Memorial Pubic Library, http://www.cooklib.org/.  I met this handsome librarian this morning as I was walking through Philippe Park, http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/11_philippe.htm.  Robert asked me for directions and we fell into a discussion about books!   He is excited to join us as we travel to Jackson, Mississippi to meet a legendary American writer, Eudora Welty.

Last week I traveled to Jackson to visit my extended family.  My cousin Nancy asked me to join her for a tour of the Eudora Welty House, http://mdah.state.ms.us/welty/.   Nancy thought I might be interested since I blog about books.  I was a little embarrassed that I did not know this award winning American icon, but I soon came to appreciate her achievements after visiting her home.

From the website Womens' History, 
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_welty_eudora.htm

"Born in Jackson, Mississippi, she attended the Mississippi College for Women, graduated from the University of Wisconsin (1929) and studied advertising at Columbia University for a year. Her first short story appeared in 1936, and gradually she began to be published in small, then regional and general circulation magazines. She published collections of her short stories and began publishing novels, as well.

Soon after her first novel was published, she stopped writing to care full-time for her family for fifteen years: for two brothers with severe arthritis and her mother who had had a stroke. After her mother died in 1966, she returned to writing.

She was a 6-time winner of the O. Henry Award for Short Stories, and her many awards include the National Medal for Literature, the American Book Award, and, in 1969, a Pulitzer Prize.

She was also an accomplished and published photographer. But it is for her fiction, usually set in the rural South, that she's known as the First Lady of Southern Literature."

Eudora's house is tucked away in an historic neighborhood next to Belhaven University.   The docent for our tour inspired us with tidbits about Eudora's life:

- The house has been restored to recreate how Eudora lived as she wrote.  Books are piled on shelves, furniture, and even the floor (my cousin and I smiled at each other, glad to know that even a Pulitzer Prize winner has clutter).  Eudora's favorite reading chair is next to a end table filled with "clutterments" - special trinkets that brought joy to her everyday life.

- Eudora hosted celebrated journalist Roger Mudd and his wife for dinner.  Unfortunately, she dropped the crab and cheese casserole, yet Mrs. Mudd still requested the recipe.

- Eudora used a manual typewriter until her arthritis forced her to use an electric typewriter.  She often cut out paragraphs from pages to reorganize the story.

- Eudora did not display any of her literary awards.  But she was proud of the Raven shaped trophy she won as a mystery reader.

- Fans often left (or mailed) books for Eudora to autograph, which she graciously signed (and mailed back). One fan even sent her a check to purchase and autograph her own books. Not surprising, Eudora purchased, signed, and mailed the books to this fan. Authors, are you willing to do this for your fans?!?

Thanks, Cousin Nancy, for introducing me to Eudora Welty!  On our drive back to Tampa, we listened to an adaption of the Eudora's "The Shoe Bird."  In keeping with her Southern traditions, the story taught us to:

- find the answer in the question
- remember our talents
- don't take everything so literal

Do you have a favorite Southern author?   Do you have a favorite place to visit in the South?  Leave a comment for the chance to win a special gift from the Eudora Welty Home.

Next Wednesday we visit our northern neighbor, Canada, in celebration of Canada Day on July 1!   I have treats for all commenters from several Canadian authors!

And July will take us to Borders' Romance Convention in Denver and RWA's National Convention in Orlando.  So stay tuned for the uber book giveaway!

Happy reading,

Kim Adams

Wednesday Wanderings celebrates the US Army's 235th Birthday!

On June 14, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the Continental Army to fight Great Britain and appointed General Washington as its commander. It is difficult for me to find the words to express my gratitude for those men and women in the US Army who have sacrificed so much for my freedom. Perhaps General MacArthur said it best on May 12, 1962 at West Point, Duty, Honor, and Country.  To learn more about his speech, travel with Wednesday Wanderings to West Point:

http://sosaloha.blogspot.com/2010/05/wednesday-wanderings-west-point-new.html

The RomVets are a diverse group of military veterans who "turned the sword into a pen".  I invite you to log  onto

http://www.romvets.com/

to see which of your favorite authors are Army veterans!

But it is not just the soldiers who have sacrificed – their families are the unsung heroes and heroines. 

Several romance writers and SOS supporters have "Army connections" - Maggie Toussaint's daughter is in the US Army and Anne Lethbridge's father served in the British Army by enlisting at age 14 in Hong Kong (her mother also served as a Land Army girl in WWII).  

RITA award winning author Diane Gaston is the daughter of a career Army officer.  I first met Diane at the "Old Fashioned Tea Party" at Fort Meade in February 2007:

http://www.ftmeadesoundoff.com/news/4041/tea-party/

DOD celebrates Black History Month in February, so Diane shared a story about her mother, Teresa Gaston, as an Army spouse during the Civil Rights Era (she posted it on her blog and I printed it for distribution at the Tea Party):

"We lived at Fort McClellan, Alabama; my father was a colonel in the U.S. Army. At that time, discrimination against African-Americans could be found in any part of the country, but in Alabama and other southern states it was the law. We had never before lived in a state that practiced segregation. Because the Army was desegregated, a few African-American families were stationed at Fort McClellan, a posting that must have been very difficult for them. Their children had to attend segregated schools, “Negro schools” that were separate and not equal. The military was not just a job. It was a life that encompassed the whole family. For example, I answered the phone, “Colonel Gaston’s quarters. Diane speaking,” and if we children were anywhere near the raising or lowering of the flag, we stopped and faced the flag with our hands over our hearts. Because of my father’s rank, my mother was expected to be active in the Officers Wives Club and in their charitable and social activities. To do otherwise would have reflected badly on my father’s military career.

My mother was a very shy person. She left school in the 11th grade and consequently believed she was not as intelligent as women with more education, even though she was an excellent bridge player and an avid reader. She had very little confidence in herself. The Officers Wives Club was directed by the post commander’s wife and when this woman asked my mother to head up a committee, my mother could not refuse, even though it was difficult for my mother to assert herself as a leader. My mother’s super-heroine moment came when an African-American officer’s wife volunteered to serve on my mother’s committee. The post commander’s wife, a southern woman, ordered my mother to refuse. My shy, insecure mother was faced with turning away the African-American woman, who must have been quite isolated in the larger community, or locking horns with the most powerful woman on the Army base, powerful enough to hurt my father’s career. Luckily, my father supported my mother in whatever she decided to do. I, on the other hand, was so busy being a teenager that I was mostly oblivious to my mother’s moment of courage. My mother included the African-American woman on her committee.

It would have made sense for my mother to make her decision an issue of civil rights, equality, and fairness. My mother believed in all those things, and it was the perfect time in history to take such a social stand. Her reason for accepting the African-American woman on her committee, however, was based on something deeper than a social cause. It was based on something that ought to be at the root of all human interaction.

My mother could not bear to hurt the African-American woman’s feelings.

February is Black History Month, an appropriate time for me to belatedly honor my mother as a super-heroine for her quiet, largely unnoticed, courageous act. My mother, timid though she was, always considered other people's feelings, not their skin color or anything else. Underneath it all, isn’t this the very essence of equality?

By 1996, 30 years later, Fort McClellan’s post commander was Major General Ralph Wooten, an African-American."

Thank you, Diane, for sharing your mother's story.  Indeed, Teresa Gaston was a Super-Heroine and an example of how the military (and their families) support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Thank you, Maggie, Michele, and Diane, for your support of SOS America! 
To learn more about Maggie, log onto http://www.maggietoussaint.com/.
To learn more about Anne, log onto http://www.annlethbridge.com/.
To learn more about Diane, log onto http://www.dianegaston.com/.

Do you have a connection to the Army?  Have you seen Army soldiers (or family members) demonstrate Duty, Honor, and Country?  Would you like to say thanks to our Army families?

Leave a comment for the chance to win a copy of Diane's Gallant Soldier, Forbidden Lady plus other "Army" treats.   Comments will be open through June 23 as I will be traveling in the next two weeks.

Happy reading!

Kim Adams

Wednesday Wanderings honors Trooping of the Colours

On the second Saturday of every June, the British Army hosts the Trooping of the Colours outside Buckingham Palace to honor the Monarch's birthday.  This tradition dates back to 1748, so it inconsequential that Queen Elizabeth's actual birthday is April 21.  

Since this is a British event, I'll defer to the British spelling of Colours.

The Trooping of the Colours  is a spectacular display of military pride and precision.  It honors the battlefield tradition of the command staff parading the colours (flags) through the camp so soldiers could see that the colours were still intact, thus inspiring then to continue the fight for God, Country, and King.

http://www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/

The Trooping of the Colours includes every unit in the British Army, including "guards" that most tourists associate with Buckingham Palace.  Cara Elliott from the Word Wenches posted an informative blog about the different guards: 
http://wordwenches.typepad.com/word_wenches/2010/05/horsing-around-with-research.html

If you miss the Trooping of the Colours, you can still enjoy the daily "Changing of the Guard" outside Buckingham Palace.  From the website http://www.army.mod.uk/events/ceremonial/1068.aspx:

"The Queen's Life Guard are the mounted troopers of the Household Cavalry who guard the official entrance to St James' Palace and Buckingham Palace outside Horse Guards in Whitehall.  The Guard Changing Ceremony takes place each weekday at 11:00am and at 10:00am on Sundays at Horse Guards (behind Whitehall).  The mounted sentries (who change every hour) are on duty each day from 10:00am until 4:00pm.


The Queen's Guard in London comprises two detachments, one each for Buckingham Palace and St James' Palace, under the command of the Captain of The Queen's Guard.   The Guard Changing Ceremony takes place each weekday at 11:00am and at 10:00am on Sundays at Horse Guards. The mounted sentries (who change every hour) are on duty each day from 10:00am until 4:00pm."
Most tourists wait in front of Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard.  But I recommend walking over to:

- Whitehall to see the Changing of the Horse Guards (see above for times)

- St. James' Palace where the Queen's Guard reports for duty, lines up for inspection, and marches to Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard (plan to be at St. James' Palace @ 1/2 hour before the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Place - see above for times)

For more information about Whitehall, log onto:

http://www.londontown.com/LondonStreets/whitehall_ccf.html

For more information about St. James' Palace, log onto:

http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/StJamessPalace/StJamessPalace.aspx

For more information about Buckingham Palace, log onto:

http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/BuckinghamPalace/BuckinghamPalace.aspx

Have you seen the Trooping of the Colours or the Changing of the Guard?  Have you seen the military perform special ceremonies in the US?  Europe?  Elsewhere in the world?

Leave a comment for the chance to win a special "Trooping of the Colours" prize.  Comments will be open through June 23 as I will be traveling in the next two weeks.

Happy reading!

Kim Adams

Wednesday Wanderings honors King Kamehameha

Aloha!  June 11 is Kamehameha Day in Hawaii. 

It is a state holiday honoring King Kamehameha the Great .  He united eight islands in 1810 to create the Kingdom of Hawaii.  I cannot describe the significance of King Kamehameha in one blog, but I will offer you some highlights of his life:

From the website, http://www.gohawaii.com/statewide/guidebook/king-kamehameha

"Hawaiian legend prophesied that a light in the sky with feathers like a bird would signal the birth of a great chief. Historians believe Kamehameha was born in 1758, the year Halley’s comet passed over Hawaii.

Given the birth name Paiea, the future king was hidden from warring clans in secluded Waipio Valley after birth. After the death threat passed, Paiea came out of hiding and was renamed Kamehameha (The Lonely One). Kamehameha was trained as a warrior and his legendary strength was proven when he overturned the Naha Stone, which reportedly weighed between 2.5 and 3.5 tons. You can still see the Naha Stone today in Hilo.

During this time, warfare between chiefs throughout the islands was widespread. In 1778, Captain James Cook arrived in Hawaii, dovetailing with Kamehameha’s ambitions. With the help of western weapons and advisers, Kamehameha won fierce battles at Iao Valley in Maui and the Nuuanu Pali on Oahu. The fortress-like Pu'ukohola Heiau on Hawaii’s Big Island was built in 1790 prophesizing Kamehameha’s conquest of the islands.  In 1810, when King Kaumualii of Kauai agreed to become a tributary kingdom under Kamehameha, that prophecy was finally fulfilled.

Kamehameha’s unification of Hawaii was significant not only because it was an incredible feat, but also because under separate rule, the Islands may have been torn apart by competing western interests. Today, four commissioned statues stand to honor King Kamehameha’s memory. Every June 11th, on Kamehameha Day, each of these statues are ceremoniously draped with flower lei to celebrate Hawaii’s greatest king."

The Pu'ukohola Heiau is now a National Park and offers an informative display of King Kamehameha's life.  From its website, http://www.nps.gov/puhe/historyculture/index.htm

"Kapoukahi, a powerful kahuna (religious leader) from Kauaii, prophesized that war would end if Kamehameha constructed a heiau (temple) dedicated to the war god Ku at Pu'ukohola. In 1791, Keoua, Kamehameha’s cousin, was slain at Pu'ukohola, an event that according to prophesy, led to the conquest and consolidation of the islands under the rule of Kamehameha I."

So let's review those prophecies,

(1) A great king would be born when a light flew across the sky.
Historians believe Kamehameha was born when Hailey's Comet passed over Hawaii in 1758.

(2) A great king would be born on the island of Hawaii.
Warring tribes tried to find the newborn, but Kamehameha was hidden away by his godmother.

(3) A great king would lift the Naha Stone.
Kamehameha lifted the Naha Stone knowing that if he failed, he would forfeit his life.  Instead, he became a powerful warrior under his uncle, the island chief.   This served as a stepping stone to become the king of the Island of Hawaii.

(4) A great king would unite the Hawaiian islands if he built a temple to the god of war.
Kamehameha built Pu'ukohola Heiau and lured his cousin (and rival) to it under the guise of peace.  Kamehameha sacrificed him and set out to conquer the Hawaiian Islands.  Six islands fell in military defeat.  The chief of Kauai avoided warfare by signing a peace treaty and joining the kingdom.

These prophecies have Arthurian themes.   Then again, King Kamehemahe has been called "Napolean of the Pacific" for his military and policial achievements. 

For more information about King Kamehameha the Great, log onto:

http://www.nps.gov/puhe/historyculture/kamehameha.htm

To learn more about Kamehameha's home, the Island of Hawaii, log onto my travel log from Spring Break:

http://sosaloha.blogspot.com/2010/03/spring-break-in-big-island-day-1.html
http://sosaloha.blogspot.com/2010/03/spring-break-on-big-island-day-2.html
http://sosaloha.blogspot.com/2010/03/spring-break-on-big-island-day-3.html
http://sosaloha.blogspot.com/2010/03/spring-break-on-big-island-day-4.html

Does King Kamehameha remind you of a "larger than life" figure - real or fictional, past or present?
Leave a comment for a chance to win an autographed copy of  Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy from HelenKay Dimon.  The book is set in Hawaii (and HelenKay has Hawaiian connections).

Mahalo to HelenKay for donating the book!  To learn more about HelenKay Dimon, log onto

http://www.helenkaydimon.com/

The contest will be open through June 23 as I will be traveling during the next two weeks. 

Happy reading!

Kim Lowe

Wednesday Wanderings visits the Word Wenches!

Welcome to Wednesday Wanderings!  Last week, we visited medieval castles on Margaret Mallory's website, http://www.margaretmallory.com/, in honor of her latest release, Knight of Passion.  And the winner of the autographed copy of Knight of Passion is .... Kathy!   Kathy, please send your mailing address to sos.america@yahoo.com.

Thank you, Margaret, for hosting us and donating the autographed book!

Today we visit my friends at Word Wenches,
http://www.wordwenches.com/

The Word Wenches are Jo Beverley, Nicola Cornick, Cara Elliott/Andrea Pickens, Anne Gracie, Susan Fraser King/Sarah Gabriel, Mary Jo Putney, and Patricia Rice. Wench Emeritae are Loretta Chase and Susan Holloway Scott.

Today, I am a “guest” on their blog as we reflect upon the relationship between romance and the military.

My love affair with the Word Wenches began in February 2007 when I coordinated an Old Fashioned Tea Party for the military spouses at Fort Meade. Since the Duchess of Bedford is credited with making tea parties fashionable in Victorian England, I wanted to educate the military spouses on British titles. I found an informative article by Jo Beverley and asked her permission to reprint it. She not only gave me permission, but donated two books as door prizes. This inspired me to invite local authors to the tea party – I was pleasantly surprised when 20 authors came, including Word Wench Mary Jo Putney and Romantic Times’ Kathryn Falk. Through their efforts, publishers donated over 500 books for this event.  Military spouses and wounded warriors took home a wide range of romance books.  A few romance readers came out of the closet and a few non-believers were converted. A good time was had by all:

http://www.ftmeadesoundoff.com/news/4041/tea-party/

Through all of this, I learned that Mary Jo was a member of the Word Wenches. I literally fell off my chair when I logged onto the Word Wench website - the Crème de La Crème of Historical Romances, including Jo Beverley, the author who started it all.

As much as I like to place authors up on a pedestal, they are real people.  In 2008, I attended an “Author’s Chat” with Mary Jo and Patricia Rice at the Romantic Times’ Booklovers’ Convention. Following the chat, Mary Jo and Patricia invited me to have coffee with them. This was not just a star struck moment, but an act of human kindness as my father was with me. He suffers from Alzheimer’s and my mother needed a break at the same time of the convention. Kathryn graciously encouraged me to bring my father to the convention (as she had done for her father). Every author, including the Word Wenches, extended the utmost courtesy to him.

In 2008, I initiated an email exchange with Cara Elliott. As a fan of her alter ego, Andrea Pickens, I learned through her website that she visited Devon where my grandmother lived. I was delighted to meet Cara last year at the RWA National Convention in Washington, DC. Lauren Willig joined us for coffee and they shared their idea of teaching a course about romance reading at their Alma mater, Yale. Wow, me, with a two distinguished Elis!

I also met Nicola Cornick in Washington. My roommate enjoyed dinner with her while I was having drinks with the RomVets (www.romvets.com). It was a tough decision – English writer or fellow veterans. I believe Nicola understood my decision but I have a promise to dine together at the next convention she attends!

Following the convention, I lunched with Mary Jo and Anne Gracie. Anne laughed at my adventures in the Air Force and encouraged me to write. Mary Jo sent me off to Hawaii with a big hug and warm wishes.

I have not met Word Wenches Loretta Chase, Susan King, and Susan Holloway Scott. But I am a fan and hope to meet them in the future.  I claim to be Loretta’s only fan who has traveled to her two exotic locales – Albania and Egypt.

I am thankful that the military has given me the opportunity to travel the world that the Word Wenches use as their inspiration. I am thankful that I met the Word Wenches, knowing that they appreciate the military.

Do you have a funny story about meeting your favorite author? Leave a comment for the chance to win a special "Word Wenches" prize.  Comments will be open through June 23 as I will be traveling in the next two weeks.

Thank you, Word Wenches, for the "joint" project!

Join Wednesday Wanderings for the following special posts:

- Friday, June 11:  King Kamehameha Day
- Saturday, June 12:  Trooping of the Colours
- Monday, June 14:  US Army's Birthday and the US Flag Day

Plus fabulous prizes!

Happy reading,

Kim Adams

Wednesday Wanderings visits Knight of Passion

Welcome to Wednesday Wanderings! Last week we visited The Season,
http://historicalromancereleases.com/wordpress/

And the winner is Mary Ann! Please send your mailing address to sos.america@yahoo.com.  I am still looking for Paty Jager as the winner from our visit to Coffee Time Romance.

Today we travel further back in English History to Medieval Times as we celebrate Margaret Mallory’s latest release, Knight of Passion,

http://www.margaretmallory.com/knight_of_passion.html

It is the 3rd book in the All The King’s Men series and received 4 ½ stars from Romantic Times.

Why does Medieval History fascinate us? Honor, duty, and country. Readers appreciate the “knight in shining armor” who seeks truth, justice, and the beautiful lady (foreshadowing for Superman?)

For those readers who are fans of  Showtime's The Tudors, Margaret's website provides the family history of King Henry VIII - it helps the viewer (and reader) understand Henry's motives, including his quest for a male heir and spare:

http://www.margaretmallory.com/owen_tudor.html

Margaret’s website also takes us to real castles in her Knight series,

http://www.margaretmallory.com/musings.html

- Chateau Caen in Normandy, France. From Margaret’s website,

“This massive castle, which served as Henry V's headquarters for his "re-conquest" of Normandy, once belonged to his ancestor William the Conqueror. It was also in this castle that Richard the Lionheart gathered his knights before leaving on crusade."

From its website, http://www.chateau.caen.fr/ANGLAIS/

"Built on a pluvial valley site on a limestone plateau, Caen was for a long time under the direct influence of incoming tidal waters, hence its importance as a port. On an extremely favourable emplacement for human settlers, Caen has been inhabited for three millennia. Its spatial organization took its final shape between the 7th and 11th centuries.

The name of Caen - Catumagos - is thought to be of Gaulish origin, possibly meaning "the field of combat". It appears in written documents in around 1025, in the form Cadomus.  It was William the Conqueror, in around 1050-1060, who, in deciding to build a huge castle and two abbeys (Saint-Etienne and Trinité), was to make Caen the capital of western Normandy, endowing it with a whole set of prestigious monuments, most of which can still be seen to this day."

- Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England. From Margaret’s website,

“Shortly after I finished my first draft of Knight of Desire, I lucky enough to go on a family vacation to Great Britain. The best day of the trip for me was when we visited Alnwick Castle, because that was where I had my hero spend much of his youth. It is such an amazing castle that I decided to use it in a scene in Knight of Pleasure as well.”

From its website, http://www.alnwickcastle.com/history

“Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England, and has been the home of the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309, making this year the 700 year anniversary.”

Visitors can tour the castle, participate in a Knight’s Quest, or watch the “Hotter than Potter” magic show, recognizing the castle’s appearance in the Harry Potter movies. In fact, Alnwick Castle is quite the Hollywood star, appearing in Elizabeth with Cate Blanchett(1998), Robin Hood with Kevin Costner (1991), Ivanhoe with James Mason (1982), Mary Queen of Scots with Vanessa Redgrave (1971), and Becket with Richard Burton (1964).

Thank you, Margaret, for sharing Chateau Caen and Alnwick Castle with us. What is your favorite castle – real or fictional, old or new, here or there? Leave a comment for the chance to win an autographed copy of Knight of Passion from Margaret.

Happy reading!

Kim Adams
SOS Military Liaison