Two years later, in 1777, the US Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the country's flag.
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| Washington Crossing the Delaware |
Hau`oli Lā Hānau (Happy Birthday) to the US Army and Old Glory! To help us celebrate, I invited Army Spouse and romance author, Bethanne Strasser, to join the party!
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| The Birth of Old Glory |
Kim: How did you become an Army spouse? What has been your favorite assignment? What has been the biggest challenge for your military family?
Bethanne: About 12 years after marriage, my husband finally joined the Army! It's a much longer story than that, starting when my husband was 18 and his parents said, No. Don't join the military now. Go to school instead. And every few years after that until finally, after marriage, 5 kids, 4 jobs, and about 5 moves, he finally joined the Army. I gladly jumped on board. We're pretty new to the scene, and after a year and a half, our biggest challenge has been the separation. My husband did basic training and officer school before we finally met up in GA to live together as a family. Boy were we happy that day!
Kim: How did you become a romance write - who or what helped you along the way?
Bethanne: I studied English literature in college. I loved it, yet on my breaks, I'd dive into romance... I loved that even more. I just fell into writing, I guess. When I was pregnant with my third, I had insomnia and lots of time to do it. So, I did and I haven't stopped since.
Kim: What inspired FOR LOVE OR DUTY?
Bethanne: I'd been writing romantic suspense for about five years or so and pretty much not being successful subbing it to agents and editors. I decided to take a year to write some short novels and otherwise, do something different. I found I loved the lighter voice. It fit me. I've done several novellas since then. Of course, our new life in the Army inspired the setting and characters. Not that I got all the details correct. I tried but still get nervous about that aspect of the story. I hope the next one is even better.
Kim: What's next for Bethanne Strasser?
Bethanne: I'm working on more stories. I have an editor nibbling on a ms I sent them at the beginning of this year. My fingers are crossed over that one. The family is making a move this summer to Colorado so life is ultra busy for us. I'm just enjoying everything about life.
Mahalo, Bethanne, for serving as an Army spouse! I am currently reading FOR LOVE OR DUTY and enjoying it - review to come next week! To celebrate the US Army and Old Glory, I am giving away an electronic copy of FOR LOVE OR DUTY - winner's choice of format. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about what you do when you cannot sleep - read? write? drink hot milk?
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, June 16, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 17.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
To learn more about Bethanne, check out her blog at bethannestrasser.blogspot.com.
I usually play computer games or read.
ReplyDeleteI turn the TV on and the volume really low.
ReplyDeleteThanks for having me over, Kim.
ReplyDeleteI should read too. Now, I turn Netflix on. And often, it's backyardigans that goes on because it's the baby I'm up for! :)
ReplyDeleteI always read. I usually don't get much farther than a few pages and have to reread it again later anyway.
ReplyDeleteMel
I go out to the couch in the living room and read. Once I've read for a little while then I can usually get to sleep.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I read when I can't sleep - sometimes I do a little exercise (push-ups, curls, that sort of thing) - but not enough to get worked up. OK, one push-up and one curl... that's enough isn't it? The other thing I do is to concentrate on relaxing - sometimes that works.
ReplyDeleteTo Bethanne: I'm only about half-way through your book since I haven't had much free time (none?), but it is easy to read and keeps up a good pace - no flat areas where the story just drifts. Should be done soon!
Reading is always the last thing I do. I usually read until the words start blurring lol. Of course sometimes a really good book has the opposite effect.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim and Bethanne -
ReplyDeleteI almost feel guilty saying I never have trouble falling asleep! Of course my husband says that's because I never hadve time to get more than 6 hours a night! Between working nights when my sons were toddlers to be ome during the day to staying up until they got home at night as teenagers it seems that my system sleeps so soundly that I wake up in the morning ready to go! I'm working daystimes now but now spend my "free" evenings reading!
Bethanne - Talking about reading I just visited your blog before positing and wanted to let you know how much I loved Letters From Home!
Kim - Tell eeryone to GO READ IT NOW! Beautiful touch your heart story!
Thanks Jeanne. :) I'm a little blushing... but I have to admit, that story gets me a little, too. Glad you liked it.
DeleteI very seldom have trouble sleeping, but if I do I read.
ReplyDeleteI read when I can't sleep.
ReplyDeleteI have insomnia; I need to stick to a sleeping schedule. If I stay up too long, I may as well not go to bed and just end up reading/writing/surfing the Net and being miserable the next day. Thank the gods for medication.
ReplyDeleteNadja
I read when I can't sleep.
ReplyDeleteI turn on the TV for a bit, but if I have to get up early I'll take a sleeping pill.
ReplyDeleteWhen I can't sleep, I either watch TV or read.
ReplyDeletekscathy@yahoo.com
I play on the computer. Usually fb and blogs.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great post and giveaway!
ReplyDeleteLOL... no reading for me! If I do that it'll wake me up more! I usually go and read a news site or a magazine. Something that I can do on autopilot and will bore me :)
I read a book.
ReplyDeleteRead! And boy oh boy do my nights get interrupted. I don't have problems going to sleep, it's the staying asleep. I do my best reading at 4 AM.
ReplyDelete