Wednesday's Warriors - Aloha to Sharon Hamilton and NASHVILLE SEALs: Jameson

Reminder - I have a special giveaway for August at this link.

Jameson and Lizzie's story continues with their beautiful wine country wedding, and the journey to becoming a new family with Charlotte. A final farewell to Nashville and Jameson's singing career nearly topples everything as Lizzie has to weather the long good-bye when Jameson deploys for his first dangerous mission. But there is perhaps greater danger at home for the SEAL families while the men are away.

This story takes place in San Diego and Sonoma County Wine Country, as well as overseas.

Navy Amphibious Base in San Diego

Sharon offers a short excerpt:

But there was no denying he was mad. It was like how he felt if he gave a bad performance. He’d wind up back at the motel room, alone and feeling sorry for himself, in a rotten mood until that knock on the door. Some angel would come and be his temporary lifeline, breathe the life back into him with her body, with her kisses, with all the magic and allure those groupie kittens could provide him. He needed that tonight.

Except tonight he was with his lovely new bride. His blushing bride. On the first night of their marriage. When he should be the prince charming and end her Cinderella day with the bedding of a lifetime. With a night she’d remember her whole life. That’s what Lizzie deserved. Could he pretend enough to give that to her? What did that make him then? Did he deserve her?

Can’t wait to read more? Find JAMESON on the following retailers:

Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon AU
Amazon CA
Amazon FR
Amazon DE
Barnes & Noble
iBooks
Kobo

I am giving away San Diego swag to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about Nashville - have you visited the home of County Music?  Do you have a favorite Country Music singer?  I don't listen to country music ... but I did enjoy Shania Twain in her crossover to pop.

2. Comments are open through Saturday, August 6, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 7.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Two members of SEAL Delivery Team 2 conduct 

lockout training with USS Hawaii in 2007.

Public Domain (link)

RWA Recap - Book Signings and Author Hobnobbing

Last Friday was dedicated to book signings ... and walking to the post office to mail boxes home.

I enjoyed breakfast with Kate Pearce - an English rose transplanted on the Big Island of Hawaii. We caught up with recent lava flow thanks to Madame Pele.  Kate also asked me to review her upcoming release THE RELUCTANT COWBOY .... squee!

After breakfast, I scurried over to the Avon Romance book signing, where I chatted with Jill Shalvis ... she gave me an ARC for her upcoming release, THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE.  Squee again! Rest assured, I hand carried these two ARCs home with me rather than risk them in the mail.

Over at St. Martin's Press book signing, I gushed over Diane Kelly ...

... and then Tracy Solheim at the Berkley Romance book signing.

I also attended the St. Martin's Press cocktail party, where I chatted with Farrah Rochon.  She is an absolute delight!  I hope to persuade her to share her Louisiana cooking skills at next year's conference!

The cocktail party was held at Roy's Hawaiian Fusion ... librarian extraordinaire Wendy Crutcher pointed me in the direction of the Hawaiian themed sushi ... it was a taste of Paradise!

Do you like Cajun cuisine and/or Hawaiian food?  I love Shrimp Etouffee from New Orleans and Loco Moco from Waikiki.  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, July 23, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 24.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

San Diego Bay

Public Domain (link)

RWA Recap - The Joy of Writing and Walking the Land

Last Thursday, RWA was in full swing. I moderated two workshops and I share them with you:

The Joy of Writing (WRITER’S LIFE)

Speakers: Anne Elizabeth, Cathy Maxwell, and Julie Rowe

Best-selling, award-winning, and perpetually positive authors share how they savor their passion for writing while navigating the pitfalls of the publishing industry.

I submitted the proposal for this panel based on Anne Elizabeth's mantra to always find joy. The authors shared the challenges in their lives, both personal and professional. They offered techniques to take care of themselves and inspire the creative process.

I commend Julie for sharing the semi-colon tattoo on her arm; it represents it isn't over, just at a pause.

Walking the Land: Building a World That Makes Readers Feel They’ve Visited Your Setting (CRAFT)

Speaker: Jodi Thomas

Discover how to create the essentials to make the world of your stories come alive. Help your readers "walk the land" with you so they feel as if they’ve visited your setting, not just read about it.

I volunteered to moderate this panel since I admire Jodi and her writing. She uses the western setting for her historical and contemporary books. Jodi "walked" through how she researches her setting by walking among rescued horses, listening to ranch hands, and lifting items abandoned along the wagon trail. She taught the audience (and myself) that emotion comes from the five senses.

Authors, find someone who bought the conference recordings and listen to these workshops!

Readers, where have you "walked" recently? I walked all over the USS Midway in San Diego and "heard" the stories from sailors.  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, July 23, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 24.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Wednesday's Warriors - Navy Tour and Literacy Signing

Last Wednesday, before the RWA Annual Convention kicked off, we searched for SEALs ...

Join Navy veteran Cathy Maxwell, Navy spouse Anne Elizabeth, and Air Force veteran Kim Lowe for a driving tour of Navy Base Coronado. We’ll drive by historic sights such as “Camp Trouble,” where Naval aviation was born. We’ll walk in the footsteps of the first commander’s wife, Wallis Warfield, who later became the Duchess of Windsor. Today, Navy Base Coronado is a consortium of eight installations providing support for 16 helicopter squadrons, two fixed wing squadrons, two aircraft carriers, four SEAL Teams, and Navy Expeditionary Combat Command squadrons. Our tour will give you a glimpse of military life with a retired Navy SEAL as our narrator.

I thank those who made this possible - Heather Ashby, AJ Brower, Anne Elizabeth, and Cathy Maxwell. 

USS Theodore Roosevelt
Public Domain (link)

The highlights include ... 

- We drove by the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)

- We watched helicopters hover over the flightline.

- We noticed decoy coyotes on the flightline to keep the birds away.

- We wiggled our toes on Breakers Beach.

- We spotted the current BUD/S class repelling over the sand dunes along the Silver Strand.

- We stopped at McP's Irish Pub for refreshments; the pub is owned by former SEAL Greg McPartlin, author of COMBAT CORPSMAN.

On Wednesday night, RWA hosted its annual Literacy Signing, raising over $39,000 for literacy programs (and over $1M as a cumulative total for the signings). RWA donated several boxes of books to the USO - thank you!

I thank my sisters in arms - veterans turned authors - Heather Ashby, AJ Brower, Megan J., Merline Lovelace, Anna Richland, and Tamara W. for boxing up the books for our military families.

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about your favorite beach - Breakers Beach reminded me of Barking Sands on the Navy's Pacific Missile Range on Kauai.

2. Comments are open through Saturday, July 23, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 24.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Barking Sands 

Weekly Winners

 

Reminder: I have a special giveaway to celebrate June at this link.

We have winners at SOS Aloha!

RWA in San Diego - Carriers pull into port
- Jo's Daughter wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Washington Loves Readers Luncheon - Spotlight on Lisa Dyson

- Karen T. wins a book choice from my convenion stash.

Sherry Harris' ALL MURDERS FINAL - Book Review

- Susan P. wins a book choice form my convention stash.

Winners, please claim your prize by sending your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

RWA in San Diego - Aircraft Carriers Pull into Port

RWA's annual conference is less than a month away in San Diego!  Continuing our virtual tour of Navy Base Coronado at link, link, and link, a new ship arrives in San Diego. From Navy history (link),

In the early 1920s Naval Aviation took an important leap with the construction of the USS Langley, the Navy’s first aircraft carrier. In 1924, Langley was homeported at NAS San Diego, which began a continuous use of North Island as the home port for Pacific Fleet carriers, and North Island took on the duties of providing service and training to the personnel of these new components to the Fleet.

By 1935, North Island was home to all four of the Navy's carriers: the USS Langley (CV1), USS Lexington (CV2), USS Saratoga (CV 3) and USS Ranger (CV 4).

USS Langley (CV 1)
Public Domain (link)

During the war, North Island was a major continental U.S. base supporting the operating forces in the Pacific. Those forces included over a dozen aircraft carriers, the Coast Guard, Army, Marines and Seabees. The City of Coronado became home to most of the aircraft factory workers and dependents of the mammoth base, which was operating around the clock.

Today, 10 aircraft carriers (of the 77 built since the USS Langley) are listed as active service in the US Navy. These carriers are classified as CVN for their nuclear propulsion. Two carriers are berthed at Navy Base Coronado - the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). I've toured the USS Carl Vinson at this link.

Tourists to San Diego can visit the "retired" aircraft carrier USS Midway at this link.

Next week:  Special Warfare storms the beach.

USS Carl Vinson
Public Domain (link)

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway, 

1. Leave a comment about what you would name a ship - Civil Servant? Decorated military hero? Historic battle? 

2. Comments are open through Saturday, June 25, 10 pm in Baltimore. 

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 26.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

USS Theodore Roosevelt

Public Domain (link)

Weekly Winners

We have winners at SOS Aloha!

RWA in San Diego - The Army Comes Flying Along to North Island- Girlygirlhoosier wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Viva Las Vegas for the Arm Chair Traveler

- Ladbookfan wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Spotlight on Alison Aimes - Washington Loves Readers Luncheon

- Denise wins a book choice from my convention stash.

State of Romance with Sylvia Day, Victoria Aveyard, and Laura Trentham

- Booklady wins a book choice from my convention stash.

The Best Cheer - Shout Out in Books

- Di wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Aloha to Jenn McKinlay and VANILLA BEANED

- Natasha wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Winners, please claim your prize by sending your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

RWA in San Diego - The Army Comes Flying Along to North Island

I am envious of the readers meeting authors this week at the RT Booklovers Convention in Las Vegas.  Then again, my turn comes in July when I attend the RWA Annual Conference in San Diego. In fact, I am one of the hosts for the driving tour of Navy Base Coronado (link).  Two weeks ago,  I shared how Navy Aviation arrived on Coronado ... to be followed by the Army's Signal Corps Aviation School.  From the National Park Service (link),

In 1910, climatic conditions, flat terrain, good beaches and protected stretches of water attracted Glenn H. Curtiss, aviation pioneer and Wright Brothers' competitor, to North Island, where he soon founded his Aviation School. In January 1911, Curtiss signed a contract with the owner of North Island to use the land for three years for a flying school. Curtiss invited the Army and the Navy to send officers to his new school for flying training. The Army's Signal Corps Aviation School relocated from its original location at College Park, Maryland, to North Island, San Diego, in December 1912. The Army flyers established a tent camp at the north end of North Island, and for about a year, the Signal Corps Aviation School rented airplanes and hangars constructed for the Curtiss school. 

Aero Squadron in Rockwell Field

Public Domain (link)

There was a desperate needed for trained military pilots as the United States had entered World War I earlier in the year. President Woodrow Wilson signed an Executive Order in August 1917 for condemnation of the land, which was still privately owned. The Army turned over the north end of the island to the Navy and relocated to the south end of North Island (named Rockwell Field). During World War I, Rockwell Field provided training for many of the pilots and crews sent to France. It also was the source of men and aircraft for the Sixth and Seventh Aero Squadrons, which established the first military aviation presence in Hawaii and the Panama Canal Zone, respectively.

Rockwell Field in 1918
Public Domain (link)

As the Navy shifted from seaplanes (which landed on water) to airplanes (which landed on carriers), it required more land to train its pilots. In 1935, President Roosevelt transferred Rockwell Field to the Navy.  As a result, the Army relocated its aircraft to March Field (later March AFB) in Riverside, California.  

Next: A future duchess lands at Navy North Island.

USS Chaumont (AP-5) in 1924
Public Domain (link)

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about World War I - do you have any family members who served?  My maternal great-grandfather served in the British Army Ambulance Corps.

2. Comments are open through Saturday, April 23, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 24.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Walt Disney volunteered for the American Red Cross in France.

Note his drawing on the ambulance.

Public Domain (link)

Celebrate Romance Every Day - RWA, Joy of Writing, and RomVets

This past week, I realized how lucky I am to be part of the romance community.  Kimberly from Book Obsessed Chicks (link) nominated me as a romance "cheerleader".  I lunched with Kati from Romancing Rakes for the Love of Romance (link) - we enjoyed Polynesian food at the Taste of Aloha (link). I made lunch plans for next week in Washington, DC, with Melissa, a librarian extraordinaire.

I also received confirmation the Romance Writers of America (RWA) accepted two proposals I submitted for this year's national conference in San Diego (link): 

The Joy of Writing with Cathy Maxwell, Anne Elizabeth, and Julie Rowe

Romance publishing offers exciting opportunities for self publishing, small press, traditional publishers, and a combination thereof to cater to the individual author. The romance industry can also be a cut throat business from negative reviews, stalled sales, and an oversaturated market. Three author stand out as perpetually positive by focusing on the Joy of Writing. Bestselling and award winning writers Cathy Maxwell, Anne Elizabeth, and Julie Rowe share how they focus on their passion for romance while drowning out the negativity which creeps into every author’s life. Each author came to romance publishing by a different road yet they share the same appreciation of the Joy of Writing. Moderated by book blogger Kim Lowe, the authors will engage in a round table discussion of looking beyond book sales as a measure of success and celebrating the creativity process that is the Joy of Writing.

Reporting for Duty - An Intimate Chat with the RomVets: Grace Adams, Tamara Argyle, Heather Ashby, Elizabeth Langston, Caroline Lingaitis, Kim Lowe, and Anna Richland

Military characters dominate romance novels. They have stormed romantic suspense, moved into small towns, battled paranormal creatures, and defined history from Medieval Times to Victorian Era to WWII. A group of women veterans have turned their swords to pens to write romance novels – the RomVets, www.romvets.com. Three Air Force veterans, two Navy veterans, one active duty Navy surgeon, and one Army veteran/Rita winner will share our military experience to ensure military characters are accurately portrayed in any genre. RomVets are also military spouses, brats, and parents, so we offer an extra dimension into the lives of those who serve – airman, marine, sailor, seaman, and sailor. We will teach writers to how to decipher the military’s acronyms, identify ranks from the five services, and safely carry a weapon. 

As the Pointer Sisters sang, "I'm so excited". I am truly blessed to be a romance reader! If you met any of the above bloggers or authors, what would you ask them? One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, February 13, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, February 14.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Celebrating Romance Every Day

Lucky guards my convention stash