#TuesdayTreasures: Guest Post by Sarah Sundin

Good Morning!

I pray your Memorial Day weekend was blessed and in the  midst of your relaxation, you took a moment to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday.

With that in mind I am pleased to bring you today's Treasure with author, Sarah Sundin....

More Than a Letter Opener

Most people wouldn’t notice my letter opener, but it’s rich in meaning to me. 

When my grandfather, Fred Stewart, retired from a long career in business, he wanted a new hobby. He took woodcarving classes, discovered he had a gift, and soon began winning awards. More importantly, he enjoyed the work and the joy it brought to others.

When I started pharmacy school, my grandfather was tickled. During World War II, he’d served as a pharmacist’s mate (medic) in the US Navy in the Pacific. He’d always been fascinated by medicine and was delighted that his granddaughter shared his interest. 

One Christmas he carved me this letter opener with the pharmacy symbol. I treasured it from the beginning.

My grandfather passed away in 1992, eight years before I began writing, but he is one of the main reasons I write novels set in World War II. You see, Fred Stewart was a storyteller. While so many veterans didn’t talk about their wartime experiences—for good reason—my grandfather did. He told harrowing stories. He told heartbreaking stories. And he told hilarious stories. My grandfather loved to laugh and he loved to make others laugh.

Because of my grandfather, I decided to focus on the Navy for my third World War II series, Waves of Freedom. The heroine in Anchor in the Storm is a pharmacist, and she unravels a mystery—the pharmacist’s mate on the hero’s ship may or may not be involved. I like to think my grandfather would be tickled.

The letter opener on my desk reminds me of the grandpa I adored as a man of integrity who loved his family. It reminds me of my chosen profession. And it reminds of why I write novels set in World War II—to honor the real-life heroes who served.

Awww, Sarah your letter opener is definitely something to treasure!

 Sarah Sundin is the author of eight historical novels, including Anchor in the Storm. Her novel Through Waters Deep was named to Booklist’s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years,” and her novella “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” in Where Treetops Glisten was a finalist for the 2015 Carol Award. A mother of three, Sarah lives in California, works on-call as a hospital pharmacist, and teaches Sunday school. http://www.sarahsundin.com

Here's a sneak peek into Sarah's latest novel, Anchor in the Storm!

 For plucky Lillian Avery, America’s entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. She loves the wartime challenges of her new job but spurns the attention of society boy Ens. Archer Vandenberg. As Arch’s destroyer battles U-boats along the East Coast, Lillian uncovers a black market drug ring. Arch and Lillian work together on the investigation, but can he ever earn her trust and affection?

Anchor in the Storm can be purchased at Amazon in Hardcover, Paperback and for Kindle.

Hope you enjoyed today's Treasure! Tune in each week for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time...take care and God Bless.

PamT

#TuesdayTreasure: Guest Post by Sarah Sundin!

Good Morning Friends,

Well, I made it back safe and sound from my little vacation. I'll be sharing treasures from the trip sometime in the near future.

Meanwhile, enjoy this Tuesday Treasure from Sarah Sundin, brought to you by Litfuse Publicity Group....

Wearing History

When I was young, I collected buttons. Hundreds of them—from vacations, political campaigns, events, and funny ones that caught my fancy. In my college dorm room, I mounted them on my bulletin board on a piece of fabric. Instant conversation piece! However, one button stayed at home to keep it safe.

My grandmother gave me this button from her childhood, when schoolchildren around the country saved their pennies to restore the USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides” herself.

Since I come from old New England stock and my parents love all things nautical, I was familiar with the Constitution and the story of the young United States Navy’s historic victory in the War of 1812. So I treasured this little metal piece of history and my grandmother’s small role in preserving the nation’s flagship.

When I was researching Through Waters Deep, which is set in Boston in 1941, I visited the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston. Since the book’s heroine works at the Boston Navy Yard (as it was called in 1941) and the hero serves on a destroyer, I spent a full day taking pictures and notes and touring the Constitution and the restored World War II destroyer USS Cassin Young.

Of course, I had to visit the gift shop. This bracelet caught my eye immediately. Then I read the attached tag. The jewelry was made from copper reclaimed during the recent restoration of the Constitution. From her very hull! So I bought it. And the earrings too.

With my pennies, I was able to continue the work my grandmother helped start ninety years ago.

And that’s something to treasure.

Sarah Sundin is the author of seven historical novels, including Through Waters Deep (Revell, August 2015). Her novel On Distant Shores was a double finalist for the 2014 Golden Scroll Awards. A mother of three, Sarah lives in northern California, works on-call as a hospital pharmacist, and teaches Sunday school and women’s Bible studies. She also enjoys speaking for church, community, or writers’ groups. You can find her at http://www.sarahsundin.com

Through Waters Deep can be purchased at Amazon in Hardcover, Paperback and for Kindle.

Well Friends, hope you enjoyed this week's treasure! 

Have collected similar items? Share them with us.

Until next time...take care and God Bless.

PamT

#TuesdayTreasure: Guest Post by Sarah Sundin

Well, here we are barreling down on Christmas week.

Today I'm happy to bring to you a special guest, Sarah Sundin with a Christmas treasure.....

Each year, the first Christmas item my family asks for is the Advent wreath. On each of the four Sundays in Advent (the four weeks before Christmas), our family gathers around the wreath. Not only is this cozy family time, but it focuses us with joyful anticipation on the birth of Jesus.

The Advent wreath became popular in Germany and Scandinavia, and worked its way to Britain and America. Traditionally it’s a flat evergreen wreath with four candles—three purple and one pink, or four red candles—with a white candle in the middle.

When I was a brand-new stay-at-home mom, our church held a craft night to make an Advent wreath. I attended, convinced a good mom needed to be crafty. Since the project only involved gluing a few ribbons and such on a wreath, I actually succeeded! It’s the only craft remaining from my very short “determined to prove myself as a mom by yielding a glue gun” phase that survives. I’m craft-impaired. Strangely enough, my children have turned out fine.

However, the wreath remains because we love the traditions that have grown around it. When the children were little, we’d line them up on the couch and feed them cookies and eggnog or hot chocolate. We’d light the candles and my husband would tell that week’s portion of the Christmas story. As the children grew, they read the Scriptures themselves, then we’d discuss them. And we’d end by singing Christmas carols that related to that week’s story.

Now my children are all taller than I am. One has a beard and a Real Job. They barely squeeze on the couch anymore. And still they beg for the Advent wreath. I like to think it’s about more than cookies and eggnog. Over the years, there was much bickering and giggling and poking and snuggling on that couch. Even the dog and cat seem to realize something special is happening and join us, usually getting into mischief to get attention.

But our favorite part is how our attention is ultimately centered on Christ. With all the busyness and commercialism leading up to Christmas, it’s nice to sit down with family each week and remember why we’re celebrating in the first place. A little baby in a manger, come to save the world.

Sarah Sundin is the author of six historical novels, including In Perfect Time (Revell, August 2014), plus a novella in Where Treetops Glisten (WaterBrook, September 2014). Her novel On Distant Shores was a double finalist for the 2014 Golden Scroll Awards. In 2011, Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. Sarah lives in northern California with her husband and three children, and she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist and teaches Sunday school and women’s Bible studies. You can find her at www.sarahsundin.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Where Tree Tops Glisten can be purchased at Amazon in Print and for Kindle and at B&N (Nook)!!

Well friends, I certainly hope you enjoyed this Tuesday Treasure. Stay tuned as we wind down to Christmas for more Thursday Thoughts, Saturday Spotlights and of course, Tuesday Treasures!

Until later...take care, God Bless and remember: When you expect miracles, miracles happen!

 

Something to think about!

"Inspirational with an Edge! ™

#TuesdayTreasure: Guest post by Sarah Sundin

Good Morning Friends,

Welcome! I have a special treat for you today...the first of many to come.... As a marketing associate, I meet up with lot's of other marketing people, publicists, etc. 

Well one of these fine ladies is Ms. Audra Jennings with Litfuse Group. Audra has contacted her authors and we'll be spotlighting some of them on Tuesday Treasure, Thursday Thoughts and occasionally Saturday Spotlights!

Today we welcome Ms. Sarah Sundin to Tuesday Treasure....

The greatest gifts reflect the heart of the giver. In twenty-five years of marriage, my husband has given me many lovely presents. While he has exceptional taste in jewelry—all the more remarkable since he has absolutely no fashion sense—the gifts that mean the most to me are things that might seem odd to others.

For example, a model of World War II Douglas C-47 cargo plane. How many women have such an item on their Christmas wish list? But my current Wings of the Nightingale series involves three World War II flight nurses who take care of patients on board C-47s, and the hero of my latest novel, In Perfect Time, is a C-47 pilot.

When my husband built this model for me, he showed his care for me and for what I like. Also, since he was slow to understand this whole crazy “writing thing”—he married a practical pharmacist after all!—the gift showed his acceptance of my career detour better than words could say.

 

Best of all, the model showed his heart for building, for creating, for giving his time—for who he is. My husband is a man of few words, but he shows his love through actions. I have a physical manifestation of his love sitting on top of my desk to remind me whenever I want to grumble about the man I married.

His next project . . . building a model of a World War II Gleaves class destroyer for my upcoming Waves of Freedom series! How I love that man.

Sarah Sundin is the author of The Wings of the Nightingale series and Wings of Glory series. In 2011, A Memory Between Us was a finalist in the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards, and Sundin received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. On Distant Shores was a finalist for the Golden Scroll Award from both the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) and the Christian Authors Network (CAN). She belongs to American Christian Fiction Writers, CAN and AWSA. Sundin plans to continue to focus on World War II for her upcoming Waves of Freedom series about three naval officers based in Boston.

A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, Sundin works on-call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist’s mate (medic) in the Navy, and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England.

Sundin lives in northern California with her husband and three children. When she isn’t ferrying kids to tennis and karate, she teaches Sunday school and women’s Bible studies.

To keep up with Sarah Sundin, visit www.sarahsundin.com, become a fan on Facebook (SarahSundinAuthor) or follow her on Twitter (@sarahsundin) and Pinterest (sarahsundin).

Bold, sophisticated, and flirtatious, Army Air Force flight nurse Lt. Kay Jobson collects hearts wherever she flies, leaving men pining in airfields all across Europe. So how can ruggedly handsome C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper be all but immune to her considerable charms? In fact, he seems to do everything he can to avoid her. Still, as they cross the skies between Italy and southern France, evacuating the wounded and delivering paratroopers and supplies, every beat of their hearts draws them closer to where they don't want to go. Can they confront the fears and misunderstandings in their pasts? Sarah Sundin seamlessly weaves together emotion, action, and sweet romance into a tale that transcends time and calls us to believe in the power of love.

In Perfect Time is available @ Amazon in Hardcover/Large Print, Paperback & on Kindle!

Well friends, I certainly hope you've enjoyed this Tuesday Treasure as much as I have! It is wonderful to see what other authors treasure and how their loved one's support their writing.

Don't forget a new Thursday Thoughts will be up this week so.... Hope to see you soon!

Until next time....take care, God Bless and Remember.... When the going gets tough, the tough go to God!

PamT

COTT Blog Alliance - Guest Post by Jennifer Slattery

The other day my daughter orally lamented a previous conversation. “I always think of my best come-backs too late.” I know how she feels, although I’m probably on the other end of the spectrum—I often wish I hadn’t said X or Y once the conversation is done. At least in writing we can carefully craft our words, which should make it easier, right? Not necessarily. Writing effective, authentic, snappy dialogue is a skill that must be honed. And yet, when done well, it plunges the reader deep into the story and provides vivid characterization.

This last week two authors threw their “chatty-keyboards” into the Clash of the Titles' ring and although both excerpts were phenomenal, Sarah Sundin, author of A Memory Between Us, wowed readers with her printed banter.

Here’s a snippet of her COTT competing excerpt:

Jack made out Ruth’s shapely figure coming down Northgate Street. She couldn’t afford the new olive drab uniforms some of the nurses wore, but she sure looked smart in the dark blue jacket and medium blue skirt.

Jack stepped back around the corner. He unzipped his lightweight leather flight jacket, made sure his shirt collar was open, and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his olive drab trousers. Had to look casual.

He let Ruth pass, then fell in behind her. “‘One misty moisty morning.’”

Ruth looked over her shoulder and smiled.

“‘When cloudy was the weather, I chanced to meet an old man clothed all in leather. He began to compliment and I began to grin. How do you do? And how do you do? And how do you do again?’”

Amusement crinkled her eyes. “It’s afternoon.”

“Yeah, but it’s misty and moisty. Life in England has taught me what that means.”

“No misty moisty mornings in California?”

“In January, not August.” Jack proceeded down the flagstone sidewalk. “And look, you chanced to meet an old man clothed all in leather.”

***
Gotta love that phrase, “Misty, moisty morning,” an example of great dialogue and fun alliteration!

The story it came from is about a determined soldier on a mission to win a woman’s heart:

Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge--until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital after a plane crash, he makes winning Ruth's heart a top-priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she also is determined not to give her heart to any man.
As the danger and tension of World War II rise to a fever pitch, Jack and Ruth will need each other more than ever. Can Jack break down her defenses? Or are they destined to go their separate ways?
From the English countryside to the perilous skies over France, A Memory Between Us takes you on a journey through love, forgiveness, and sacrifice.

Sarah Sundin is the author of A Distant Melody. Her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England during WWII. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children.

Romance, tough, rugged men, and rich history make this novel a must read!

Want to nibble on a few more COTT winning excerpts and win great prizes in the process? Make sure to join us for the ultimate literary challenge where COTT winners go head to head in our Tournament of Champions on October 10^th to November 4th! What better way to launch the Holiday season than with a stash of great books won in our tournament give-away?

*Jennifer Slattery writes for Christ to the World Ministries, Samie Sisters, Afictionado, the Christian Pulse, and is the marketing manager of the literary website, Clash of the Titles. She also co-hosts (with five other authors) the Facebook faith community, Living by Grace, a modern-day “meet at the well” experience where believers around the globe can unite, fellowship, and be refreshed. Visit her devotional blog, Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud to find out more about her, her writing, and the ministries she writes for.

And make sure to hop on over to Clash of the Titles to help determine our next literary champion!