#SaturdaySpotlight is on Gail Kittleson & In Times Like These

Good Morning Friends!

Today's guest, Gail Kittleson is no stranger to our blog. She's shared treasures and thoughts with us before so I'm going to get right on into spotlighting her book....

Pearl Harbor attacked! The United States is at war.

But Addie fights her own battles on the Iowa home front. Her controlling husband Harold vents his rage on her when his father's stoke prevents him from joining the military. He degrades Addie, ridicules her productive victory garden, and even labels her childlessness as God's punishment.

When he manipulates his way into a military unit bound for Normandy, Addie learns that her best friend Kate’s pilot husband has died on a mission, leaving her stranded in London in desperate straits.

Will Addie find a way to help Kate, and courage to trust God with her future?

Excerpt:

The lamb, pink-nosed and healthy looking, snuggled into the crook of his arm. Not far away lay a motionless wooly gray mound—the mother. Addie bit her top lip. This loss would trouble Harold, but at least he saved the orphan.

Sleep mellowed the harsh lines of his face. In this quiet moment, he seemed like a little boy, and Addie imagined away the years.

“Oh, Harold . . . this is who you really are.” On a crossbeam, a barn swallow’s forked tail flicked in its cup-shaped mud nest.

“You’re as headstrong as Orville and as tight-lipped as Berthea, but I know you’re hurting for Joe, somewhere out there in the Pacific.”

A bitter draught razed the dusky alleyway, stirring the tight scent of oats in feeding troughs, a tinge of blood and water from the birthing, and the warm, acrid aroma of fresh manure. So far, the cold restrained the dead ewe’s rancid smell, but by morning, the stench would permeate the building. Harold shifted against the bale and snored, so Addie set the thermos near him and backed away.

“He might not hold me like he does that lamb, but he’s consumed by the war. He can’t think of anything else but Joe going down on the Arizona.” Her bulky chore coat caught on a splinter, so she wrestled it loose. “In time, he’s bound to change. Doesn’t love believe the best and never give up?”

Her whisper bounced back at her. She wanted to help him to bed, but knew better. No, until the old Harold returned, she’d bide her time and practice her own kind of loyalty.

Gail Kittleson taught college expository writing and ESL. She now writes women’s fiction and facilitates writing workshops and women’s retreats. She and her husband enjoy family in northern Iowa, and the Arizona Ponderosa forest in winter.

WhiteFire Publishing released Gail’s memoir, Catching Up With Daylight, in 2013, and her debut women’s historical fiction, In This Together (Wild Rose Press/Vintage Imprint) released in 2015. She also contributed to the Little Cab Press 2015 Christmas Anthology,

The first novel of her World War II series released recently (In Times Like These), and Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas will release the sequel in February, 2017. You can count on Gail’s heroines to make do with what life hands them, and to overcome great odds.

Connect with Gail at the following places...

http://www.gailkittleson.com/

www.facebook.com/GailKittlesonAuthor

http://amazon.com/author/gailkittleson

https://twitter.com/GailGkittleson

Now here's a short Interview with Gail and a Reader Review of In Times Like These...

            How do you see your writing, Gail? 

As a huge gift. Doing what I love, receiving messages from

readers that my memoir and novels make a difference, and encouraging other authors that the long road to publication offers satisfaction brings meaning to me.

            If you could change anything about your writing, what would it be?

I’d start earlier. I’d believe in myself and my gifts decades ago—but coming to this point took time. As my husband and I often say, “It is what it is.” And life is good.

            What advice would you give to an author trying to decide whether

or not to give writing their all? I’d say, “If you really believe you’re called

to this vocation, go for it. But be aware that the work changes you—if you’re willing to embrace transformation, things will go smoother.

If you think it’s the road to riches or glory, forget it. You must be content working long, long hours for no visible reward for a long, long time. You must devote yourself to writing, and be satisfied knowing you’ve done your best to put words together in the most meaningful way. Someday, you might find recognition, but the opposite is also possible.”

Review:

"Addie may not have a Purple Heart pinned on her chest, but she’s seen plenty of action and been wounded in battle. In spite of a glowering husband, she manages to grab hold of love and support, some of which reaches her from half a world away.

     This is a warm, uplifting tale of the power of love overcoming darkness and fear. Addie’s journey to wholeness takes many a turn, but she does not travel alone."

     "Looking forward to the next stories of Addie and her pals." ~ Machelle L.

Well friends, hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and that you'll return weekly for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless!

PamT

PS: Gail has a speaking engagement today but she promised to check in as often as possible so go ahead and leave your comments for her!

#TuesdayTreasures Guest Post by Gail Kittleson

Good Morning Friends,

On July 7th I introduced you to Gail Kittleson when she shared some thoughts with us. Well today, Gail is back to share something she treasures.....

Words constitute a treasure for me. Long before people understood depression, Emily Dickinson had a lot to do with my survival as a very gloomy teen. 

How can you memorize poems like…… 

“Hope is the thing
that perches in the soul,
and sings the tune without the words,
and never minds at all”

….without sensing light at the end of your tunnel, however long and arduous it may seem? 

Isaiah and Jeremiah have always offered me such incredible encouragement. Simple phrases like “Fear not, I am with you ...” 
“I have called you by name ...” 
“In all their affliction he was afflicted ...” 
“A future and a hope” held my attention. I clung to them, filled my mind and heart with them, and prayed they were true. 
One day during college, I discovered the Desiderata. Oh my! 

“Be yourself...do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Through marriage, parenthood, grand-parenting, and transitioning from writing instructor to greeting card creator to memoir writer and workshop facilitator, and now to women’s fiction author, powerful words have accompanied me all the way, through thick and thin.  

“A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." - Eleanor Roosevelt


Perfect for so many situations. Thank you, Eleanor. I’ll never outgrow my need for quotes. 

Wow, Gail, like you many of us treasure words and inspirational quotes!

Gail's latest book, In Times like These can be found at Amazon.

Gail Kittleson taught college expository writing and ESL. She now writes women’s fiction and facilitates writing workshops and women’s retreats. She and her husband enjoy family in northern Iowa, and the Arizona Ponderosa forest in winter.

WhiteFire Publishing released Gail’s memoir,Catching Up With Daylight, in 2013, and her debut women’s historical fiction, In This Together (Wild Rose Press/Vintage Imprint) released in 2015. She also contributed to the Little Cab Press 2015 Christmas Anthology,

The first novel of her World War II series released recently (In Times Like These), and Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas will release the sequel in February, 2017. You can count on Gail’s heroines to make do with what life hands them, and to overcome great odds.

Find out more about Gail by visiting her Website, Facebook Page, Amazon Author Page and following her on Twitter!

Well Friends, I hope you enjoyed today's treasures and I hope you drob by weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts Guest post by Gail Kittleson

Good Morning Friends,

It is my pleasure to introduce you this new-to-me author....

Gail Kittleson taught college expository writing and ESL. She now writes women’s fiction and facilitates writing workshops and women’s retreats. She and her husband enjoy family in northern Iowa, and the Arizona Ponderosa forest in winter.

WhiteFire Publishing released Gail’s memoir, Catching Up With Daylight, in 2013, and her debut women’s historical fiction, In This Together (Wild Rose Press/Vintage Imprint) released in 2015. She also contributed to the Little Cab Press 2015 Christmas Anthology,

The first novel of her World War II series released recently (In Times Like These), and Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas will release the sequel in February, 2017. You can count on Gail’s heroines to make do with what life hands them, and to overcome great odds.

Find out more about Gail by visiting her Website, Facebook Page, Amazon Author Page and following her on Twitter!

Now let's see what's on Gail's mind....

 My tea bag this morning says, “Aspire to inspire before you expire.” 

Not bad advice, eh?

How do people become inspirational to others? Start! What we overcome makes us stronger, more aware of others’ struggles, and gives us perspective.

But if we’re in the midst of anguish, we certainly don’t want to hear this old line. What doesn’t kill you makes you strong . . . you’ll emerge from this period wiser, believe me . . .

Yada, yada, yada. At the time, we just want to get through this pain! Who cares about inspiring others? 

But when the worst has passed, the inspiring comes naturally—we don’t even know when it’s occurring.

 “Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” Saint Francis of Assisi

Perhaps the same might be said of doing the inspirational. Paying attention to inner and outer guidance, we work hard at our passions—necessary labor. We start with the possible, and as we toil away, the meaning of possible expands. Our vision enlarges, new ideas flow, and voila! We’re inspiring others.

I’ve found this with my writing. The first step, starting, challenged me. All kinds of arguments formed from voices I’ve listened to my whole life. But I had to move beyond what they said in order to follow my vocation’s rhythm. WRITE, WRITE, WRITE . . . for years, unsure of the outcome.

            

And now, readers tell me my work inspires them. This must be how it works, but doing the necessary and possible initiated the process. I’d love to hear how it’s worked for you. 

*********

You are so right, Gail....there is always a purpose to our pain.

Gail's latest book, In Times like These can be found at Amazon.

Thanks for joining us! I hope you enjoyed today's thoughts and that you'll come back weekly for more Thursday Thoughts, Tuesday Treasures and Saturday Spotlights.

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

PamT