S.D. Sawyer's Blog
June 5, 2013
Vietnam Veterans of America Books in Review
The VVA Veteran (Vietnam Veterans of America) Books in Review II
This week, Prelude to Reveille: A Vietnam Awakening, received another strong review from a source that means so much to this author— a Vietnam veteran. But in this case, David Willson is not only a Vietnam veteran, he's been writing book reviews for several years for VVA (Vietnam Veterans of America) Books in Review. Married during his deployment, he said he wasn't aware of the phrase Waiting Wife back in the 1960's, but was interested in seeing how the author's experience during that period compared to his wife's, among other things.
Before writing my book, I'd never read stories about war or the military. The only war movie I'd ever seen was a WWII one on The Late Show when I was a teenager. It was about the Sullivan brothers. I cried for days afterwards.
An author should write about what she knows. That's the rule, and it makes sense. When I began the book, my Waiting Wife's feelings surfaced with intensity as if they were just below the surface. I could hear internal dialogue as if I were living it now. But in order to validate a combat platoon leader's part in the war in a way veterans would relate to and nod in agreement, I had to hear, had to know— that voice of my husband-veteran.
All I had to rely on for capturing the reality of Vietnam were my husband's letters from the field, and long conversations about them. He proof read each chapter I wrote. I was especially interested in his comments about humping the boonies with his platoon, and the hospital scenes from Camp Zama, Japan after he was wounded. "You're right on target," was always his comment as he'd hand the manuscript back to me.
I wasn't convinced I had captured that war's reality until I began receiving many positive comments on my website and emails of gratitude for writing the book from veterans, almost all unknown to me.
Veterans and others were posting about the book on Amazon. With a 4.6 out of 5 star rating (49 ratings so far), the highest ratings come from "those who'd been there," or waiting wives, and others who "get it!" That validates I've reached the target audience I hoped to reach, thanked the Americans who have needed to be and should have been thanked, decades ago.
When submitting a book for review, this author sends a whisper & a prayer that it will find its way into the hands of a qualified reviewer, someone who's interested in the topic and can understand the author's motive in writing the book. It's helpful if the reviewer can relate to the book, but is essential, I believe, that the reviewer (and hopefully the reader) realize the purpose behind the book. David Willson did that! I am so grateful to him, grateful he reviewed my book and concluded, "I highly recommend this book . . ." —Oh, and the man has a wonderful sense of humor ("Gomer Pyle?" Really?!)
Thank you, David Willson, Welcome Home— and thank you for your service and sacrifice!
To read David Wilson's review, click on:
http://vvabooks.wordpress.com/2013/06...
This week, Prelude to Reveille: A Vietnam Awakening, received another strong review from a source that means so much to this author— a Vietnam veteran. But in this case, David Willson is not only a Vietnam veteran, he's been writing book reviews for several years for VVA (Vietnam Veterans of America) Books in Review. Married during his deployment, he said he wasn't aware of the phrase Waiting Wife back in the 1960's, but was interested in seeing how the author's experience during that period compared to his wife's, among other things.
Before writing my book, I'd never read stories about war or the military. The only war movie I'd ever seen was a WWII one on The Late Show when I was a teenager. It was about the Sullivan brothers. I cried for days afterwards.
An author should write about what she knows. That's the rule, and it makes sense. When I began the book, my Waiting Wife's feelings surfaced with intensity as if they were just below the surface. I could hear internal dialogue as if I were living it now. But in order to validate a combat platoon leader's part in the war in a way veterans would relate to and nod in agreement, I had to hear, had to know— that voice of my husband-veteran.
All I had to rely on for capturing the reality of Vietnam were my husband's letters from the field, and long conversations about them. He proof read each chapter I wrote. I was especially interested in his comments about humping the boonies with his platoon, and the hospital scenes from Camp Zama, Japan after he was wounded. "You're right on target," was always his comment as he'd hand the manuscript back to me.
I wasn't convinced I had captured that war's reality until I began receiving many positive comments on my website and emails of gratitude for writing the book from veterans, almost all unknown to me.
Veterans and others were posting about the book on Amazon. With a 4.6 out of 5 star rating (49 ratings so far), the highest ratings come from "those who'd been there," or waiting wives, and others who "get it!" That validates I've reached the target audience I hoped to reach, thanked the Americans who have needed to be and should have been thanked, decades ago.
When submitting a book for review, this author sends a whisper & a prayer that it will find its way into the hands of a qualified reviewer, someone who's interested in the topic and can understand the author's motive in writing the book. It's helpful if the reviewer can relate to the book, but is essential, I believe, that the reviewer (and hopefully the reader) realize the purpose behind the book. David Willson did that! I am so grateful to him, grateful he reviewed my book and concluded, "I highly recommend this book . . ." —Oh, and the man has a wonderful sense of humor ("Gomer Pyle?" Really?!)
Thank you, David Willson, Welcome Home— and thank you for your service and sacrifice!
To read David Wilson's review, click on:
http://vvabooks.wordpress.com/2013/06...
May 21, 2013
Celebrating Memorial Day!
Again I am offering a Memorial Day free ebook download through Amazon to honor our veterans and military families. It will be May 22,23, and 24 at
http://www.amazon.com/Prelude-Reveill...
I know how we on Goodreads love our freebies, so you're welcome to email, twitter, IM, tweet, or poke your friends about the upcoming special!
4.6 of 49 reviews on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Prelude-Reveill...
I know how we on Goodreads love our freebies, so you're welcome to email, twitter, IM, tweet, or poke your friends about the upcoming special!
4.6 of 49 reviews on Amazon
May 17, 2012
Expanded Freebie for 2 days
MEMORIAL DAY SPECIAL:
To honor military families, I am adding FREE DOWNLOADS to ALL Kindle owners my new novel Prelude to Reveille: A Vietnam Awakening, for two days: May 24 and May 25. Email, Message,Tweet and Twitter everyone you know who values our military about this free tribute!
A true-life novel, this tribute to our Veterans was inspired by the our real-life experiences from 1967-70. It shows the impact of the Vietnam War on one combat platoon leader and his family as they struggle to re-enter The World.
Lt. Tom Barrington believed
fighting in the Vietnam War might be the hardest thing he'd ever be called upon to do.
Maybe it wasn't.
Maybe coming home was.
To honor military families, I am adding FREE DOWNLOADS to ALL Kindle owners my new novel Prelude to Reveille: A Vietnam Awakening, for two days: May 24 and May 25. Email, Message,Tweet and Twitter everyone you know who values our military about this free tribute!
A true-life novel, this tribute to our Veterans was inspired by the our real-life experiences from 1967-70. It shows the impact of the Vietnam War on one combat platoon leader and his family as they struggle to re-enter The World.
Lt. Tom Barrington believed
fighting in the Vietnam War might be the hardest thing he'd ever be called upon to do.
Maybe it wasn't.
Maybe coming home was.
April 10, 2012
Library Cards Not Needed
After weeks of self-debating, ( What were pros & cons on Google? Should I sign up or not?) I decided yes. I'd go for it. So, I signed on to Amazon’s Kindle Owners' Lending Library for 90 days. See if it stirs things up a bit. Locally, sales mosey along, but since the holidays, Amazon has been sloooow. Seems like a lot of new authors are right there with me. Doesn't cost me anything to do this. I didn't sign up for Expanded Distribution when mt book came out in October, so am currently only on Amazon. If this Library thing doesn't kick sales/borrowings a bit, I will stop after 90 days & give Expanded Distribution a try. I've held off doing that. It's the principle of the thing. I get $.76 for each 400 pg book of my blood, sweat & tears that they sell. Then I pay taxes on my $.76 "profit." Not thinking I'll have much left over to send the non-profit veterans groups Fisher House and Vets Journey Home. I will have become~ well, what do you call it when you are making under a profit? I'm not in this for the big bucks, really, but I feel passionate about supporting those two organizations. Right now, my donations are embarrassingly meager!
Well, I'll blog back the results in a few weeks. So, if you have a Kindle, know someone who does, and are an Amazon Prime member and want to borrow/download my novel, Prelude to Reveille: A Vietnam Awakening— it’s free for about . . . 85 more days! Check it out.
Well, I'll blog back the results in a few weeks. So, if you have a Kindle, know someone who does, and are an Amazon Prime member and want to borrow/download my novel, Prelude to Reveille: A Vietnam Awakening— it’s free for about . . . 85 more days! Check it out.
November 6, 2011
Dedication to The Wall 11/14/82
Of course she was with him
chattering, rushing him through
the gravel parking lot onto
the shadowless lawn. She
dropped his hand long enough
to tighten the scarf around her neck
then pushed into gusts of wind,
one arm linked through his
— the other swinging a Brownie
Kodak from her wrist. They scaled
down a worn slope to the dedication
area where crowds milled around
the stretch of black panels. His eyes
scanned middle-aged men in field jackets
gazing into the reflecting wall. Over
and over he witnessed fingers trace
then linger upon a name. Behind
the camera her laughter slapped air
as she snapped pictures of the day's
glory. Focusing on her husband—
she commanded him to smile. Alone
in silence, he stood touched only
by drab olive and dress blues
blending under clouds,
bleeding steadily across
black granite. He turned into beating
winds, raised his collar and trudged up
the dry embankment away from her—
way from them all. Those who'd been there
— they'd understand, just as he realized
she never could.
S.D. Sawyer
4/26/1984
chattering, rushing him through
the gravel parking lot onto
the shadowless lawn. She
dropped his hand long enough
to tighten the scarf around her neck
then pushed into gusts of wind,
one arm linked through his
— the other swinging a Brownie
Kodak from her wrist. They scaled
down a worn slope to the dedication
area where crowds milled around
the stretch of black panels. His eyes
scanned middle-aged men in field jackets
gazing into the reflecting wall. Over
and over he witnessed fingers trace
then linger upon a name. Behind
the camera her laughter slapped air
as she snapped pictures of the day's
glory. Focusing on her husband—
she commanded him to smile. Alone
in silence, he stood touched only
by drab olive and dress blues
blending under clouds,
bleeding steadily across
black granite. He turned into beating
winds, raised his collar and trudged up
the dry embankment away from her—
way from them all. Those who'd been there
— they'd understand, just as he realized
she never could.
S.D. Sawyer
4/26/1984
