What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been

In a podcast with the National Press Club in Washington, DC, I spoke with my friend and colleague Adam Konowe about the unlikely career path that led to to write THE MAPMAKER: A NOVEL OF WORLD WAR II. Couldn’t decide whether I wanted to fly or to write, so I did both.

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Scenes From a Recent WWII Historical Tour

During a recent tour of WWII sites in Europe, I had the pleasure of meeting two actors who appeared in the “Band of Brothers” HBO series. Ross McCall (center) played Joe Liebgott, and Robin Laing (right) played Babe Heffron. Great guys who offered fascinating insights into the making of the series and the history behind it.

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V2: A Novel of World War II

The new novel V2, by Robert Harris, delves into the moral compromises made by German rocket engineers during World War II. Terrific book. Click here to read my full review in the Washington Independent Review of Books.

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Diving Into the Past for a Historical Novel

Twenty-six miles off Morehead City, NC, the dive boat pitched and rolled. I fought seasickness as I pulled on my scuba gear. Everything gets harder when you’re trying not to lose your lunch; even strapping on fins becomes a struggle. I screwed the regulator onto my air tank. Cracked open the valve and watched the…

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Researching WWII Novels

While researching my World War II novels, I’ve found some great old training films online. Here’s a good example. In this one, Hollywood actor Arthur Kennedy plans a C-47 instructor pilot. I’m sure these films were great training aids, and now they’re a treasure trove for aviation buffs and history lovers.

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