Posts Tagged ‘WWII’
Folding Fact Into Fiction
My thanks to David Stewart, Eric Dezenhall and Roger Williams for a fine evening of literary discussion on the latest edition of History Author Talks. In case you missed the live show, click here to watch. Our topic: Folding Fact Into Fiction.
Read MoreFact into Fiction: The Historical Novel
Life doesn’t always follow a perfect narrative arc. So, when authors write historical novels, they can’t just make up everything. They have to stay within at least the broad guardrails of history. How do authors thread that needle? I’ll discuss how writers meet that challenge with my friend and fellow author David O. Stewart on…
Read More“Birds Fly. Men Drink.” The Man Will Never Fly Memorial Society
My novel Silver Wings, Iron Cross sprang from a lifelong interest in World War II. I grew up hearing my grandfather’s stories from his service with the legendary Eighth Air Force. Without a doubt, he provided the primary inspiration that led me to fly in the military and eventually to write this novel. But I…
Read MoreBe Like Bob, Know Your History
One of the smartest guys I ever knew was an old squadron mate. He was an enlisted man, a loadmaster on the C-130 Hercules. He had no formal education beyond high school and his training in the Air Force and Navy. But his hobby was reading history. Every time you saw him, he had a…
Read MoreSilver Wings, Iron Cross
Dear friends and readers, Near the end of World War II, a downed American pilot and a deserting German officer try to survive as the Third Reich collapses around them. That’s the heart of the action in my upcoming novel, Silver Wings, Iron Cross. I grew up hearing my grandfather’s stories of his service with…
Read MoreThe World War II Book Challenge
The New Year brings the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II–a fitting moment to learn more about the war, its causes, and its legacy. And we seem to need it. Too many people know too little about the most significant event of the 20th century, an event that still shapes our world.…
Read MoreResearching 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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