Kickstarter Project for a Children's Book

I was contacted recently by this sailor   Swashbuckling Sailor 

He'd stumbled on my (sorely neglected) blog here, and wanted to share with me, and ask me to share with my readers, that he'd written a story for young military children.

There's a story about it here on Stripes Japan 

It's called  "Father is Always With Me" and while it's available on Amazon for the Kindle,
he's also started a Kickstarter campaign to attempt to get the funding to put the book into print.

Check him out, the Kickstarter page is  HERE   See what you think, donate as you feel led, and also please help spread the word for him if you can.

Thanks for contacting me, Emmanuel, this seems like a great idea for a book, and I wish you luck!

The Granite Men of Henri-Chapelle

I was privileged to receive 

 The Granite Men of Henri-Chapelle: Stories of New Hampshire's WW II Soldiers by Aimee Gagnon Fogg

for my birthday back in October (thanks,Mom! :)

This book featured the stories of 38 New Hampshire World War II soldiers buried in Belgium,one of those being her own uncle,  and it was a fascinating read about each soldiers life, both before the war and during their service in the military.

It meant a great deal to me because my own uncle is also buried in Belgium , and so the stories that Aimee was able to find out about the men could have so easily been about my uncle and the men who were buried with him,also. So I highly recommend this book!

Another reason I felt very privileged to receive this book was that it's written by someone I've 'known' online from way back to 2006, when I first 'met' Aimee while she was blogging, and began following her writing. She's an excellent author!

Book Review: Welcome Home Mama & Boris

Had a chance to read for review a wonderful book from Reader's Digest Books

Welcome Home Mama & Boris: How a Sister's Love Saved a Fallen Soldier's Beloved Dogs
by Carey Neesley with Michael Levin

This story held me riveted from start to finish, despite obviously knowing how the story would end, because of the many people along the way who helped Carey realize her dream of bringing Mama and Boris to America in memory of and to honor her beloved brother,Peter.. And I cried along with Carey and her family over the loss of Peter, and cried again at their joy of seeing his dogs make it across the world, to bring their love and healing to Carey and her family.

Despite the sadness of Peter's death, this story is so filled with memories of love and with hope, that you can't help but be uplifted by the story.

I highly recommend this book! Thank you, Carey, and Michael Levin, for sharing this beautiful story, and to Reader's Digest books for making the book available.

Take a look at this video of Carey Neesley, Mama and Boris below:

And then look for the book at  Reader's Digest Books

Books to add to my wishlist

What It Is Like to Go To War by Karl Marlantes


Unmeasured Strength by Lauren Manning


Once A Marine by Nick Popaditch with Mike Steere