THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN 1940 (CH 884) A formation of Boulton Paul Defiants of No. 264 Squadron in flight, August 1940. L7026 ?PS-V? and N1535 ?PS-A? visible. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205126775 I have one more book to share in my series of posts on "Speculative Fiction meets World War II," and it's one… Continue reading What If Hitler Had Successfully Invaded Great Britain? Len Deighton’s SS-GB
"A close up of the Holocaust memorial in Berlin." Photo by Ilse Orsel on Unsplash History is full of "what ifs." What if Hitler had not chosen to open an Eastern Front and attack Russia? What if the forces on the Philippines had been prepared after Pearl Harbor was attacked? What if the U.S. forces hadn't been prepared… Continue reading What if the Allies Lost? FATHERLAND by Robert Harris
As progress continues on my upcoming new release, today I'd like to share the first in a series of novels that combine the true stories of the Second World War with speculative fiction. This first post is actually about two novels: Blackout and All Clear by Connie Willis. Author Sarah Higbee and her blog, Brainfluff, introduced… Continue reading WWII Speculative Fiction: BLACKOUT and ALL CLEAR by Connie Willis
2023 has arrived, and even though the gray clouds remind me of Washington winter more than the dazzling snowscapes I envisioned, it's off to a pretty good start in the Clare household. We had a lovely Christmas break with many visits from family and friends, and my kids and I found a snow drift large… Continue reading Exploring the Oshkosh Public Museum (and a Small Piece of the National WWII Museum)
Our back yard looks a little different this year. Flatter. Fewer evergreens. And SNOW! One of the biggest changes my family has experienced since this summer's move across the country is adjusting to a new climate. Winter in western Washington was the "rainy season." We'd have to wear layers, and the damp air could get… Continue reading Musical Interlude: “White Christmas”
My husband and I set up this little display in our new school. Students and visitors were encouraged to add "stars" with the names of veterans they'd like to recognize. We were pleased to see that due to high participation we'll probably need to make the board bigger next year. November in the United States… Continue reading Where Does Thankfulness Fit on the Calendar?
I did something that wasn't unpacking, cleaning, or schoolwork! A Saturday or two ago, I slipped away for a couple of hours into Oshkosh, WI, to explore a new museum. Just down the road from the rather better-known EAA Aviation Museum*, the Military Veterans Museum was a fascinating place to visit AND it provided some… Continue reading Exploring the Oshkosh Military Veterans Museum
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, original link here. While Allied troops served around the globe in the Second World War, civilians served at home in dozens of ways—building and repairing ships, sewing uniforms, producing food, and keeping the factories going. In particular, the needs of the Home Front transformed the lives of many… Continue reading A Real-Life “Rosie”
This summer we moved from evergreens, salt water, and mountains to corn fields, lakes, and prairies. Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash Moving from Washington to Wisconsin has meant many changes for my family. Personal changes have been the most challenging—changing jobs, schools, churches, homes, and saying goodbye to friends. Changes in local climate have… Continue reading Visiting The Hiker Memorial
""Sinking Sun": painting by Griffith Baily Coale, oil on canvas, 1942. Description: A U.S. Marine stands at parade rest on the bow of a PT boat as she moves slowly out to sea from Midway to give decent burial to Japanese fliers shot down on the islands during the battle. The red ball of the… Continue reading The Battle of Midway: Part I
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