Second Chances

It’s not often that we get second chances in life. With the re-release of Love, Bill, and this new website, I just got that chance. I now have the opportunity to reach out to new audiences, apply what I’ve learned over the last five years as a “newbie” author, and share my knowledge on other WWII related topics with all of you.

The very first thing I get to share is the new video trailer for the book. Please check it out if you haven’t done so already. It can be viewed on YouTube by following this link:  https://youtu.be/n94CnQyWWYA  It’s also on the Home Page of this website.

Another thing I can share is the fact that just because the book has an ending, it doesn’t mean that the story has also ended. Like the ripples in the water that radiate out from a thrown pebble, my story continues. Since Love, Bill’s original release, I’ve spoken with many people who also own family members’ letters from various wars. Those personal connections to the past are emotional touchstones and treasures. I’m often asked what they should do with their letter collections. Short of writing their own memoirs, I suggest three things. First, enjoy and cherish them. Second, pass them on to the next generation if there’s an interest in keeping them in the family. But if not, the museum professional in me recommends donating them to a museum or archive where they will be made available to historians and the public. My own choice: The Center for American War Letters (www.chapman.edu/research/institutes-and-centers/cawl) at Chapman University, Orange, California. This archive houses a unique and extensive manuscript collection of war letters from every American conflict, beginning with handwritten missives composed during the Revolutionary War and continuing up to emails sent from Iraq and Afghanistan. I have worked with their founding director, Andrew Carroll, and cannot say enough positive things about their work and mission. They will give your family’s memories a good home.