Roald Dahl, who created the incredibly engaging tales my children and I used to read together, said “And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” It may seem strange […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Gail Kittleson’s parents and her fiction
We don’t often reflect on the forces molding our childhood experiences until much later in life. Here I am in my sixties, finally considering how much World War II affected my parents, and therefore, my siblings and me. The Women of The Heartland Series, I realize now, found its roots in my parents’ moorings. Dad […]
Behind the Scenes: How Author Gail Kittleson chose the title for her WWII tale
Choosing a title can drive an author a tad crazy. My recent women’s fiction went through a few. It started out as A Time for Flowers because of my heroine’s World War II victory garden. Addie’s down-the-country-road neighbor offers pithy advice along with her flower starts, so I liked the emphasis. As time passed, an […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Gail Kittleson and the war behind the plot
Our immediate family has experienced four military deployments of at least a year each. Retired now, my husband says he’d go again if called, and so would many others. But he notes this fully aware of the holes left in many soldiers’ lives. In fact, he’s still a helpful sounding board to returned soldiers whenever […]
My heroine Dottie is ready to meet the world, and it’s clear she resembles …
by author Gail Kittleson I suppose most fiction draws from the author’s life. Though I didn’t pattern my heroine after anyone, now that Dottie’s ready to meet the world, it’s clear she resembles my mom. Mom also waited at home for soldiers to return. The actor James Dean from the Greatest Generation left an ironic […]