Sarah Sundin is our guest today.

She wrote a story called The Sky Above Us.  

Today, Sarah is here to share the story behind her story.

Numbed by grief and harboring shameful secrets, Lt. Adler Paxton ships to England with the US 357th Fighter Group in 1943.

Determined to become an ace pilot, Adler battles the German Luftwaffe in treacherous dogfights in the skies over France as the Allies struggle for control of the air before the D-day invasion.

Violet Lindstrom wants to be a missionary, but for now, she serves in the American Red Cross, arranging entertainment for the men of the 357th and setting up programs for local children.

Drawn to the mysterious Adler, she enlists his help with her work and urges him to reconnect with his family after a long estrangement.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

What inspired you to write this story?

“Hiya, Red Cross!” That familiar greeting was heard by thousands of American women who worked overseas with the Red Cross during World War II.

While doing research for my first series, Wings of Glory, I was intrigued by these women and their work. Each U.S. airfield in England had an Aeroclub, a service club run by the American Red Cross. What would it be like to be one of two women living on a base full of flyboys?

This inspired Violet Lindstrom’s story in The Sky Above Us. Violet and her friend Kitty run the Aeroclub at Leiston Army Airfield in England, home of the U.S. 357th Fighter Group—and of the story’s hero, fighter pilot Lt. Adler Paxton.

The Aeroclubs gave the men a home-away-from-home. The clubs had snack bars, writing rooms, libraries, game rooms, music rooms, and lounges. The Red Cross workers, chosen for their maturity and high moral qualities, provided a listening ear to men dealing with the ravages of war and of separation from loved ones. Frequent dances were held as well as recreational activities from Ping-Pong tournaments to lecture series.

The Red Cross served donuts, coffee, and sandwiches when the men returned from combat missions. This personal touch meant a lot to the airmen, who were hungry, cold, exhausted—and who had often watched a buddy get shot down.

The American Red Cross workers chose to leave home, work long and challenging hours, and serve in dangerous locations—the airfields were legitimate targets for German bombers.

Through Violet’s story, I hope to honor the real-life women who made these sacrifices so the airmen could fly another day.

If you’d like to read the account of Virginia Rado, who ran the actual Aeroclub at Leiston, and to see pictures, please visit the website of legendary ace pilot, Clarence “Bud” Anderson: http://www.cebudanderson.com/virginia.htm.

This sounds like a story enriched with history, strong women characters, intrigue, and clever lines! Thanks for sharing.

Sarah Sundin is a bestselling and award-winning author of historical novels, including The Sky Above Us and The Sea Before Us.

Her novels When Tides Turn and Through Waters Deep were named to Booklist’s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years.”

A mother of three, Sarah lives in California and teaches Sunday school.

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Sarah is giving away a copy of The Sky Above Us. Follow the directions below to enter the book giveaway contest.