Please help me welcome back Gail Kittleson to the blog. She’s been here many times and always has a great story behind the story to share with us. This week, she’s letting us peak behind the scenes of her book In Times Like These. Let’s find out a little bit about the story itself.

July 7, 1937: The Marco Polo Bridge Incident results in a prolonged war between China and Japan.The United States remained neutral.

September 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland leading Britain and France to declare war on Germany. The United States remained neutral. Over the next 15 months at least 35 nations were embroiled in the Second World War. The United States remained neutral.

December 7, 194: The Day that will live in Infamy. The Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor, killing 2,403 Americans, wounding 1,143, and destroying 18 naval ships including five battleships. The following day the United State declared war on the Empire of Japan. Three days later, the US declared war on Germany and Italy. In Iowa, the Heartland of America, best friends Addie and Kate are embroiled in their own private wars. Kate’s pilot husband has gone Missing in Action, and Addie’s overbearing and controlling husband vents his rage on her. Somehow, these heroic Women of the Heartland must find a way to overcome the adversities of the war without, and the war within.

Sounds so good. What inspired you to write the book?

Hearing death totals reported in the daily news, we can identify with World War II folks like Addie Bledsoe, the heroine of my re-release, IN TIMES LIKE THESE. In the shadow of death that hovers over the entire nation, she can only hope for a miracle in her day-to-day struggle with her husband, who never lets an opportunity go by to hurt her with his words and attitudes. 

A typical Greatest Generation woman, Addie accomplishes as much as possible with what she has. A childhood of poverty and neglect caused her to believe living with Harold would be a vast improvement—of course, he hid his control-freak tendencies before they married. 

Now, she needs courage in the face of fear. Considering our “sheltering in place,” does that sound familiar? 

In order to turn things around, some of Addie’s basic beliefs must go. You can’t stand up to a bully if you believe you cause his behavior or see yourself as unworthy of better treatment. 

But battling with somebody stronger than us takes its toll, and sometimes we have to borrow faith from those around us. 

Addie’s down-the-road neighbor believes in her. So does her rural mailman, and in a rather shocking discovery, Addie realizes that her mother-in-law believes in her, too. Above all, Addie’s best friend, haunting London’s makeshift hospitals in search of her downed RAF pilot husband, offers support through regular encouraging letters.

With this network of caring people, Addie travels the steep road of empowerment. 

Why do we fall for imperfect characters whose strength lies just below the surface?

I’ve been pondering this as my husband and I watch a British detective series set in the sixties. Not my favorite era, by far, but the main character has won my heart. Why? Not because he avoids every pitfall of that treacherous period, but because he’s so very honest.

That’s one reason I decided to re-edit Addie’s story. She’s such a nifty young woman—she deserved to benefit from the writing lessons I’ve learned in the past few years. Still imperfect, she now re-enters her trek out of victimhood with more skillful storytelling skills and a new cover. 

IN TIMES LIKE THESE remains the same—I didn’t realize when I chose this old hymn title that it’s not actually so old. Its author, a World War II woman who had to face down fear every day, chose these words wisely.  How’s that for synchronicity, not just with this novel, but with the times we’re facing right now?

May Addie’s story encourage each reader with strength, courage, faith, and perseverance!

Thank you for that timely reminder, Gail.

Dare To Bloom became my website’s title for a reason. I’m a late bloomer, and so grateful to be blooming! My background in Teaching English as a Second Language, college expository writing, and other courses colors my fiction, as does my rural upbringing. Honoring the heroines and heroes of the Greatest Generation motivates me, while editing and facilitating writing workshops is te frosting on my proverbial cake, although I’m gluten and sugar free. 

You can follow Gail on her website, on Twitter, and on Instagram.

Gail is giving away either an ebook or print copy of the story to someone with a US mailing address. Follow the directions below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks, as always, for joining us, Gail!