Monday, February 25, 2013

Schindler's List, Survival, Struggles, and Surviving

 I recently watched Schindler's List.  If you haven't seen it, you should (but not with children in the room).  There are so many things I want to say, but I'm at a loss.  Oskar Schindler was an amazing man, who did all he could to help as many Jewish people during WWII that he possibly could.

Most of you know I have been writing a historical fiction middle grade novel, SURVIVING OPERATION PIED PIPER.  It is about the struggles of children who were evacuated from London during WWII.  My characters survive the Blitz only to be sent away from their parents, relatives, and friends to live in the countryside with strangers.  I know this was a hardship...but when you put it in perspective to what Jewish families were going through in Europe it is really nothing.  They were alive, taken care (usually), fed, clothed, housed and for the most part, safe.

I've read tons of  history and historical fiction books. I read YELLOW STAR because an agent recommended I read it (after she did a ten page critique for me).  It was one of those hit you in the stomach books. It's very different than THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, which most of us know and value as an important part of history.  YELLOW STAR was about surviving in the Ghetto.  A few children were all that survived until the end of the war.  YELLOW STAR is a powerful book!

The people who survived the concentration camps had such fortitude.  As did the ones who escaped and/or lived in hiding until The War was over.  Can you imagine living through the horrific times that they did?  I don't think I would have made it.

So why am I writing this post?  WWII was so long ago and we don't have these problems today, right?

There is still hatred and prejudice going on in this world, even genocide.  I expect you are asking me what you can do, you are only one person...Oskar Schindler was just one person, too.  He made a difference by trying to correct a wrong as much as he could.  We each have to do what we can to educate ourselves on what is going on around us.  We have to make sure we see what is really going on in our world. We must help one and other to never forget our world's history.


And when you think your life is not going your way and you want to complain about not having the money to buy a new toy (you know what I mean) or to eat out or to get ahead...think about the people in our world who are or have been persecuted; ones that were killed for their beliefs, or their differences, ones that were tortured, taken away from their families (never to see them again), ones that had ALL of their belongings stolen (never to be replaced), ones that hid in fear for their lives, ones that were purposely starved or beaten, confined to certain poor quality lands, AND think how some of those people were miraculously able to move forward when circumstances changed...Yet persecution still goes on today...hatred still is here..

Then ask yourself...Where do you stand?

If you have time to look at the links, I think they are all beneficial...
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If you would be willing to share stories from your families history during WWII or any other point in history I would love to hear them.  There are so many times in our history that MUST NOT be forgotten! You can leave them in comments or email me at sharon k mayhew at gmail dot com.

I think I have found a purpose for my writing...I need to share stories of survival...So, as I finish up SOPP, I am thinking about what will come next. Perhaps your families story will be a part of my next one.

(If you didn't enter my contest for one of Janna's beautiful handcrafted necklaces, please hop over and do so.)

Friday, February 15, 2013

Janna Bowman...Art Extraordinaire...Giveaway

 This is my friend Janna Bowman.  She is a wicked cool artist and I wanted to share some of her work with you.  She makes the most amazing things out of glass and she's one of my childhood friends.


 Isn't this necklace beautiful?


 How cool are these peace pendants?


 I'm telling you the girl has skills!


 She does the most fantastic mosaics!



So my wicked cool, talented, friend has a treat for you....
She is going to give away this beautiful necklace to one lucky commenter. 


 All you have to do is hop over to Janna's Etsy site to check out her other art
 & hop back and leave a comment here.


I'll announce the winner on March 7th.
 (I certainly don't mind if you tweet or share on Facebook.)

Don't you love it when you can share a friend's talents with other friends?

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

What to Get Him for Valentine's Day???


Are you thinking about Valentine's Day?  It's just around the corner!
Women are easy to buy for: flowers, perfume, jewelry, dinner out...
If you are really stuck, a spa gift certificate always works.


But what do you get for him?
If I ask my husband what he wants (for any occasion) he always says for me to be happy.
But I really want to get him something special 
and
 I'm sure you want to get your significant other something special too...
So I went to my BBB (best blogging buddy) and CP (critique partner) for advice.
Lenny gave me some super advice and I wanted to share it with you...

Lenny did a search on google  Most of the sites said guys  just want some love or made to feel special. But Lenny wrote down some ideas of other things they might like.
 
1. tickets to a sports event or the theatre or movie or concert
2. tools
3. regular date night
4. cook him a special dinner and have a night alone at home if you got kids
5. special hand made stuff. a handmade card and a poem you write youself. paint a picture or paint a little statue of something he likes. one guys wife painted a penguin for him cause he likes penquins and he said he just love it and keeps it on his desk and it always reminds him of how much she love him. 
6. mostly all the guys said they could like a watch.
7. a lot said they could like a belt with a cool belt buckle ...
8. t shirts with stuff they like...like hunting or weightlifting or cycling or whatever...
9. a lot of them said they could like flowers cause no one ever thinks guys could like to get flowers. for sure that could be a surprise.
10. gift card for a massage or facial ..
11. guys that got hobbies like stuff for that ...
 
If none of those idea work, Lenny said, hop on to amazon and put valentines day gifts for men in the search box  you could get lots of ideas.

So....Do you have something special planned for your significant other or bestie?

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day!