A Dream Achieved... KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON, CHILDREN

A long time ago, November of 2007 to be exact, I began a journey. My workout was interrupted when a story idea came to me. I hopped off the treadmill and began writing COMFORT IN THE CLOUDS, my first manuscript. It still hasn't found a home, but it was the first step on my journey towards publication.

I joined SCBWI and attended The Highlight's Foundation Summer Workshop in Chautauqua, NY. The years that followed taught me many things. Patience. Determination. The value of studying the craft of writing. Finding critique partners and being open to their suggestions also moved me forward.  Perseverance probably is the most important thing I learned. Just like the characters in my upcoming middle grade novel, KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON, CHILDREN, I had to keep a good attitude and persevere until I had success.

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON, CHILDREN is a story about how British Children, during WWII, persevered and overcame their situations. It is now available for pre-order at Black Rose Writing (If you used the code PREORDER2019 you get a 15% discount. It can also be pre-ordered through Amazon, Amazon UK and Barnes and Noble. The release day is September 5th. I will be doing a signed book giveaway in September. I'm currently doing a Facebook  pre-order giveaway. Everyone who shares a link to my book will get their name in a drawing for a signed copy of KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON, CHILDREN.

If you can't tell, I'm super excited! My grandparents in England gave me the seed that grew into KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON, CHILDREN and in August I will be able to hand my 98 year old grandfather a copy of my first book.

And...the winner is:

And the winner is...Robyn Campbell! (according to random.org)

If you haven't checked out Janna's art...please visit her on etsy.  :)

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I've been really struggling with my WWII story.  So many people suffered so much.  Watching Schindler's List really put that suffering in perspective.  If you or your family has suffered persecution because of your faith, race, sex or other reasons I really want to know about your struggles.  The only way we can move forward as a society is to NEVER FORGET the struggles of individuals and groups....  Please email me at sharonkmayhew at gmail dot com so I can tell you or your families struggles to the world...so they will NEVER FORGET.

Hugs to all....

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.)

I'm A Winner, A Researcher and a Giverawayer (Not sure how to spell that?)

I'm a Winner!

 Not only was November NaNoWriMo, it was PiBoIdMo.  I signed up for both, but due to unexpected  circumstances I wasn't able to finish NaNo....But I finished PiBo with 31 new ideas!  My plans are to compile all my ideas on to a piece of poster board and post it in my office.  Then I can check them off as I complete the first draft of each story.  (I love list making.) If you aren't sure what PiBoIdMo is, it's Picture Book Idea Month, Tara did a super job organizing it.  (*waves*)

I'm a Researcher...

 We found this on the beach in South Shields, England.  

We think it was a watch station of some sort for the Home Guard during WWII.

 This beautiful spot was beside a cafe' we stopped at on our way to Eden Camp.  

 As you enter this WWII POW camp you will notice the barbed wire fence and the watch towers.  Eden Camp house prisoners of war during WWII.  The prisoners were mostly Italian and German.  If they were good they were allowed to have day passes to work in local businesses and on farms.  There was a shortage of strong young men during the War as they were all off fighting.

 They had several examples of bomb shelters.  I am refraining from showing you all my photos. 

 Be thankful...I took a LOT.

 During the War every man, woman, child and baby was required to carry a gas mask with them at all times. The babies had units that they completely fit in and I'm sure it was their mums that carried it for them.

 A group of school children were on a visit to Eden Camp and were all labeled with identification labels and carried a small satchel, just like the children who were evacuated during the war.

 All sorts of artifacts were on display; from food

 to what a bombed building might look like,

 To examples of blacking out a room,

 to fashions,

and even popular toys.  This dolly is dressed in a woman's service uniform.

 Prisoners at Eden Camp enjoyed shows. 

 The treatment they endured was much much much kinder than the treatment the Allied Forces received.

 Bombs and planes showed the attitude of the Brits.

I hope you enjoyed a little bit of my research on my trip to England.  My next post will be on December 6th and I'll announce the winner of my English Goodie Bag Give Away.  If you haven't entered, please hop over HERE and enter.

I hope you had a safe and happy Thanksgiving.  

Hugs to all!