Highlighting Historical Romance with Brenda Whiteside in Post War America
The book of my heart is a coming of age story set in 1945 post-war America. I have my mother to thank for a cast of characters and the core of what became Post-War Dreams.
Every morning, Mom would gather the throw rugs and shake them on the back porch, sweep the floor, and “run a dust rag” over the furniture. She’d sing the morning away while she worked; songs from her teen and young adult years. I still know the lyrics to many 40s songs. In the afternoon, we’d watch an old black and white movie. Over lunch and on commercial breaks, she’d tell me stories of her years growing up in Phoenix, Arizona. Those songs, old movies, and her reminiscing formed the beginnings of my research for Post-War Dreams.
My mother painted vivid pictures of her struggles as a poor, only child raised by a single parent who had a drinking problem, a sense of humor, and a caring, sweet nature. Her friends and the young man she loved gave me a cast of characters with which to work. Combing through old photographs, I gained a sense of the neighborhoods for my setting, the style of dress and hair, and a sense of the times. Using a slang dictionary, the dialogue came to life to fit the time period.
A little 1940s trivia ~ Do you know…
- they brewed coffee without a coffee pot?
- movies were referred to as the silver screen?
- what gobbledygook means?
- sugar continued to be rationed after the war ended?
- when you called something grand in 1945, you weren’t talking about the size of your latte?
About the Book
World War II has ended and the soldiers are coming home. After years of following her crop worker father, motherless Claire Flanagan is also coming home. If she can keep her father in one place long enough, she plans to follow her dreams to Hollywood. Until she meets Benjamin.
Benjamin Russell has been working since he was fifteen to support his mother and siblings. What he most wants in life is to own a construction business and take care of the family his father abandoned. The last thing he expects is to fall for his younger sister’s best friend.
Life, however, throws cruel twists and turns into the path of romance. And when an unrequited love seeks revenge against Claire, and Benjamin learns his ex-girlfriend is pregnant, dreams of a future together may be the only thing they have left.
BUY LINKS
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Post-War-Dreams-Brenda-Whiteside-ebook/dp/B015AO6B1M
iTUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/post-war-dreams/id1040722643?mt=11
BARNES AND NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/post-war-dreams-brenda-whiteside/1122626545?ean=2940151181877
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/post-war-dreams-1
WALMART: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Post-War-Dreams-eBook/249646655
About the Author
Brenda Whiteside is the author of suspenseful, action-adventure romance and women’s romantic fiction. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have decided they are gypsies at heart, splitting their time between Northern Arizona and the RV life. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW is fishing, Brenda writes stories of discovery and love entangled with suspense.
Visit Brenda at https://www.brendawhiteside.com
Or on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/brendawhitesid2
She blogs and has guests: https://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003V15WF8
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3972045.Brenda_Whiteside
Thanks for having me today, Caroline.