A novel about women in the 1940s
For all that’s been written about The War, The Greatest Generation’s gay and lesbian life is not well chronicled – particularly on the home front. The National Park Service is actively seeking individuals to contribute their unique stories to the diverse history interpreted at Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park — in Richmond, California — just 18 miles north and east of San Francisco.
I'm often asked, at readings, about the inspiration for "Wax". I was inspired by oral histories I read -- transcripts of interviews with women who worked in the shipyards during WWII -- obtained through Rosie the Riveter, WWII Home Front, National Historical Park.
On October 15th I had the pleasure of participating in the Richmond, WWII Home Front Festival, a cooperative effort between the City of Richmond, the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, and the National Park Service. I hadn't attended before, but I will attend again.
I was happy to have the booth next to Kaiser Heritage during last weekend's Home Front Festival in Richmond. The health care network that now serves 8.6 million members was born in the Richmond shipyards during WWII.
Loofie (aka Alice Aloof) has been my faithful traveling companion on the Tin Can Camper Book Tour. For the most part, our journey's been uneventful.
I got a GPS for the book tour because I couldn't fathom driving around lost while towing the tin can camper. Sometimes a side trip away from the down town business district is necessary to park the truck and trailer, and the GPS is handy.
I was driving through Gualala, California when I saw an adopt a highway sign: the litter free road was compliments of Four-Eyed Frog Books.
Last night one hundred friends gathered on the back patio of The Gate in Belmont to celebrate the publication of "Wax". Many, many thanks to all who helped with the event
An important stop on the Tin Can Camper Book Tour! I never know what to expect and I'm never disappointed.
I'm grateful to the independent booksellers hosting me in their wonderful stores -- I've just updated the schedule. I'll be starting in the north in mid-September;
The "We Can Do It" poster created by the War Department to recruit women for industry, has taken on a life of its own, spanning generations. The image has been used on kids' lunch boxes and campaign mailers.
Now I know about aluminum primer, which is useful information if you plan to paint aluminum.
It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I discovered rubbing compound. Who knew that fifty-seven years of oxidation would buff off?
That's what came to mind when I first arrived at Vintage Campers in Peru, Indiana. I'd foolishly worried about not being able to find the place. Proprietor Dan Piper explained that he'd "got the disease -- bad" and started collecting.
Airstreams are the Cadillacs of tin can campers. In Wax, Tilly lives in a sixteen foot beauty in Parking Lot C. I found a 1948 Wee Wind, restored, for thirty-eight thousand dollars -- about thirty-six thousand more than I intended to spend.
My friend Rube baits me. He's one of the most creative people I know, but he enjoys launching my pursuit of his ideas more than acting on them.