I'd like to introduce to you Becky Van Vleet. She writes devotions for my blog every month and I became acquainted with her. Becky is graciously doing a giveaway of her book Unintended Hero. Remember, we must have at least 5 entries for the giveaway to take effect.
Becky, tell us about your book:
Here is the back cover blurb for my book, Unintended Hero.
How Can You Be A Hero When Everything Inside Says You Can’t?
When the first bomb drops on Pearl Harbor, December 7th, 1941, Walter Troyan is a skinny seventeen-year-old California kid chock full of fear. But down deep he knows he must join the fight, so he drops out of high school and enlists. Almost overnight, Walter is submerged into a brutal training regime and schedule. He’s homesick. Outmatched by all the other newbies. Knows he’ll never live up to his heroic brothers. And his soul shudders every time an officer shouts, “What are you made of!” Because Walter knows. But then? Hope. He performs well on an aptitude test which sends him to Gunner’s Mate School. Upon graduation, Walter is sent to the USS Denver, docked in Philadelphia. He makes friends, gains a shred of courage. Then his ship enters the Pacific Theater and Walter enters the crucible of his life. His body, spirit, and soul are forced to fight against emotions and circumstances he’s never encountered, and he’s faced with choices that will bring life or death to men he’s come to love as brothers. Don’t miss this epic tale—inspired by a true story—of a boy facing head on, the courage it takes to become a man.
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Why did I write the book?
As a baby boomer, I grew up with parents from The Greatest Generation. I heard their stories about the great depression and WWII. But I never really heard
much about what my father actually did in the war. So in 1990, married now and a mother of four children, I decided it was time to capture and preserve
my father's WWII experiences for our family history. I sat my father down at our kitchen table with a recorder and a couple of cassettes, and I asked him
to tell me all his war recollections.
For the next two hours, his stories tumbled out with pride and a remarkable remembrance. I sat spellbound, taking it all in. At the time, my plan was to simply
save the two cassettes as historical keepsakes for my family. But more than thirty years later, during Covid, the call to write a book to preserve those stories came
loud and clear. My hope was for my father's story to honor him and all the young Americans who stopped what they were doing to enlist in the military to fight for America
in the spirit of patriotism and loyalty like no other.
Today, I use my father's book to give in-person presentations to students, grades seven and up, in schools all over my home state, Colorado, and out of state by zoom. I think
it is important for our young people to learn about the values of sacrifice, teamwork, and patriotism from The Greatest Generation. If you'd like to get in touch with me
for more information about my school presentations, please email me at beckyvanvleet9@gmail.com.
A recipe from my book:
My father's parents immigrated to America from Ukraine and Poland, so he was 100% Slavic. In my book, I write about how my father enjoyed Borscht (beet soup) his
Polish mother made for the family. Here is the recipe:
Borscht
Ingredients:
6 cups finely shredded cabbage (you can use coleslaw mis)
1 cup vegetable or beef broth
1 can great northern beans or cannellini beans, rinsed and drained (15 oz)
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained (14.5 oz)
1 can sliced beets, undrained (14.5 oz)
1 can tomato sauce (8 oz)
1 large onion, sliced, rings separated
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon dried dill (optional)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 tablespoons sour cream (optional)
Directions:
1. In a soup pot, mix together all ingredients except sour cream.
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer 18-20 minutes.
3. Serve with sour cream
Five favorite things I like to do
Spending time with my Heavenly Father through prayer and writing devotions and volunteering at my church
Spending time with my family, especially reading books to my grandchildren
Working in my garden
Power walking
Writing! I am passionate about writing and preserving family stories, mine and yours. Here is the link to my website: https://www.beckyvanvleet.com. Readers can go to
my blog tab and read past family stories. They can contact me on the contact tab if they have a family story to share or send me an email
at beckyvanvleet9@gmail.com. I also have a "Donate a Book" I do every month on my "Just For Fun" tab, where I donate copies of my
children's books to school libraries.
Thanks for stopping by!
Becky's bio is below
Becky Van Vleet is a retired teacher and principal and
award-winning multi-genre author. She has been published in Guideposts, The
Country Register, and Christian Devotions Ministry. Her children’s picture
books are the recipients of the 2020 Excellence in Editing award as well as the
Purple Dragonfly award in 2020 and 2021. She and her husband make their home
close to Colorado Springs where she enjoys gardening, hiking, oil painting,
power walking, and spending time with her family, especially reading books to
her grandchildren.
Becky is the author of Unintended Hero, a true
story about her father’s battles, experiences, and adventures in WWII aboard
the USS Denver. She is passionate about sharing the values from the
Greatest Generation and enjoys speaking to high school classes about
patriotism.
A member of ACFW and Allauthor, Becky has
devoted her website to creating and preserving family memories and sharing
family stories for the next generations through her monthly blogs.
You can find her at: https://beckyvanvleet.com.
She would love to hear from you, especially if you have a family story to share!
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbeckyvanvleet/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-van-vleet-ms-806055181/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becky_van_vleet_author/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/beckyvanvleet/
Amazon Central
Author Page: https://amzn.to/3INHIPB
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/125841473-becky-van-vleet
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beckyvanvleet9907
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