Finally, I’ve reached 1945! It’s taken a long four months of dedication, but I’ve finally made it to the final year of my book!
This whole writing process would go a lot quicker if I focused less on historical facts and more on fiction, but that’s not doing the Greatest Generation justice. These men and women made monumental sacrifices. It is my job to honor them.
But telling their full story takes time.
For every day I spend writing, I spend a day or two researching. I start with the family’s letters, then I find the facts and circumstances surrounding their tidbits of insight. Finally, I have to figure out how to frame that info into the bigger war picture. It’s very much like working a puzzle. A puzzle where you have to treasure hunt for each individual piece.
This time-consuming challenge has been one I’ve enjoyed. I can’t lie, though. I’m relieved to finally get a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel. As the seasons change on the mountain, I am also ready to switch gears. Even though the post-manuscript steps are the ones that induce the most anxiety for me, I have no doubt about how much America needs Brothers of the Great Crusade right now.
I just need to keep my head down and keep working hard. Because if there is one thing I know for certain, it’s this: you can’t wish for it more than you work for it!