I like to read the dedications in novels. It feels like the author
is sharing a tiny personal connection. I dedicated Saving the Scot to all the
men, women, and
animals who risk their lives to save others. I hope people will read it and
remember all the
unsung heroes and heroines who put on gear and walk in when others run away. I was
delighted when one lovely reader made mention of the dedication in her review.
So, I thought
I'd talk a little bit about why I chose the dedication, pose some ways we can
actively recognize
their courage, and hopefully generate more ideas from you.
Last October, Hurricane Michael caused death and
destruction in the Florida Panhandle like the US has never seen. One of my
writer friends, April
Moran, had just released her second Regency novel when the hurricane destroyed
her house
and leveled all the trees in her yard. Nearly six months later, she and her
husband are still
living in a trailer while they rebuild. But rather than post about her new novel
or her losses, she
posted about the EMTs, the overworked powerline repair guys, the neighbors helping
neighbors, the people rescuing animals, and all the little heroic mercies
demonstrated by
everyday folks.
Her experience and how she handled it had a powerful effect
on me. I like to think that we become our best selves when disaster strikes. It
got me thinking
about all the men and women and animals that choose to save people and property
as a
career. We see them every day—the police, firefighters, EMTs, service dogs,
soldiers, nurses,
doctors, rangers, ski patrol, and goodness knows, there are more I'm forgetting.
But the point is not to forget them. The point is to remember
them. Book dedications are all well and good, but a more meaningful way to
acknowledge the
courage and dedication of our guardian angels is to demonstrate our appreciation
with simple
acts of kindness. What can you do?
One Idea: Let Soldiers Know You Care
Every November, I visit a site called AnySoldier.com and send a unit of
soldiers a care package for the holidays. It's my gift to my dad. He's got
everything he wants,
but he loves that I do this for him. This year, I'm not going to wait until the
holidays. The
soldiers are there year-round. They've got year-round needs.
AnySoldier.com is a service organization that maintains a
database on our troops deployed all over the globe. Representatives from the
different units
report on their living conditions and what they need. You'd be surprised by the
basics they
require but find in short supply: laundry pods, razors, hand sanitizer, beef
jerky, socks, hats,
cough drops, soap. I choose which branch of the military and the country they
are deployed
in, and I browse through the many units requesting care packages. When I find
one, I request
the APO address from the site (it's top-secret), buy the items, package them,
and ship them
out. The US Postal Service has boxes with a very inexpensive flat rate for just
this purpose.
And don't forget about the women soldiers. They find it hard
to get tampons! One year, I sent a big package to a unit of women soldiers and
included a
bunch of romance novels. They loved it!
Another Idea: Feed the Firefighters
There is a fire station across the street from our family's bar
and restaurant. It's a good feeling to know that, if your business is in
trouble, firefighters are a
stone's throw away. I wanted to show our appreciation. I stopped by and asked
them if they'd
like supper delivered that Friday. They said, "Sure!"
I got the number of fighters that would be on the schedule
and their dinner time, and I had seven fish dinners delivered. They loved it! I
encouraged other
businesses in the neighborhood to do the same. Wouldn't it be cool if your local
fire station
got dinner delivered every Friday night?
Never pass up the opportunity to thank a soldier for their
service. Express your appreciation for animal foster families for sheltering
abandoned cats and
dogs. Always send police officers a smile when you see them. They see the worst
of humanity
and still show up every day for work.
So, now I turn to you. Do you have an idea for how we can
acknowledge our everyday heroes and heroines?
The Highlanders of Balforss #4
Louisa Robertson's father is furious when he finds her acting on stage.
Now, she's being shipped off to America to marry some stranger her
father thinks will bring out the "lady" in her. Luckily, Louisa's maid
agrees to switch places with her! Her maid will marry the American and
get the wealthy lifestyle she's always wanted, and Louisa can do
whatever she damn well pleases––for the first time in her life.
Highlander Ian Sinclair needs an army commission, and the only way he
can get one is to safely deliver the general's Daughter-from-Hell to her
intended in America. Easy, right? It would be if the lady's companion
Louisa didn't wear breeches and do everything the exact opposite of
what he orders. It'll be a miracle if the sparks flying between Ian and
Louisa don't set the bloody ship afire before they arrive in America.
But just when Louisa thinks her plan is going to give her the acting
career she wants and a Highlander to boot...Ian discovers her secret.
Romance Historical [Entangled: Amara, On
Sale: March 25, 2019, e-Book, ISBN: 1640637761 / ]
Jennifer Trethewey is an actor-turned-writer who has moved her performances from
the stage
to the page. When she traveled to Scotland for the first time, she instantly
fell for the
language, humor, intense sense of pride, and breathtaking landscape. Her love
for Scotland is
translated into her series of historical romance novels, the Highlanders of
Balforss.
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