Tag: books

Authors, even if you don’t sell a lot of books at a signing it can still be a success

2 Comments

Authors often have high expectations for books signings, but I wonder if they understand that it’s not all about how many books one manages to sell at an event. I’ve been behind that table, exhorting passersby to stop and take a look at my novels lots of times, and I can’t say I wasn’t disappointed on those occasions when no one seemed interested in buying my books.  However, that doesn’t mean the whole endeavor was a waste of time.

Authors need to consider all the promotional opportunities when participating in a book signing.

Note here that I am not talking about a book launch, which is generally a one author/new book event. It’s any other time an author sets up a table in public, especially those times when authors come together in groups, which means there are lots of people hawking books in the same place at the same time, so there’s an immense amount of competition.

We need to think of a book signing as more of an overall promotional opportunity. A chance to meet people and hand out business cards. Note that I’m a big believer in those humble little bits of paper. One should never head to a book event—or anywhere for that matter—without a bunch of well-designed business cards boasting a lovely photo of their most recent book cover, as well as a website address and contact information. Remember that today readers have options, and while we authors lug suitcases filled with physical books to our events, we should not forget about the folks who prefer to read audio and e-versions of our work.

Authors should also consider what they’re asking for their books. At a recent event where maybe 25 authors had gathered, the nice man next to me inquired about whether the $28 price he was charging for his paperback book was excessive, since no one was buying his books.

“Yes!” I said without a moment’s hesitation. “It’s too much!”

He looked perplexed.

I didn’t know the guy, but since he asked, I felt compelled to explain. “These events are not necessarily about making money. They’re about getting the word out,” I said. “I’ve given away lots of books, because I want people to read them. If you charge too much, you’ll never get your books in readers’ hands.”

Giving a book away also promotes goodwill. You’ve made someone’s day. That little bit of kindness just might drive business to your website, and the reader might like your book so much they’ll tell others about it. Yes, it’s a bit of a financial hit, but giveaways should be part of doing business. And, hey, you can take the cost off your taxes.

The most important thing an author can do is to bring their most personable self to an event. Your book won’t sell itself. That’s your job. So, look people in the eye. Stand when someone approaches your table. Have a very short speech that explains what the book is about and, if the patron shows interest, explain why you felt the need to write the story. Smile. Be animated. Hand out that business card and thank them for stopping buy even if they didn’t make a purchase

The idea is to get them to remember you and your book. And while you won’t see a rise in your book sales that day, you certainly may see one later on.

Your Forgotten Sons

Inspired by a true story

Anne Montgomery

Bud Richardville is inducted into the Army as the United States prepares for the invasion of Europe in 1943. A chance comment has Bud assigned to a Graves Registration Company, where his unit is tasked with locating, identifying, and burying the dead. Bud ships out, leaving behind his new wife, Lorraine, a mysterious woman who has stolen his heart but whose secretive nature and shadowy past leave many unanswered questions. When Bud and his men hit the beach at Normandy, they are immediately thrust into the horrors of what working in a graves unit entails. Bud is beaten down by the gruesome demands of his job and losses in his personal life, but then he meets Eva, an optimistic soul who despite the war can see a positive future. Will Eva’s love be enough to save him?

Release Date: June 6, 2024

Universal Buy Link

Amazon

Apple Books

Barnes & Nobel

Google Books

Kobo

Bookstores, libraries, and other booksellers can order copies directly from the Ingram Catalog.

Anne Montgomery’s novels can be found wherever books are sold.

Goodreads

Amazon

A return to Georgia: Join us if you can

2 Comments

Forty-one years ago, I arrived in Columbus, Georgia. I’d been out of college for six years, and this was the first time I’d been offered a job in my field of choice. I wanted to be a sportscaster, but back then the doors to that world were mostly shut to women.

Still, I’d been given an opportunity at WRBL-TV. I was assigned the job of sports director and sports anchor on the Monday through Friday six and 11 o’clock newscasts, and I was both thrilled and terrified, because while I’d spent the previous five years officiating amateur sports—football, baseball, ice hockey, soccer, and basketball—in an effort to understand the games and be a competent sportscaster, I knew nothing about producing and anchoring a sports segment.

I will be forever indebted to the late Dan Lynn who accepted me at WRBL-TV back in 1983 and taught me to be a sportscaster.

I was rather stunned when I arrived in that small town that housed one of the largest infantry bases in the country. It was then Fort Benning. Today Fort Moore. Since I was a Jersey girl who after graduating from college in Ohio moved to Washington D.C., I had little knowledge of the South, and to say I didn’t completely fit in would be an understatement.

Two people saved me. One was my sports partner Dan Lynn who—despite being passed over for the top job for a woman with no broadcasting experience—did all he could to help me acclimate to the business. The other was Reg.

Regina Liparoto and I became friends while working at WRBL-TV in 1983. We’ve been buddies ever since. When she asked me to write a book about her Uncle Bud, I, of course, said yes.

Regina Liparato—a spritely blonde with a big smile and a bit of a Georgia drawl—was the newsroom assistant and we became friends about three seconds after we met. She helped ease me into the Southern culture I sometimes found baffling. The night she and several station employees took me out to dinner remains stuck in my mind.

A waitress looked at me and asked, “You want grits with that, honey?”

Since I didn’t know what grits were, I made what was to me a reasonable reply. “I’ve never had any.” I smiled. “Could you just bring me one?”

The waitress was incredulous. My dinner mates hysterical with laughter. I was just confused. Then Reg patted my hand and said, “You can have some of mine.”

Neither Reg nor I could have guessed that four decades later we’d embark on a project that would consume five years of our lives. She asked me to write a book about her Uncle Bud, a man who like millions of others had been drafted and sent to fight in World War II. But Bud’s story was different than most. Assigned to what was probably the most difficult job in the military, Sergeant Joseph “Bud” Richardville served in the Graves Registration Service where his job was to locate, identify, and bury the dead.

The novel Your Forgotten Sons is inspired by Bud’s life and dedicated to the men with whom he worked tirelessly to honor the fallen. That care is visible today in the 26 graceful cemeteries they left behind in 17 countries worldwide.

On this Veterans Day weekend, I have returned to Columbus, Georgia where Regina and I have reunited. We will talk about Bud and his men and ask others to remember them, as well. If you happen to be in the area, come and join us. Here’s where we’ll be:

Schedule

Saturday, November 9th, 2024

Tri-City Veterans Day Parade Columbus, Georgia

10:00 AM

Richland Rum Tasting Room 1 Richland, Georgia

2:00 PM

VFW Catula, Georgia

6:00 PM

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Ruth Ann’s Restaurant Historic Uptown Columbus (Reservations Required)

706-325-9111

1:00 PM

Monday, November 11, 2024

VFW Columbus Victory Drive Veterans Day Cookout

12:30 PM

Your Forgotten Sons

Inspired by a true story

Anne Montgomery

Bud Richardville is inducted into the Army as the United States prepares for the invasion of Europe in 1943. A chance comment has Bud assigned to a Graves Registration Company, where his unit is tasked with locating, identifying, and burying the dead. Bud ships out, leaving behind his new wife, Lorraine, a mysterious woman who has stolen his heart but whose secretive nature and shadowy past leave many unanswered questions. When Bud and his men hit the beach at Normandy, they are immediately thrust into the horrors of what working in a graves unit entails. Bud is beaten down by the gruesome demands of his job and losses in his personal life, but then he meets Eva, an optimistic soul who despite the war can see a positive future. Will Eva’s love be enough to save him?

Release Date: June 6, 2024

Universal Buy Link

Amazon

Apple Books

Barnes & Nobel

Google Books

Kobo

Bookstores, libraries, and other booksellers can order copies directly from the Ingram Catalog.

Anne Montgomery’s novels can be found wherever books are sold.

Goodreads

Amazon

Authors! Learn to love that microphone

2 Comments

Writers write. That is abundantly clear. But is that enough in today’s whirlwind of book marketing? It is not!

Authors especially are sometimes categorized as introverts. Some of the all-time greats— Edgar Allan Poe, George R.R. Martin, J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis, and Agatha Christie are among the many that have admitted to being shy. Which makes me wonder how they would fair in today’s marketplace if they were just starting out. My initial thought is they would fail—despite their brilliant prose—because today authors must speak if they want to get the word out.

Here’s where I’ll point out that authors aren’t the only ones afraid of public speaking. It turns out that getting up in front of a crowd tops the list of American phobias. Over 25% of those polled say they would rather face drowning, bugs and snakes, heights, and claustrophobia among other perceived scary situations than get sweaty palms at a podium.

So, what’s an author to do?

Get better at public speaking! Get better the way we improve at anything. Practice! Practice! Practice!

Note here that in another life I spent a great deal of time in front of a microphone when I was a TV sportscaster. And over a 20-year period in the classroom I taught communications skills. So let me pause for a moment to put on my teacher’s cap…Okay. Good!

Admittedly, I’m a bit of a ringer since I spent a lot of years holding a microphone when I was a sportscaster, still I believe anyone can master public speaking skills.

Now, the first thing to remember is that you have a whole lot to say. You would not write books if you weren’t bursting with ideas, which means there’s plenty of material to mine for interesting things to talk about. So banish the terror of standing speechless before a mic.

With that in mind, you bravely agree to speak to a local book club, so the first thing to do is ask about expectations and the venue.  Where and when will you be speaking? How long will you be speaking? Is there specific information the host would like you to touch on? Will you be taking questions? Will you be at a podium? (For those feeling skittish, a podium can be helpful in hiding shaky knees and gives one a spot to place notes, as well as something to hold on to. While a podium might not always be available, it never hurts to ask.)

And now it’s time to decide what you want to say.

“Oh, gosh!” you’re probably thinking. “How do I begin?”

Glad you asked! Simply, in a few sentences, introduce yourself. While the host will no doubt give you a brief introduction, have your own prepared. And make sure to say how happy you are to have been invited, even if it’s a complete lie because your gut is churning and all you want to do is run away. Calm your nerves by remembering the folks at the book club are not mean high school kids who are waiting for you to fail so they can laugh at you. They want you to be great. So tamp down the terror and smile!

As for the talking points, take into account what the host suggested. Did she ask you to discuss your new book? Marketing tips? Why a weekly blog is important? The everchanging world of publishing? Take that assignment seriously. Do some research, but you don’t have to be an expert. Just share your personal experiences.

If the host didn’t specify a particular subject, talk about what inspired you to write your book, describe the main characters, briefly outline the plot without giving away any spoilers, describe the setting and explain why it’s important to the story, and talk about the road to publication.

It’s important that your talk is conversationl in style and that you make eye-contact with those in the audience.

Once you’ve got all the ingredients assmbled, practice your speech in the mirror. And if you’re concerned that you might lose your train of thought, feel free to keep some notes, but never type out your speech and try to memorize it. Go for the conversational approach and remember to make frequent eye contact with the members of your audience. It’s also nice if you can inject some humor at your own expense. Don’t shy away from the times when things went horribly wrong. I’m betting your audience will be able to relate to your disappointments more than your successes.

Later, after you’ve collapsed in your car, taken a few calming breaths, and checked your watch to see if it’s even remotely close to cocktail time, think about your performance. Note what went well, what went wrong, and how you can improve the next time, because there must be a next time. Remember earlier when I said “Practice! Practice! Practice!”? Well, I meant it.

Because public speaking opportunities are not all that common for most of us, I have a secret weapon in regard to practicing. It’s called podcasts. Because I’m way too lazy to do my own, I offer myself as a guest on other people’s programs. I subscribe to a service for $15 a month. (I use podcastguests.com, but there are probably others.) Twice a week, I get a list of podcasters looking for guests. Here’s where I’ll recommend that you don’t limit yourselves to literary podcasts, instead be willing to talk about anything you feel comfortable speaking about, because almost always the podcaster will get down to your books and a link to your website, which even happened when I was a guest on a program about caring for stray cat populations. There are podcasts on thousands of subjects, so don’t be shy. And be happy to be appear on any podcast. I’ve been interviewed by a 14-year old and had a blast. I’ve been on podcasts that have aired hundreds of shows and others that have only done ten. Every one is an opportunity.

And here’s the thing. If you don’t like how you did on a podcast, you don’t have to share it. Like the book talk, ask yourself, “What could I have done better?” Then make adjustments and put yourself out there again.

I promise you’ll catch on. And then don’t be surprised if, eventually, you find yourself loving that microphone.

You can check out my podcast page here.

Your Forgotten Sons

Inspired by a true story

Anne Montgomery

Bud Richardville is inducted into the Army as the United States prepares for the invasion of Europe in 1943. A chance comment has Bud assigned to a Graves Registration Company, where his unit is tasked with locating, identifying, and burying the dead. Bud ships out, leaving behind his new wife, Lorraine, a mysterious woman who has stolen his heart but whose secretive nature and shadowy past leave many unanswered questions. When Bud and his men hit the beach at Normandy, they are immediately thrust into the horrors of what working in a graves unit entails. Bud is beaten down by the gruesome demands of his job and losses in his personal life, but then he meets Eva, an optimistic soul who despite the war can see a positive future. Will Eva’s love be enough to save him?

Release Date: June 6, 2024

Universal Buy Link

Amazon

Apple Books

Barnes & Nobel

Google Books

Kobo

Bookstores, libraries, and other booksellers can order copies directly from the Ingram Catalog.

Anne Montgomery’s novels can be found wherever books are sold.

Goodreads

Amazon

.

Book marketing and the humble business card

4 Comments
Old school? Yes! Still I love business cards.

When I tell people I’m an author, they often blurt out, “I’ve always wanted to write a book!” At which point I smile politely and urge them on. Why? Because writing books is fun and exciting. One gets to meet all kinds of people and travel to interesting places for research. And we live with fascinating characters, ones we can see and hear and chat with, which sometimes has loved ones questioning our sanity.

That said, the dark side of publishing is the part that comes moments after we slice open that delivery box and cuddle our baby in our arms, because then we must let them go. Like children we raise to grow up and head out into the world, we must also send our books away, hopefully to people who will love them as much as we do.

The question is how do we get readers to buy our books?

The marketing and selling of books has become multifaceted and complicated since the advent of the Internet, which sometimes makes writers want to toss their laptops out the window in frustration. In the old days—pre Amazon’s birth in 1995—an author could hand over a manuscript to a publisher, sit back, and wait for others to promote their book. But no more. Authors are now involved in every aspect of marketing, and if they don’t take it seriously, it won’t matter how brilliant their novel is. Did you know that before accepting a manuscript publishers will often scour the Internet to check an author’s digital footprint? And if they find the author is without a website, blog, podcast, proper social media links, and masses of followers, that manuscript—no matter how award-worthy—just might end up in the nearest digital trash bin.

I’ve done my best to follow book-marketing guidelines. I have a website where I blog weekly. I share reviews and promotions and am active on various social media platforms. I’ve engaged publicists at my own expense and held book signings. I give book talks and offer myself as a guest on podcasts. And despite all of that, let’s just say I’m delighted to be receiving  those monthly Social Security and pension checks, because there’s no way I could live on my royalties. (This is where I generally tell aspiring young authors that they should never, ever quit their day jobs to be writers.)

The thing is, authors need to find promotional avenues that work for them. And here is where I’ll mention the humble business card. I have always believed in that wee slice of paper, though I sense many feel that “technology” is outdated. But even today, in our digital world, business cards are perfect conversation starters, especially if one puts a little effort into their design. And then there’s the rather shocking idea that when one hands out a business card there’s a living, breathing human being reaching out to grasp it. Yes, I know when one hits the send button on our blogs and ads and posts they have the ability to reach lots of people, but there’s something special about looking someone in the eye and talking about your book.

Today, I rarely leave the house without a few business cards tucked in my pocket. I always have my latest book cover on the front and relevant contact information including my email address and website link on the back. I also list the titles of all my published books. Then I watch and listen. When I see someone with a book, I ask what they’re reading, which often leads to a conversation. Two strangers talking about books can be magical. If you don’t believe me, try it sometime.

As for all the other marketing approaches, the best advice is pick a few and stick with them. Try not to spread yourself too thin, and choose promotions you enjoy. For example, as a former TV sports reporter, I never met a microphone I didn’t like, so I enjoy being a guest on podcasts. However, Instagram always had me fumbling for something to post. It was almost a relief when someone from TikTok took over my account. (I know I should start over, but I just haven’t been able to make myself do it. Here’s hoping my publisher hasn’t noticed.)

So, get out there, fellow authors. Find what works for you. And always have a few business cards in your pocket.

Your Forgotten Sons

Inspired by a true story

Anne Montgomery

Bud Richardville is inducted into the Army as the United States prepares for the invasion of Europe in 1943. A chance comment has Bud assigned to a Graves Registration Company, where his unit is tasked with locating, identifying, and burying the dead. Bud ships out, leaving behind his new wife, Loryane, a mysterious woman who has stolen his heart but whose secretive nature and shadowy past leave many unanswered questions. When Bud and his men hit the beach at Normandy, they are immediately thrust into the horrors of what working in a graves unit entails. Bud is beaten down by the gruesome demands of his job and losses in his personal life, but then he meets Eva, an optimistic soul who despite the war can see a positive future. Will Eva’s love be enough to save him?

Release Date: June 6, 2024

Amazon

Apple Books

Barnes & Nobel

Google Books

Kobo

Universal Buy Link

Bookstores, libraries, and other booksellers can order copies directly from the Ingram Catalog.

Find Anne Montgomery’s novels wherever you buy books.

Goodreads

Amazon

BookSirens gives Your Forgotten Sons 5 Stars!

2 Comments

My thanks to Virginia Dill of BookSirens for her 5-Star review of my novel Your Forgotten Sons.

“What a brilliant book! I couldn’t put this novel down…It is a solid five-star read. An unputdownable accounting of innocence, greed, the horrors of war, and the selfishness and criminal behaviors of some who seek to profit off the misfortunes of others. Your Forgotten Sons should be a must-read for all lovers of fiction, especially WWII fiction. The tale was educational, provocative, enlightening, and so well done. I hope Anne Montgomery writes another tale such as this. Her books have found a place on my bookshelves.”

Find the rest of the review at here.

YOUR FORGOTTEN SONS

INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY

ANNE MONTGOMERY

Bud Richardville is inducted into the Army as the United States prepares for the invasion of Europe in 1943. A chance comment has Bud assigned to a Graves Registration Company, where his unit is tasked with locating, identifying, and burying the dead. Bud ships out, leaving behind his new wife, Lorraine, a mysterious woman who has stolen his heart but whose secretive nature and shadowy past leave many unanswered questions. When Bud and his men hit the beach at Normandy, they are immediately thrust into the horrors of what working in a graves unit entails. Bud is beaten down by the gruesome demands of his job and losses in his personal life, but then he meets Eva, an optimistic soul who despite the war can see a positive future. Will Eva’s love be enough to save him?

Order your copy today

Amazon

Apple Books

Barnes & Nobel

Google Books

Kobo

Universal Book Link

Find Anne Montgomery’s novels wherever you buy books.

Goodreads

Amazon

Your Forgotten Sons: The origin story

Leave a comment

Authors get ideas for books in a variety of ways. In my case, since I’m a former reporter, the topics for my novels often came from stories I read about in the paper or watched on the news, subjects, discoveries, or societal issues that intrigued me, inviting me to learn more about them.

My most recent novel, however, came to me in a different way. My friend was in trouble, a health issue that, if things went wrong, would have had disastrous results, possibly paralyzing her from the waist down. She asked for my help. And then, the night before the surgery, she made a strange request.

“No matter what happens to me, promise that you’ll tell Bud’s story,” Gina said.

“A book?”

My friend of 40 years nodded and, despite what she was facing the next morning, she smiled.

How could I say no?

The blog Women Writers, Women’s Books asked me to write about how my World War II historical fiction novel Your Forgotten Sons—which was released June 6th in honor of the 80th anniversary of D-Day—came to be and the pitfalls I faced in my efforts to tell the story.

Find that article here.

Your Forgotten Sons

Inspired by a true story

Released June 6, 2024

Anne Montgomery

Bud Richardville is inducted into the Army as the United States prepares for the invasion of Europe in 1943. A chance comment has Bud assigned to a Graves Registration Company, where his unit is tasked with locating, identifying, and burying the dead. Bud ships out, leaving behind his new wife, Lorraine, a mysterious woman who has stolen his heart but whose secretive nature and shadowy past leave many unanswered questions. When Bud and his men hit the beach at Normandy, they are immediately thrust into the horrors of what working in a graves unit entails. Bud is beaten down by the gruesome demands of his job and losses in his personal life, but then he meets Eva, an optimistic soul who despite the war can see a positive future. Will Eva’s love be enough to save him?

Order Your Copy Today

Amazon

Apple Books

Barnes & Nobel

Google Books

Kobo

Anne Montgomery’s novels can be found wherever books are sold.

Goodreads

Amazon

On being an author

4 Comments

Being an author is exciting and exhilarating. It allows one to travel to far-off places without leaving home and to meet new people, ones you might never get to know in your regular life. But writing can also be a solitary struggle to get things just right. And then there is the fight involved in trying to get a book published, which can be daunting, as well as the added marketing and social media demands that inevitably come along. It’s understandable, perhaps, that authors often wonder if it’s all worth the effort.

All that said, I never set out to write books. It just happened. And despite the everyday battles I can’t imagine doing anything else.

My new historical fiction novel Your Forgotten Sons, a story of a man who served in the Army’s Grave Registration Service during World War II, has just launched. All I can say is that it’s kind of like raising a child and then sending them out into the world, all wrapped up in your hopes and dreams.

The online magazine Books Uplift, just posted an interview with me where I discuss my new novel, as well as what it means to be an author and what aspiring authors should consider when contemplating a long-term relationship with written words. Find that I interview here.

Your Forgotten Sons

Inspired by a true story

Anne Montgomery

Bud Richardville is inducted into the Army as the United States prepares for the invasion of Europe in 1943. A chance comment has Bud assigned to a Graves Registration Company, where his unit is tasked with locating, identifying, and burying the dead. Bud ships out, leaving behind his new wife, Lorraine, a mysterious woman who has stolen his heart but whose secretive nature and shadowy past leave many unanswered questions. When Bud and his men hit the beach at Normandy, they are immediately thrust into the horrors of what working in a graves unit entails. Bud is beaten down by the gruesome demands of his job and losses in his personal life, but then he meets Eva, an optimistic soul who despite the war can see a positive future. Will Eva’s love be enough to save him?

Order Your Copy Today

Amazon

Apple Books

Barnes & Nobel

Google Books

Kobo

Anne Montgomery’s novels can be found wherever books are sold.

Goodreads

Amazon

Inspired by a true story: What’s that mean?

Leave a comment

My new historical fiction novel Your Forgotten Sons, which will be released June 6th, 2024 in honor of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, tells the story of Sergeant Bud Richardville, a man who served in the Army’s Graves Registration Services in Europe during World War II. Right on the cover you’ll see the words “Inspired by a true story.” But what does that mean?

First let’s talk about what the book isn’t. Your Forgotten Sons is not based on a true story, because by definition “the expectations are that the characters, storylines, and a majority of the scenes that you present within the script are primarily based on actual occurrences.”

But that doesn’t mean Bud’s story is made up. The phrase inspired by a true story indicates that “it’s based on a real-life event, but that a lot of the characters and scenes surrounding it are fictionalized.”

In Bud’s case, the facts of his story are true. I utilized letters he wrote to family members, oral histories, interviews, and correspondences from the military to determine who Bud was and what happened to him. Sadly, his military records were not available, because in 1973 a massive fire raged through the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, destroying approximately 17 million official military personnel files. The records for servicemen and women who had been discharged between 1912 and 1960 were wiped away, the flames consuming 80% of the Army’s archives, Bud’s among them.

I did my best to tell Sergeant Bud Richardville’s story, even though I didn’t always have the facts.

However, I was able to follow Bud’s path through Europe by utilizing the postmarks on his letters home, stamps that gave me dates and locations. Those postmarks, along with his letters, led me to believe that Bud was stationed in England just before D-Day, was part of the invasion at Normandy, was at the Battle of the Bulge, and was in Czechoslovakia when General George Patton’s Third Army liberated that country from the Nazis.

It was only when the book was going to press that I recieved a copy of Bud’s obituary which read, “He landed in France on D-Day and was with Hodge’s First Army as a member of the 606 Graves Registration Company. Action took him from France to Luxembourg, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and Germany.” So there it was. Proof that the postmarks had confirmed where and when Bud served.

When you read Your Forgotten Sons you will meet other soldiers in the GRS. They are entirely fictitious. Bud did not directly name the men he worked with, so I used my imagination. Nor is the woman Eva real. Though quiet family whispers suggested that Bud may have fallen in love with a woman while in Europe, nothing is known about her, so I created what I hope is a realistic character to serve in her stead. Note that all of Bud’s family members mentioned in the book were real people, as was Bud’s wife Lorraine, though she was shrouded in mystery even when Bud married her. While there is some historical information based on the real Lorraine, she remains an enigma.

I’ll admit that following Bud’s footprints was difficult, still I believe readers will understand my need to create scenes and dialogue that best represent the truth of Bud’s story. In the end, my hope was to remember a man who served his country well, a man who never came home, a man whose remains lie buried in the American Cemetery in Épinal, France, interred there by the soldiers who worked by his side.

Your Forgotten Sons

Inspired by a true story

Anne Montgomery

Bud Richardville is inducted into the Army as the United States prepares for the invasion of Europe in 1943. A chance comment has Bud assigned to a Graves Registration Company, where his unit is tasked with locating, identifying, and burying the dead. Bud ships out, leaving behind his new wife, Lorraine, a mysterious woman who has stolen his heart but whose secretive nature and shadowy past leave many unanswered questions. When Bud and his men hit the beach at Normandy, they are immediately thrust into the horrors of what working in a graves unit entails. Bud is beaten down by the gruesome demands of his job and losses in his personal life, but then he meets Eva, an optimistic soul who despite the war can see a positive future. Will Eva’s love be enough to save him?

Join us at Changing Hands Bookstore in Phoenix on June 6, 2024, for the lanuch of Your Forgotten Sons. Find out more about the event here.

Pre-Order your copy today

Amazon

Apple Books

Barnes & Nobel

Google Books

Kobo

Review a copy early by going to NetGalley. Sign in here.

Anne Montgomery’s novels can be found wherever books are sold.

Goodreads

Amazon

Writing historical fiction can be tricky

6 Comments
I almost got tripped up a few times, when writing about World War II Jeeps.

My new book, Your Forgotten Sons, is a work of historical fiction, a story inspired by Sergeant Joseph “Bud” Richardville who worked in the Graves Registration Service in Europe during World War II.

As many authors know, writing about the past can be tricky. One reason is we tend to look at history through our own modern-day lens. For example, when I was writing about Bud, I often had him riding in a Jeep. Today, Jeeps are ubiquitous on civilian roadways, but the origins of the vehicle are steeped in war.

Scripps Howard WWII reporter Ernie Pyle once said of the Jeep, “It did everything. It went everywhere. Was as faithful as a dog, as strong as a mule, and as agile as a goat. It constantly carried twice what it was designed for and still kept going.”

No doubt current Jeep owners prize the vehicle for many of the same attributes. The problem comes when one sees a Jeep and misses the evolution that led to today’s version. When I first wrote Your Forgotten Sons, I had Bud starting a Jeep with keys and adjusting the rearview mirror. Oops! Jeeps back then started with a pushbutton and the vehicles had no review mirrors.

I also had Bud and his fellow soldiers eating K-rations, but I would learn that he and his peers actually consumed C-rations. What’s the difference? K-rations were heavy, having been designed for static warfare, like the trench battles of World War I. But World War II was a different type of war, with fast-moving trucks and tanks and parachute troops who needed lighter combat rations, because soldiers were constantly on the move.

When I first envisioned Bud, I saw him in a green T-shirt, the iconic color of the Army. Today, Army personnel wear undershirts defined as Tan 499 which has a slight green tint to it, a shade referred to as “coyote”. But in Bud’s time, the plain, white cotton T-shirt was what all male service members sported.

When writing about the World War II era, I had to pay close attention to the facts. Luckily, the time is well documented with videos, and photographs, and eye-witness accounts. But consider writing about periods that go way back in history. My novel Wolf Catcher takes place in both modern times and the 11th century in what would become Arizona. I once wrote a scene where Native people used honey to sweeten their food, which could never have happened, because it was not until the early 1600s that European settlers first brought honey bees to the Americas.

It’s clear, then, that when authors choose to write stories based on history, they need to be meticulous in their research.

I’m working on it.

Your Forgotten Sons

Inspired by a true story

Anne Montgomery

Bud Richardville is inducted into the Army as the United States prepares for the invasion of Europe in 1943. A chance comment has Bud assigned to a Graves Registration Company, where his unit is tasked with locating, identifying, and burying the dead. Bud ships out, leaving behind his new wife, Loryane, a mysterious woman who has stolen his heart but whose secretive nature and shadowy past leave many unanswered questions. When Bud and his men hit the beach at Normandy, they are immediately thrust into the horrors of what working in a graves unit entails. Bud is beaten down by the gruesome demands of his job and losses in his personal life, but then he meets Eva, an optimistic soul who despite the war can see a positive future. Will Eva’s love be enough to save him?

Release Date: June 6, 2024

Pre-Order your copy today

Amazon

Apple Books

Barnes & Nobel

Google Books

Kobo

Review a copy early by going to NetGalley. Sign in here.

Find Anne Montgomery’s novels wherever you buy books.

Goodreads

Amazon

A surgery turns into a search for the truth

2 Comments
My dear friend Gina Liparato told me about her Uncle Bud who served in World War II and never came home; a man who worked in the Graves Registration Service in Europe and whose strange death puzzled her for decades.

Baltimore, 2019

I’d traveled to Baltimore at the request of a dear friend. She was facing a delicate, possibly life-changing surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital and asked that I stand in as her healthcare power of attorney.

The night before the operation, Gina, handed me a Ziplock bag. Inside I found a packet of yellowed letters. We’d spoken of Gina’s elusive uncle—her mother’s handsome, rakish brother—on occasion over the years, and of the odd circumstances surrounding his death near the end of World War II.

“No matter what happens to me, I want you to tell Bud’s story,” she said.

I nodded and promised that I would.

The next day, my friend of over three decades tried to comfort me and her soldier husband: three tours, two in Afghanistan, one in Iraq, a navy-blue sweatshirt boasting an Airborne patch, a bracelet saying Remember The Fallen encircling his wrist. Gina’s husband would soon disappear, leaving her in my care, because the hospital and its patients gnawed at his belly, a reminder of dead and dying soldiers he’d been unable to help in another hospital in Iraq.

I kissed Gina goodbye, told her I loved her, and left her alone with her husband.

Hours later, I sat bedside, staring at my friend who looked small and fragile beneath a thin hospital blanket.

“I want to bring him home.” Her eyes were still glassy from the anesthesia.

“Who?” I gazed at Gina, her face etched with pain. The drugs weren’t helping.

“And I want to know what happened?” She winced and closed her eyes.

“Do you want me to call the nurse?”

“No. Bud…” her voice trailed off.

“It’s been a long time, Gina. And we don’t have much to go on.”  I recalled the night before when she’d extracted those fragile letters with almost religious reverence. The epistles were small squares, etched with tight, black script. I’d made the promise in haste, hoping to make Gina feel better, and now wondered if I could keep my word.

She opened her eyes and squirmed, trying to find a comfortable position, but was under doctor’s orders not to move.

“Stay still! Water?” I reached for a plastic cup with a bent white straw, in an effort to do something.

Gina shook her head and stared out the window. I followed her gaze and focused on the clear blue sky and showy fall foliage, brilliant orange and yellow leaves basking in bright sunshine. I searched for something to say. I’d always been the one who, faced with a problem, could tackle a job and get it done, a hangover perhaps from my previous life as a reporter. But how was I to determine what happened to a man who died mysteriously all those years ago?

“I will have some water.”

I reached for the cup and guided the straw between Gina’s chapped lips. When she was done, I placed it back on the stainless-steel tray next to the bed. Then, she closed her eyes and let out a ragged breath.

I hated feeling helpless. Without thinking, I blurted out, “Let’s go get Bud!”

“Really?” She brightened instantly, a glimpse of the Gina I knew before the surgery.

I nodded. “When you’re better.”

And so, we agreed to travel to France, to the graveyard in Épinal where Sergeant Joseph “Bud” Richardville had lain since his death in 1945. Even if Gina spent the rest of her life in a wheelchair, we’d go to France and find out what happened.

But then Covid hit and our plans were derailed. Still, as Gina healed, we invesitgated Bud’s story, utilizing the resources we had. And, when we were done, we finally knew what happened to Bud Richardville. Your Forgotten Sons, which will be realesed on June 6, 2024 in honor of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, tells his story.

Your Forgotten Sons

Inspired by a true story

Anne Montgomery

Bud Richardville is inducted into the Army as the United States prepares for the invasion of Europe in 1943. A chance comment has Bud assigned to a Graves Registration Company, where his unit is tasked with locating, identifying, and burying the dead. Bud ships out, leaving behind his new wife, Lorraine, a mysterious woman who has stolen his heart but whose secretive nature and shadowy past leave many unanswered questions. When Bud and his men hit the beach at Normandy, they are immediately thrust into the horrors of what working in a graves unit entails. Bud is beaten down by the gruesome demands of his job and losses in his personal life, but then he meets Eva, an optimistic soul who despite the war can see a positive future. Will Eva’s love be enough to save him?

Release Date: June 6, 2024

Pre-Order your copy today

Amazon

Apple Books

Barnes & Nobel

Google Books

Kobo

Review a copy early by going to NetGalley. Sign in here.

Find Anne Montgomery’s novels wherever you buy books.

Goodreads

Amazon