When my Love Inspired Editor, Emily Rodmell, asked me to write my Military Investigations Series, I was excited about the stories, but I didn’t realized how many memories would be woven into each book. I’m an Army wife, Army mom, and Army brat, which means I grew up in the military. That background of moving every three years (if not more frequently) and living on Army posts around this country as well as in Japan and Germany gave me a wealth of information to use for the series.
In THE CAPTAIN’S MISSION, an October Love Inspired Suspense, Captain Phil Thibodeaux holds himself accountable for the supposed accident that claims the life of one of his soldiers during a training mission. Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent Kelly McQueen investigates and soon realizes friendly fire isn’t to blame. Both hero and heroine guard their hearts and must heal past wounds before they can move forward into the future.
The story deals with a commander’s high regard for his men, and his desire to do the right thing at all times. Strength of character, high moral values and a commitment to those he leads define my fictional hero, and are, in my opinion, the hallmark of real life military heroes. As my characters raced from the live fire training range, to the neighboring small town of Freemont, Georgia, to the barracks where Captain Thibodeaux’s soldiers live, I could envision the Army posts where I have lived and was able to go back in time and pull from my memories. In a similar way, the military men and women I’ve known and admired throughout the years helped to form the characters in this story.
What locales do you like to read about and what brings authenticity to the settings in either the books you read or the books you write? How have people in your past shaped the stories you write or have they influenced the type of stories you like to read?
Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby Giusti
www.DebbyGiusti.com
www.seekerville.blogspot.com
THE OFFICER'S SECRET, book 1 in my Military Investigations Series, is still available. Watch for book 3, THE COLONEL'S DAUGTHER, which will be out in 2012. Each book in the series stands alone so enjoy them in any order. Happy reading!
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Debbie, I love military heroes and will forward to reading the book. I loved the JAG series and was always inspired by the ideals our military lives up to.
ReplyDeleteFirst hand experience like you have Debbie is great, but if that's not possible a whole lot of research helps too:) what I would give for a time machine! Lol
ReplyDeleteI love reading about locations I grew up in like Washington DC or places I have visited like Hawaii. But I also like learning little tidbits about places I may never visit or careers I have no inkling about.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read the book on my way to Bali....I will give you a report and you can decide if it is a setting you need to "research." :-)
Leann, I LOVED JAG! Thanks for bringing that up! My husband and I recently borrowed all the seasons of that show from a friend and watched them all! I enjoy books about the military, law enforcement or firefighting! I think it's a "hero complex" or something! I just think the people that do those jobs are amazing! I enjoy most any locales. I have lived many places in the West and visited many places overseas, including living in Saudi Arabia and Guatemala! I love learning about lots of places which is one reason I love to read. Your books are so interesting, Debby! I still haven't read your new one but I plan to as soon as I can buy it!
ReplyDeleteValri westernaz@msn.com
Hi Debby:
ReplyDeleteBelow is a stanza that makes me think of the military:
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!
Rudyard Kipling
Here is one of my thought poems:
Experience
That was then
this is now
what was then
is different now.
My vision is clear
as I tell my tale.
I know it so well
I leave out detail.
Experience is
a some time thing
a funny mirror
a different thing.
It’s just something to think about.
Vince
Hi Eva:
ReplyDeleteThe Medical Romance, “Harry St. Clair: Rouge or Doctor” by Fiona McAuthur takes place in Bali. I think you’d enjoy that setting!
Vince
Hi Leann,
ReplyDeleteGod bless our military heroes! We see eye to eye on how special they are!
Hi Eva Maria,
ReplyDeleteTime machines! Wouldn't that be fun!
But I'd want to get back to the good ole USA 2011 quickly.
Hi Julie,
ReplyDeleteYou grew up in the DC area? I graduated from MT Vernon High, in Alexandria. How far away was your home?
HI Valri,
ReplyDeleteYou've lived an exciting life! Saudi Arabia, eh? I've known some military folks who were stationed there. Difficult for the women. Did you enjoy living there?
Vince, love your poems!
ReplyDeleteAlso loved the pics of you and your sweet wife on Seekerville!
Thanks for reviewing The Captain's Mission. I tried to leave a comment, more than once, and blogger objected. Don't know why I have trouble on certain blogs.
Thank you for the kind words!
Thanks Vince, I'll try to track that book down :)
ReplyDeleteDebbie, I agree, good to visit for research but then right back to enjoy our modern conveniences :)
Hi Debby:
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about comments on my website. I can’t even use the Google sign-in that I use to post my blogs when I too post comments. I have to use the ‘name/URL’ option to sign-in. So if I don’t get comments I just assume thousands have been trying and unable to figure it out. The mind is a wonderful thing.
One thought: does your Military CID series include a Thanksgiving or Christmas story?
Vince
Debbie, my parents lived in Arlington when they met and I still have relatives on that side of the Beltway. I was born in DC but was raised in Silver Spring and Burtonsville MD. But I spent a lot of time in your neck of the woods.
ReplyDeletePeace, Julie