Welcome Justin Dennis to my little blog! It is great to have you visit for this wonderful event! Let’s get straight to the question shall we?
Tell us a little about yourself Justin.
Well, hi! I’m Justin and I’m just a freshman at college studying what I love: Creative Writing. I grew up in Seattle but I’m out here in California to soak up the sunshine, study, and write novels! I love soccer and video games—although I no longer have time for either of those.
What is your latest book about?
My latest book is Through the Portal, which is a young adult fantasy about Jem, a shy kid who gets thrust into a new and magical world thanks to his outgoing and adventurous best friend, Oliver. In this new world, they meet all sorts of people and magical creatures, but also they encounter an evil Regime that is taking over. Seeking to join the rebellion, they set off across this new world braving all sorts of terrain and monsters in an attempt to save the world. It’s also the first book in a trilogy, so definitely expect more of Jem’s adventures!
Where can people get this book?
- Amazon: Kindle
- Barnes & Noble: Nook
- Smashwords: All E-Readers
Is it your first book?
Yes, although it was a conglomeration of everything I have had cooking up in my mind for years. I wrote it over the course of my senior year in high school and will have the second one out before the end of my freshman year of college!
What motivated you to publish it now?
After hours and hours and hours of research I decided that self-publishing would be the best route for me, rather than searching for agents and publishers and dealing piles of rejections. I would rather keep the rights and get my book out there for the world; hopefully the readers can help get my book known through word of mouth. 
Who is your favourite character?
That’s always very difficult to choose but I love Sierra because she is such a strong, independent female character and really knows how to hold her own. Without her, Jem would not have made it halfway through his adventure.
What’s your favourite indie book that you’ve read in the past 12 months?
I finished Edge of Dreams by Debbie Bennett a few weeks ago and it was very good. A really fast-paced contemporary fantasy.
What’s your favourite book of all time?
Got to be the Harry Potter series: the last one specifically. The incredible intricacies of the plot are just phenomenal and I cannot believe Rowling kept that all in her head.
Do you use any groups or mailing lists? Wanna tell us about them?
I run a website at www.JustinDennis.com. I’m on Facebook: Justin Dennis, Author. And Twitter: @justindennis4
Any advice for new writers?
Just keep writing. I know a full-length novel may sound daunting, and the publishing world may look scary, but it will be worth it. The satisfaction of finishing a novel and getting it published is unbelievable. Don’t say you may finish it later: set goals and meet them. Trust me, it will force you to sit down and write and meet those goals.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on the second novel in the Through the Portal Trilogy, but it is so far unnamed. It will be released by Summer 2012 though: that is my goal.
Anything else you’d like to tell us?
Thanks for reading my interview and have a great day.
Winter Sky believes she is everything ordinary … until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold. As seer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winter’s protector against the darkness that hunts her. Violently thrust into a magical realm she always thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own. Will love prove thicker than magic?
File Size: 2949 KB
Print Length: 361 pages
Publisher: TreasureLine Publishing (October 27, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-1617520808 (Paperback)
ASIN: B0060Q7AY2 (Kindle Edition)
Purchase: Kindle ~ Paperback
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Darkspell is a cute read perfect for young adults. It’s a great debut novel for sure. The characters were well developed and while I couldn’t relate to Winter personally, I still could clearly see her as a person throughout the story. The characters had their own unique voices and quirks, some of which made me chuckle aloud as I read the book.
The beginning hooked me right in and I didn’t put the book down until I was finished. I did feel the middle was too focused on the relationship between Alex and Winter, and not related to the actual plot. However, I do think the relationship needed to be explained in that manner, so that the ending had more of an impact.
The ending was fast-paced for sure! Had my heart racing as I read. I was a little a dissapointed that we didn’t actually find out what Winter’s power was by the end. Mrs. Mueller makes us guess or leaves a hint for us, but I’m still not 100% sure on what it is. But, it does leave it open to be reveiled in the next book!
Overall I really enjoyed the book. It’s not my normal choice in a book, but I’m glad I had the chance to read it. I’ll definitely read the next book in the series. I look forward to reading more about Alex, his “family”, and Winter.
Announcing Cleanse Fire, Fantasy Adventure novel, by Anastasia V. Pergakis!
Complete the mission, no matter what…
Captain Derac Vidor has served Kinir for nearly twenty years. It’s his life, his blood. And then his Commander betrays everything Derac holds dear. Now he has to focus on his own life and his team instead of saving the citizens of Kinir.
Treason is only the beginning…
Fueled by rage, the team chases the source to their Commander’s betrayal – a powerful wizard bent on revenge. The wizard seeks to destroy the Kinir Elite, in both mind and body. No place is safe, even among their allies.
The past holds the key…
Derac’s tragic past may be the key to saving the team. But can he face the gruesome nightmare in time?
A signed paperback copy of Cleanse Fire, Kinir Elite bookmarks, and a poster of the Kinir Elite, signed by all six members! I might include some other little goodies too for a surprise!
I’m having MORE giveaways during December and January, so head to the Kinir Elitefacebook page or website for more chances to win copies of Cleanse Fire. (For everyone – international too!)
WINNERS!
Winner of the signed paperback, bookmarks, and poster signed by the team is…..
CINDY HOGAN
Winner of the e-book and digital poster signed by the team is….
MELISSA PEARL
Congratulations! Send me an email at avpergakis[at]gmail.com. Cindy, I’ll need your mailing address and Melissa, I’ll need your email and what format your ebook needs to be in.
If you didn’t win, dont’ worry! My tour for the print release of Cleanse Fire is still going strong! Follow along the tour and you can win! Or, just follow the links below to buy your own copy right now!
Purchase Cleanse Fire
- for your Kindle at Amazon
- for your Nook at Barnes & Noble
- for your other E-Readers at Smashwords
- in paperback at Amazon
- in paperback at Barnes & Noble
- in hardback at Kinir Elite Website
Check out the other authors that participated in the Debutante Ball. You might have won one of their great books too!
- December 12: Elizabeth Mueller
- December 13: Regan Guerra
- December 14: Melissa Pearl
- December 15: Claudia Lefeve
- December 16: Joseph Beekman
- December 17: Pendragon Innmen
- December 19: Alex J. Cavanaugh
- December 20: Gillian Schafer
- December 21: Fiauna Lund
- December 22: Anastasia V. Pergakis
- December 23: H. Linn Murphy
- December 26: Tanya Contois
- December 27: Patti Larsen
- December 28: Red Tash
- December 29: Annetta Ribken
- December 30: Cindy Hogan
Announcing Cleanse Fire, Fantasy Adventure novel, by Anastasia V. Pergakis!
Complete the mission, no matter what…
Captain Derac Vidor has served Kinir for nearly twenty years. It’s his life, his blood. And then his Commander betrays everything Derac holds dear. Now he has to focus on his own life and his team instead of saving the citizens of Kinir.
Treason is only the beginning…
Fueled by rage, the team chases the source to their Commander’s betrayal – a powerful wizard bent on revenge. The wizard seeks to destroy the Kinir Elite, in both mind and body. No place is safe, even among their allies.
The past holds the key…
Derac’s tragic past may be the key to saving the team. But can he face the gruesome nightmare in time?
What people are saying about Cleanse Fire:
Cleanse Fire, the first book of the Kinir Elite chronicles by Anastasia V. Pergakis, is a fun new take on a classic genre: high fantasy. By this, I mean the tradition of J.R.R and Dragonlance, but with an added dash of military thriller. In Cleanse Fire, the Elves we are introduced to are part of an elite fighting squadron known as the Kinir Elite; they may look like gorgeous elves, but they fight like Marines.
But enough set-up, here’s the meat. The plot is engaging, and calls to mind some of the military thrillers of Dan Brown (no, not Angels and Demons, but the Scarecrow series, much better stuff) as well as the fantasy styling of Dragonlance. The characters themselves have complex backgrounds and are not the simple one dimensional critters you sometimes find in fantasy novels that rely solely on their mythical race to provide depth. These characters are full-fledged characters.
~ Rebecca Demarest
Anastasia writes the type of fantasy that even non-fantasy fans, like myself, would love to read. Her characters come to life from page one and the reader can’t help falling in love with them. Cleanse Fire is a fun, fast read full of adventure and romance, heartbreak and honor, danger and happily ever afters.
The reader is captured immediately in chapter one with the gruesome death of Captain Derac’s wife, then taken on a wild ride through all the adventures of Kinir Elite, who’s love and honor for their captain eventually mends Derac’s heart.
Purchase Cleanse Fire
- for your Kindle at Amazon
- for your Nook at Barnes & Noble
- for your other E-Readers at Smashwords
- in paperback at Amazon
- in paperback at Barnes & Noble
- in hardback at Kinir Elite Website
Leave a comment for a chance to receive the great prizes below! You can get more chances to win by tweeting about this post, or posting it on facebook. On twitter make sure to use the hastag #CleanseFire. Leave a comment on this post to tell me you’ve tweeted or posted about this with a link for me! Winners will be announced at the end of this Debut Author Tour on the 2nd of January.
A signed paperback copy of Cleanse Fire, Kinir Elite bookmarks, and a poster of the Kinir Elite, signed by all six members! I might include some other little goodies too for a surprise!
I’m having MORE giveaways during December and January, so head to the Kinir Elitefacebook page or website for more chances to win copies of Cleanse Fire. (For everyone – international too!)
*Sorry, parcel shipping is for US residents only this time around; International winners will get an e-book of Cleanse Fire and an e-copy of the poster signed by the team. That means they’ll be 2 different winners–please let me know if your International so that I may enter you in the drawing! Winners will be chosen by Random.org*
Want MORE books to win? Who doesn’t? Click the links below to visit the other debut authors attending the Debutante Ball! Have fun!
- December 12: Elizabeth Mueller
- December 13: Regan Guerra
- December 14: Melissa Pearl
- December 15: Claudia Lefeve
- December 16: Joseph Beekman
- December 17: Pendragon Innmen
- December 19: Alex J. Cavanaugh
- December 20: Gillian Schafer
- December 21: Fiauna Lund
- December 22: Anastasia V. Pergakis
- December 23: H. Linn Murphy
- December 26: Tanya Contois
- December 27: Patti Larsen
- December 28: Red Tash
- December 29: Annetta Ribken
- December 30: Cindy Hogan
Okay, I’m going to go off a little rant here. This first picture was circulating around facebook and I just HAD to add my two cents. However, you all know how long winded I am so I thought best to make it a blog post rather than reply on facebook. (If you can’t read the text, click on the image so see a larger version)
Finished reading? Regardless of whether you agree or don’t, I have another slant on this.
Belle (backrow, third from the left): Okay, Belle likes to read – a lot – and people in the town she lives in makes fun of her for it. As the oh so handsome Gaston says in the movie “It’s not right for a woman to read. First she starts getting ideas and thinking…” Oh yea, heaven forbid she have her own brain. Also, she didn’t just marry Gaston when he asked her – even though by rights he is a good looking guy. But like the quote says, it’s all about your heart. I disagree with the “unless your the girl” part because Belle is not shallow, or vain in anyway. She has a good heart too and that is what counts for her. Plus, as a writer, how can you hate a girl who reads all the time!?
Jasmine (backrow, second from the left): I can’t disagree necessarily with the words on this one. The culture in the world in the movie, makes it true. History has shown it plenty of times too. However, I want to mention how awesome Jasmine is! She falls in love with Aladdin, a poor boy living on the streets. She’s not a selfish, vain, spoiled little Princess. And then in the movie with Aladdin wishes for Genie’s freedom rather than making himself a Prince to be with her, she says she understands – because she has a good heart. And frankly, I don’t remember being an 8 year old or whatever watching this movie and thinking “She’s just a political piece of property.” I mean, I was EIGHT!
Cinderella (backrow, far right): Oh my goodness. I seriously don’t think that is the message Cinderella sends to little girls. Cinderella is one of my ultimate favs so I can talk about her forever. Instead, I want to talk about her Prince. HE didn’t care that she was a servant girl! He loved her anyway! That’s the beautiful part of her story. The Prince wanted her anyway. Isn’t THAT a good thing to tell little girls? That your “Prince Charming” will love you no matter what?
Aurora (backgrown, far left): She didn’t even grow up as a Princess! She was raised in the woods by three fairies – with pretty much no contact with other people her whole life. Prince Phillip falls in love with her when she’s “Briar Rose”, living in the farmer’s cottage and walking around barefoot. HE then slays the evil Maleficent – slays a dragon, fights through thick thorny bushes, escapes from her castle with all her goons. So where did Disney go wrong here? No where I think.
Snow White (front row, far left): I want to point out that it wasn’t JUST Snow White’s beauty that made the Queen want to kill her. It was her youthfulness too. But that’s not the point. Snow White did not just wait around for a man to show up to protect her. She ran away and took care of the 7 dwarves! And further more, when she was living at the castle with the Queen, the Queen made her work and dress in rags – skills she then used to help care for the dwarves and the animals in the forest. It wasn’t until after the Queen poisoned her with the apple that the Prince even showed up at all.
Arial (front row, far right): I saved this one for last because it made me the most upset. Does anyone not remember how mad King Tritan was when Ariel fell in love with Eric in the first place? Or how about how Ariel was tricked by the sea witch to do all those things. Manipulated so the sea witch could get what she wanted, picking the perfect moment (right after King Tritan destroyed all of Ariel’s collection) to her advantage. So with those two right there, that could be teaching our kids things like racisim or how to manipulate people. But oh no, let’s talk about Ariel and her rash decisions instead. Oh and then there is Eric. Eric didn’t give a flip that Ariel had a tail and he jumped right into the ocean without hesitation to save her.
And as a final thought – when I was a little girl, I was well aware that these stories were fiction. I mean, Ariel is a Mermaid mmkay? My Mom made sure I knew that. So, if you think Disney is bad for little girls, maybe people should step up as parents and explain the point of a movie to their kids. (The same thought goes for the whole “Violent video games make boys violent” thing)
Okay, I’m done ranting. I’m sorry but this really irked me. As a lover of stories, I just couldn’t stand by and not say my piece. I grew up on Disney Princesses and I don’t have any of those “issues” they tried to talk about in the picture. I’m 27, married to a wonderful man, have a beautiful son, and I’m a published author. I tought myself webdesign and graphic design. I’m independent, opinionated, and self-motivated. I’m a good mother, a good wife, and a good friend.
So what about me did Disney corrupt or ruin?
Aboslutely nothing.
This version of the picture was remade by Elizabeth Mueller. Sooo much better.
Okay, I know I don’t usually post about events as there are so many great ones out there, I don’t want to feel like I’m forgetting anyone. However, this one is HUGE for authors – and readers and bloggers too!
Adopt an Indie!
The idea behind the event is that the author offers up a book to be adopted. Then a book blogger or reader ‘adopts’ the book. They get to interact with the author by reviewing the book or interviewing them. Bloggers can submit guest posts too about indie publishing!
The event in November was a huge success and February’s is sure to be bigger and better than ever! There are giveaways, contests, and so much more going on I don’t think I could explain it all in one post. So, make sure you head over to the Adopt An Indie website to learn all about it! (By the way, I think Donna has done a beautiful job with the site design! I love it.)
If you’re an author, please do SIGN UP for Februray’s event! It’s going to be amazing. Donna has done such a wonderful job bringing authors together with readers and bloggers. I’m amazed with her ability to run such a huge celebration of books. (There is a referral competition going on, so if you sign up, mention me or my blog url in the form to help me out!)
Yes, Cleanse Fire, my fantasy adventure novel will be up for adoption during the event! To get a chance to adopt my book, you can sign up as a Blogger/Reader! (Authors, you can sign up for both if you like!)
It’s sure to be a fun event and I hope to see you all there!
Welcome to our Debutante Ball, a Feast of Debut Authors Blog Tour!
What is the Debutante Ball you ask? It’s simple. A bunch of debut authors (including myself) got together and came up with an awesome deal for our loyal readers!
Each day, a new author will spotlight their books and share some cinematic fun too! The party starts on Monday, December 12th and goes until December 30th!
Wait, that’s not all! We love our books so much that we want to give them to you along with cool swag, like bookmarks, totebags, posters, and more! Most of our contests will end Saturday, the 31st!
What do we want of you? Just your comment love and cool invites to as many friends as you can gather for our every appearance. Each shout out you do on twitter, facebook, linked in, anywhere, is just that much more of a chance to WIN BIG! Just let us know as you do them so we know to throw that in the voting box. Leave a link on each of our blog posts to the post you shared with your friends!
Here is the big list of debut authors! (I also have this in the sidebar for you to easily find!) With so many authors and books, you’re sure to find plenty to sink you teeth into!
Have fun!
- December 12: Elizabeth Mueller
- December 13: Regan Guerra
- December 14: Melissa Pearl
- December 15: Claudia Lefeve
- December 16: Joseph Beekman
- December 17: Pendragon Innmen
- December 19: Alex J. Cavanaugh
- December 20: Gillian Schafer
- December 21: Fiauna Lund
- December 22: Anastasia V. Pergakis
- December 23: H. Linn Murphy
- December 26: Tanya Contois
- December 27: Patti Larsen
- December 28: Red Tash
- December 29: Annetta Ribken
- December 30: Cindy Hogan
Four books ~ Two Days ~ Great Prizes
With this contest, there is something for everyone and it’s SO simple to be in on the winning!
On November 28 and/or 29, purchase 1 or all 4 of the debut author’s books listed here. Then forward proof of purchase (the receipt Amazon sends you will do just fine) to : motionsrider@yahoo.ca and get up to 4 entries into a draw for a $100 Amazon gift card!
It’s that easy, no reviews, no hoops to jump through. Just a great .99 book or two. Or three or four. AND, if the person who wins the $100 Amazon Gift Card has purchased all 4 books, an additional $25 Amazon Gift Card will be awarded to the winner!
On top of that, 2 random commenter’s picked from 2 of our participating blogs will receive $5 gift Amazon gift cards . So, be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think of the promo, the books, or the authors.
Winners will be chosen randomly, one entry per person, per book.
All winners will be announced on December 7th on Wringing Out Words
“Between” by Cyndi Tefft
It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water’s life isn’t alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile, and Scottish accent.
After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates.
Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven’s siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries.
Link: http://www.amazon.com/Between-ebook/dp/B004XZUMBA/
“Until Dawn: Last Light” by Jennifer Simas
When darkness falls, whose side will you be on?
For the past six years, Zoë has been anything but “normal.” Struggling to accept her immortality and thrown into a war that’s been waging in the shadows for over a thousand years, Zoë must now become who she was meant to be, joining the other Chosen to save what’s left of humanity. When the endless night falls over the Earth, will she be able to save the one man who reminds her of what it is to be human, or will it be too late?
Until Dawn: Last Light is a story of death and despair, love and longing, hope and hopelessness, and the ability to survive and keep going even when it seems impossible – when you want nothing more than to give up.
Link: http://www.amazon.com/Until-Dawn-Last-Light-ebook/dp/B005QUIXJY/
“The Kayson Cycle” by Jonathan D. Allen
A stranger enters a dying town and makes a desperate plea…
The Kayson Cycle introduces the Kayson Brothers, a pair of faith healers who once wowed crowds in a traveling show but went their separate ways after a night in which a healing took a dark turn. Jeffrey Kayson disappeared into the wilderness and William Kayson, wracked by guilt, moved to the failing mining town of Calico Hills to build a nice, quiet life – one that has lasted for over ten years.
His quiet, predictable life crumbles when a mysterious stranger walks into his tavern bearing a proposal to find his long-lost brother and do the one thing that William has sworn to never do again – have his brother heal a woman. William soon learns that he can’t escape his family – or his destiny.
Includes an exclusive sample chapter of The Corridors of the Dead. Please note that this is a Kindle Single, and around 6,000 words in length.
Link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Kayson-Cycle-ebook/dp/B0061FDUA0/
“Sundered” by Shannon Mayer
A miracle drug, Nevermore, spreads like wildfire throughout the world allowing people to eat what they want, and still lose weight. It is everything the human population has ever dreamed of and Mara is no different. Only a simple twist of fate stops her from taking Nevermore.
As the weeks roll by, it becomes apparent that Nevermore is not the miracle it claimed. A true to life nightmare, the drug steals the very essence that makes up humanity and unleashes a new and deadly species on the world that is bent on filling its belly. Locked down within their small farm home, Mara and her husband Sebastian struggle against increasingly bad odds, fighting off marauders and monsters alike.
But Sebastian carries a dark secret, one that more than threatens to tear them apart, it threatens to destroy them both and the love they have for each other.
Now Mara must make the ultimate choice. Will she live for love, or will she live to survive?
Link: http://www.amazon.com/Sundered-Nevermore-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B005KOIVH0/
Paperback: 207 pages
File Size: 287 KB (Kindle Edition)
Publisher: Infinity Publishing (July 30, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-0741460882 (Paperback)
ASIN: B003TXRYAY (Kindle Edition)
Purchase: Kindle, Paperback, Nook.
Website: www.GeorgeSirois.com
Excelsior tells the story of Matthew Peters, a somewhat lonely teen drudging through high school. He lives in a world he created from vivid dreams about Excelsior and the epic adventures that befall him. At least, he thought he created it. When one of his comic characters shows up, live and in person, Matthew soon realizes that his dreams were really memories – and Excelsior is a real person from Denab IV!
I was immediately drawn into this story from the first line and it kept me hooked until the very end! With action and more action in this story, it’s sure to keep you on the edge of your seat, just like it did me. I read it in one shot, fearing that if I put it down, I would miss a vital piece of information! The world of Denab IV that we visit in this story is truly magical. George put exquisite amount of work and detail into describing the new world and the culture of the Denarians and Krunations. I was sucked into the world and instantly felt a connection to the Denarians and their fight for survival.
I was most drawn to Matthew of course, because I could completely relate with him. Becoming lost in a story and almost obsessed with characters the way Matthew does with this comic, reminds me so much of myself in High School it’s not even funny! There is one moment where Matthew has his nose a few inches from the page he’s working on, not paying attention in class and I instantly remembered practically the same moment as it happened to me!
All parts of this book pulled me in and I became totally immersed into Matthew’s adventure! This is one of the best books I’ve read in many years and I highly recommend it to anyone – not just sci-fi lovers like myself. I think anyone will fall in love with this book because of it’s simple yet complex twists that just suck you right in!
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
I had the privelage a while back to ask George a few questions about his book. I want to share them again, because they give a beautiful story into why George wrote Excelsior.
George, tell us how did the idea for Excelsior come to you?
I originally created Excelsior in 1992, when I wanted to add someone new to my universe of characters. I wanted to bring in someone special, someone with mythic characteristics. After watching the John Boorman film Excalibur, I wanted to use a sword as a starting point and added a superhero element to the new character, combining elements from Jesus Christ, King Arthur and Optimus Prime. I always liked how the word “Excelsior” sounded and I thought that would be the perfect name for this guy. In the next two years, his backstory came into focus when I was encouraged by my English teacher to write more about him.
That’s wonderful that you had such a supportive English teacher. It seems that you have multiple elements help you inspire this story. The combination is truly amazing! Especially in your character development and details. What was the inspiration for the character Matthew? And Jason?
Matthew started out as someone I wanted to use to honor the memory of my cousin Matthew Henkel. He passed away five years ago, one week before his 25th birthday, but before he left us, he accomplished more in his life than most people who live to their 70s or 80s. Matt was the ultimate example of someone who looked very ordinary but did extraordinary things.
I didn’t want to take actual moments from his life, so instead I used Matt’s life as subtext to match what Matthew Peters goes through, how he was never looked at as a hero and yet became one of the greatest ever seen. When it came to the backstory of the character, I used elements from my own life such as the mentioning of having an office in his closet and the conversation he has with Mrs. Webb. (That was a true story. My English teacher gave me two points of extra credit because of the journal entries that mentioned Excelsior and the other characters in my universe.)
Jason was a character born from necessity. When I started developing the story with a 17-year-old high school senior in mind for Matthew Peters (he was originally in his 30s and becoming a superstar in the comic book industry before I thought the Young Adult genre made for a better fit) I couldn’t fathom the idea of Klierra telling Matthew’s parents about the hero he is destined to be. Plus, since I wanted to add in the mythic elements from Joseph Campbell’s writing, it worked better for the story if his parents were out of the picture.
But he had to have SOME kind of parental figure, so I brought in an uncle who has a lot of problems of his own while trying to be “cool” to his nephew. I used the name Jason as a tribute to my friend and cover artist Jason Goodman, since it was his web comic that inspired me to have Matthew writing and drawing his own for Excelsior.
At the end of Excelsior, George wrote a beautiful “Afterward” explaining more about his cousin, Matthew Henkel. It made me cry and I fel honored to learn even a little about such a great man.
I wish you much success George and look forward to reading more about Excelsior!
Being an Army Brat in the US, I’ve always known the tradition of tying a yellow ribbon round a tree when waiting for a soldier to come home. But I never knew where it came from or how it started.
Red Poppies were lost to me until just a few days ago! I had no idea about the symbol at all, much less where it came from. So, for today’s post, I decided to give you all a little insite into the two symbols.
THE YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLD OAK TREE
No, it doesn’t always have to be an oak tree – or any tree for that matter. Nowadays you can find yellow ‘ribbons’ as bumper stickers, maganets, pins, and more. But, the symbol of what the ribbon means is the same.
During my research, I found it funny that while today, a yellow ribbon is related to soldiers and waiting for them to come home, the history of the ribbon finds it self with a man coming home from prison!
Gerald E. Parsons wrote a great article about the history of the yellow ribbon. During his own research, so many people told him or commented in some way about the different places where the tradition came from. Most said it stemmed from something during the Civil War. But, Gerald provided this story as the start of the tradition:
From Star Wormwood (1959 book on prison reform)
It is the story of two men in a railroad train. One was so reserved that his companion had difficulty in persuading him to talk about himself. He was, he said at length, a convict returning from five years’ imprisonment in a distant prison, but his people were too poor to visit him and were too uneducated to be very articulate on paper. Hence he had written to them to make a sign for him when he was released and came home. If they wanted him, they should put a white ribbon in the big apple tree which stood close to the railroad track at the bottom of the garden, and he would get off the train, but if they did not want him, they were to do nothing and he would stay on the train and seek a new life elsewhere. He said that they were nearing his home town and that he couldn’t bear to look. His new friend said that he would look and took his place by the window to watch for the apple tree which the other had described to him.
In a minute he put a hand on his companion’s arm. “There it is,” he cried. “It’s all right! The whole tree is white with ribbons.”
Gerald goes on to explain how the tradition progressed from the original legend. Here are some highlights from Gerald’s article:
In October of 1971, Pete Hamill wrote a piece for the New York Post called “Going Home.” The story goes that college students on a bus trip to the beaches of Fort Lauderdale make friends with an ex-convict who is watching for a yellow handkerchief on a roadside oak. Hamill claimed to have heard this story in oral tradition.
In June of 1972, nine months later, The Readers Digest reprinted “Going Home.” Also in June 1972, ABC-TV aired a dramatized version of it in which James Earl Jones played the role of the returning ex-con. One month-and-a-half after that, Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown registered for copyright a song they called “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree.”
In January 1975, Gail Magruder, wife of Jeb Stuart Magruder of Watergate fame, festooned her front porch with yellow ribbons to welcome her husband home from jail. The event was televised on the evening news (one of the viewers was Penne Laingen). And thus a modern folk legend concerning a newly released prisoner was transformed into a popular song, and the popular song, in turn, transformed into a ritual enactment. Notice that Jeb Stuart Magruder’s return to his home exactly parallels the situation in both the folk narrative and the popular song. The new development, at this point, was that Gail Magruder put the story into action.
The next big step was to make the ribbon into an emblem–not for the return of a forgiven prodigal–but for the return of an imprisoned hero. And that step was Penne Laingen’s: On November 4, 1979, Iranian revolutionaries seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran and held Ambassador Bruce Laingen and the rest of the embassy staff hostage.
Six weeks later, on December 10, the Washington Post printed two short articles by Barbara Parker: “Coping With `IRage’” and “Penne Laingen’s Wait.” The first article began “Americans are seething” and went on to quote psychologists concerning the widespread and intense emotional distress caused by the hostage crisis. The article presented a helpful list of things to do to “vent irage”: “ring church bells at noontime . . . organize a neighborhood coffee to discuss the crisis and establish one ground rule only: no physical violence . . . play tennis and `whack the hell’ out of the ball . . . offer family prayers or moments of silence . . . turn on car headlights during the day . . . send gifts to the needy `in the name of the hostages,’” and, of course, the old stand-by, “conduct candlelight vigils.”
Then in the Post article come the words “Laingen, who has ‘tied a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree’. . . suggests that as something else others might do.” The article concludes with Penne Laingen saying, “So I’m standing and waiting and praying . . . and one of these days Bruce is going to untie that yellow ribbon. It’s going to be out there until he does.” According to my current understanding, this is the first announcement that the yellow ribbon symbol had become a banner through which families could express their determination to be reunited.
Isn’t it amazing how things progress over time? Started out with a man going home from prison with a white ribbon around the tree, then a yellow hankerchief, and so on – until we have the yellow ribbon as we know it today. My Mom, my sister, and I always hung a yellow ribbon around the tree in the front yard everytime Dad was overseas. Even now, when I see one fluttering in someone’s yard, I have the urge to go hug whoever lives there!
THE RED POPPIES IN FLANDERS FIELD
Now, again, I admit I had no idea about the poppies symbol until just recently. But, my research says it is highly popular in the UK, which might be why I missed it!
But just where did this tradition come from and what does it mean? Here is what I found.
The entire western part of Belgium is known as Flanders. This particular area saw some of the bloddiest fights during World War I. Complete devestation. Buildings, roads, tree, everything was just gone. The area became a grave for dead – where men still fought!
The poppy survived. It blooms each year with warm weather. Poppies flower in rooted up soil. The seeds can lay in the ground for years without growing at all, only growing after the ground has been disturbed in some way.
John McCrae, a Canadian who enlisted to help the allies during the war, wrote a poem. A Medical Officer serving in Europe, he penned the poem with the nub of a pencil during a lull in battle.
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.
(John McCrae, 1915)
His was published in Punch Magazine and by 1918, the poem was well known throughout the world.
That November in 1918, an American named Moira Micheal, penned a poem in reply:
Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields
Sleep sweet- to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the faith
With All who died.We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a luster to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.
Moira then began wearing red poppies in memory of the sacrifice of war and as a symbol to keep the faith.
Then, Madam Guerin, a French woman visiting the United States, learned of the custom. She took it one step further. On her return to France, she decided to hand make red poppies and sell them to raise money for orphaned and destitue women and children in war torn France. The tradition even spread to the UK, Canada, the US, and Australia and is still done today. Today, the money collected from the sale of these poppies goes to fund many different veterans programs.
Pretty cool huh? And those poems were beautiful.
How do you show off your yellow ribbon or red poppies? Do you wear them as a pin or have them in your yard?