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Our Twitter is @TheIWSG and hashtag #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. Remember, the question is optional!!!
Alex's awesome co-hosts are Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine
October 1 question - What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?
My ya/contemporary, Incense and Peppermints is close to my heart.
It's a work of fiction based on factual occurrence's. It takes place in 1969 during the escalation of the Viet Nam War when the draft hung over young 18 year olds like a guillotine. It was also a time of massive protests against the war, hippies, flower power, Woodstock, drugs, and a music revolution.
I waited a long time to write this book due to certain people mentioned, although, their names are changed and many have since died. Readers, if not familiar with the music or that time frame have a hard time connecting. Some reviewers can't believe what I'd written. However, like I mentioned, I lived in a small village, I lived through those times and those experiences.
Sounds like an awesome book. Bravo for writing it.
ReplyDeleteI was a bit young to remember it but I do understand the time frame.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting today!
I also was a bit younger, yet I remember it well.
DeleteI like stories set during the time period of your story. Yours sounds great. Thanks for co-hosting this month.
ReplyDeleteIt was a wild time.
DeleteIt was a crazy time. We also landed on the moon that year. (Something I do remember.) Plus the last big pandemic was happening then.
ReplyDeleteYes, and I wrote about the moon landing in the book.
DeleteTruth is often stranger than fiction, eh? It sounds like a fascinating story -- something that captures a reality people probably need to face.
ReplyDeleteYes, it can be.
DeleteThanks for co-hosting today and sharing your story. Incense and Peppermints sounds like an engaging read.
ReplyDeleteThank you Toi.
DeleteThanks for co-hosting. I'll have to check out Incense and Peppermints! @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
Thank You Samantha
DeleteSome times in our lives are so powerful that they seem to have just happened. Writing about them makes it even more permanent and keeps those times alive. Thanks for co-hosting today.
ReplyDeletehttps://cleemckenziebooks.substack.com/
It does, thanks Lee.
DeleteI wish you the best of luck in all your publishing! Sounds exciting!
ReplyDeleteThank you Lux.
DeleteI love the cover of that book. Sounds like an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting!
Thanks Melissa.
DeleteI know that era well. The book sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI was so young and naive, loved and still love the music from those years.
DeleteThe sixties! What a chaotic and freeing era! I was a bit too young to fully appreciate them but my oldest sister was a glam hippy of the first order. And the music - glorious!! It made the issues come to life with angry, loud, and boisterous resonance.
ReplyDeleteI was a bit younger too, but love and still love the music of that era!
DeleteAwesome, Cathrina! I remember 1969 very well. Despite the chaos and conflict, it was one of my favorite years in my life. Thanks for co-hosting today.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Thanks Fundy.
DeleteThanks for co-hosting today!
ReplyDeleteI was born after that era. But even so, I still knew how that era was all sex, drugs and rock n roll. And protests. It was an iconic era.
It was totally cosmic as they said back in the day. LOL!!
DeleteSounds like a thought-provoking book about a complex and chaotic time.
ReplyDeleteIt was and I hope I relayed it well, even though it's a work of fiction.
DeleteI was a little too young to protest, but I enjoyed the music. I had to register for the draft but the tragedy of the Saigon pullout happened before I was out of high school. It was an interesting time to be a teen. I fortunately did not lose anyone I knew to the war, but one family friend came back from Viet Nam a bitter and angry man.
ReplyDeleteMy husband registered for the draft and had a very low#, but like you, the pullout of Saigon saved him. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteThat's my era. I graduated HS in 1969 and started college in the fall of that year. For me it's mostly good memories. I know the music well. It's mostly what I still listen to.
ReplyDeleteLee
I also still love and listen to the music of that era, brings back lots of great memories too!
DeleteCongrats on completion of what sounds like a memoir - I'll bet it was a cathartic, thoughtful process for you.
ReplyDeleteIt truly was. Although, it is a work of fiction. I was a bit younger at that time.
DeleteWhat a difficult and incredible time in our history to have first hand accounts. And I was born a bit after that era, but still grew up listening to the music of those times, anyway. The music was incredibly passionate and emotional. Thanks for sharing and thanks for hossting today's blog hop.
ReplyDeleteThat music is still my favorite. Brings back lots of memories. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteWe’re about the same age. I wonder how it was where you lived… thanks for cohosting today!
ReplyDeleteA very small town, and close friends. Some are gone, not from the war, but from drug use. I was a bit younger at the time, but remember it well.
DeleteI believe you. This is an excellent book and captured a time.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tyrean
DeleteWhat a time of conflict as the setting for your novel! Thank you for co-hosting, Cathrina.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jennifer
DeleteThank you for co-hosting! Quite a difficult time to live through I'm sure, I hadn't quite been born yet. Sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kathy
DeleteSounds like an interesting book.
ReplyDeleteThe first Friday in October is World Smile Day, a day dedicated to spreading smiles and performing acts of kindness. 😊
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge
Thank you
DeleteWriting from what you know, from what you've experienced, is strong writing. And to still feel that particular writing is pertinent, is powerful. Thanks for cohosting this month's question, Cathrina.
ReplyDeleteThank You Victoria
DeleteA fascinating time! Thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDelete