Between now and June 1st, royalties from the print, audio, and electronic editions of DEAREST MOTHER AND DAD will be donated to the Otsego VFW Post 3030. (Dad was a member.)
Dearest Mother and Dad
Korean War
It all happened within minutes. For some, it would last a lifetime.
In Memory of Dad
Dear Dad,
Happy Veterans Day. Thank you for your sacrifice. I didn’t understand until recently how much the Korean War affected you. It had taken your innocence leaving your emotions hardened from the horrors. Would our relationship have been better had I known your torment?
After reading your letters to your parents during the war, I felt the love you had for them, which is why I used my favorite picture of you, your mother, and your dad on the cover. That’s how I want to remember you. I will cherish those rare times when you had let your guard down—laughing with a lightened heart. I forgive you, and I miss you more than I ever had.
With Love,
Christina
Corpsman Orrin Connor’s faithful letters with a touching twist shield his parents from the horrors of war. His buddy Rawley Armstrong’s poignant letters give his sister the harrowing truths. Throughout their dangerous assignments during the Korean War, they debate the consequences of their choices. Orrin gains comfort in downplaying his experiences while Rawley feels a healing purge. As they get to know the Marines in their charge, the corpsmen gather a variety of opinions. Although Orrin and Rawley disagree, their friendship remains true until the bitter end.
“It all happened within minutes. For some, it would last a lifetime.”
Based on her father’s letters to his parents throughout the Forgotten War, author Christina Thompson has produced this work of historical fiction to pay tribute to Navy corpsmen by remembering their service to their brothers and their country. Imagining her father had guarded his parents from the carnage of war, Christina elaborates on what could have happened while staying true to the dates and experiences her father shared in his actual letters.
Book Trailer: Dearest Mother and Dad
Check out my new video for Dearest Mother and Dad. A big thanks to Literary Titan for their help.
Dearest Mother and Dad Book Trailer on YOUTUBE
“One hundred and twenty Marines wounded. Eighteen dead. All for one lousy hill.”
Corpsman Orrin Connor’s faithful letters with a touching twist shield his parents from the horrors of war. His buddy Rawley Armstrong’s poignant letters give his sister the harrowing truths. Throughout their dangerous assignments during the Korean War, they debate the consequences of their choices. Orrin gains comfort in downplaying his experiences while Rawley feels a healing purge. As they get to know the Marines in their charge, the corpsmen gather a variety of opinions. Although Orrin and Rawley disagree, their friendship remains true until the bitter end.
“It all happened within minutes. For some, it would last a lifetime.”
Based on her father’s letters to his parents throughout the Forgotten War, author Christina Thompson has produced this work of historical fiction to pay tribute to Navy corpsmen by remembering their service to their brothers and their country. Imagining her father had guarded his parents from the carnage of war, Christina elaborates on what could have happened while staying true to the dates and experiences her father shared in his actual letters.
A Labor of Love and Forgiveness
My historical fiction, Dearest Mother and Dad, is a labor of love, and now it’s available as an AUDIOBOOK. Just in time for Memorial Day!
After reading through the letters my dad wrote to his parents during the Korean War about his experiences, I finally understood why he was hard and emotionally absent. It took me two years to write the story. Then, it took me another year to turn the novel into an audiobook. There was only one narrator for this job—Gary Bennett.
Gary had narrated my romantic thriller Chemical Attraction through 48fourteen Publishing. He did an incredible job, and my mom fell in love with his voice. So, for us, this was a no-brainer. We were not disappointed.
Gary’s narration gave Orrin and Rawley’s friendship the perfect amount of emotion. In fact, as I listened I cried. Then, at the last line of the story, I sobbed. It hit me hard. I miss my dad and all of his gruff.
I am so proud of this collaboration. I think my dad—who was a fan of books on tape—would have loved it, too. Thank you, Gary.
The AUDIOBOOK for Dearest Mother and Dad is NOW available on AUDIBLE
To learn more about Narrator Gary Bennett and his other amazing projects, visit GaryBennettReads.com
Memorial Day Thank You
On this Memorial Day, I send a special Thank You to all those who have died in military service.
My work of historical fiction pays tribute to Navy corpsmen by remembering their service to their brothers and their country. Dearest Mother and Dad is based on my dad’s letters to his parents during the Korean War. It seems appropriate to share some of his pictures in my album-style book trailer. I used them to visualize and create the story. Take a look.
“Mail Call”
Although under the weather for almost three weeks, I tried my hand at writing lyrics. Surprisingly, the words flowed. I believe “Mail Call” is the essence of my novel, Dearest Mother and Dad.
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“Mail Call”
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Giddy anticipation from family so far away,
Mama’s note reverting man to boy of yesterday,
Perfumed letters like the sweet taste of my gals’ necks,
Help us forget we’re heading for a god awful wreck.
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Our letters home have tough drawbacks.
But ya gotta write something for a tall stack.
To tell the truth or make up lies, which one do we voice?
More stress upon us at the complicated choice.
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Protecting my mother unknowing of what I see,
Gives me courage to be what I need for adversity.
Hiding my anxiety is what helps my ability.
Why should more worry besides me?
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Our letters home have tough drawbacks.
But ya gotta write something for a tall stack.
To tell the truth or make up lies, which one do we voice?
More stress upon us at the complicated choice.
*
The mundane lies believed more humane.
But we’re not at a resort with caviar and champagne.
My sister demands to know my bitterness
Therapy is confessing my sins for forgiveness.
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Some say they’re afraid of how we’ll return.
Violent or depressed and ending in an urn.
Others will pretend the war never happened,
Pick up where we left off as though abandoned.
We’re far from home it doesn’t matter now.
We just want to survive this hell somehow.
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Our letters home have tough drawbacks.
But ya gotta write something for a tall stack.
To tell the truth or make up lies, which one do we voice?
More stress upon us at the complicated choice.
Only Love Remains
“It all happened within minutes. For some, it would last a lifetime.”
As many of you know from previous posts, my dad was a Navy Corpsman with the Marines during the Korean War. He never shared his experiences. After he died, I read the letters he wrote to his parents during the war and finally understood (reading between the lines) why he was hard and emotionally absent. I think the war had affected him more than he had let on.
Although Dearest Mother and Dad is historical fiction, I believe my dad was beside me as I wrote it. You may love the story. You may hate it. This healing process dissolved my anger and pain. Only love remains.
I’ve shared some of my dad’s pictures from Korea in my book trailer photo album. I used them to visualize and create the story. Take a look.
To all our Veterans, thank you for your service and sacrifice.
Dearest Mother and Dad on AMAZON
Dearest Mother and Dad on BARNES&NOBLE
Dearest Mother and Dad: Animated Cover
Like a bygone news reel from the Korean War, Dearest Mother and Dad brings to life the history of two Navy corpsmen fighting with the Marines. These best friends debate whether to share their horrific experiences in the letters to their families.
Animated Cover by morganwrightbooks.com
Ima Liar Liar
“What’s real? What’s not?”
These are two of the biggest questions I’ve gotten since publishing Dearest Mother and Dad, and, frankly, it surprised me. I mean all my books are fiction. Even though I researched a few truths for each book, they’re mostly lies…made-up stories.
For example, can you use nano-drugs to control a person’s actions like the drugs in Chemical Attraction? Not unless there’s top secret research going on. So, I guess it seems plausible.
Can you shape the inside of a diamond to look like an American rose similar to the one in The Garden Collection? It would be cool, expensive, and plausible.
Can you transport a Russian satellite inside the trailer of a semi-truck like the one in The Trucker’s Cat? Who knows what’s inside those non-descript trucks, but it seems plausible, too.
If you’re asking what’s real and what isn’t in Dearest Mother and Dad because it’s historical fiction and based on letters my father wrote to his parents during the Korean War, here are those answers.
REAL: the Korean War
REAL: the battles
REAL: the dates
REAL: Orrin’s (my dad’s) letters to his parents (Names were changed to protect the innocent … and the guilty.)
FAKE: the rest of the story
My dad didn’t share his experiences, so I made it up. Isn’t that what writers do? They lie. We’re liars although I prefer the term fiction writers.
Thanks for stopping by today.
Christina’s Author Page on AMAZON
Dearest Mother and Dad: Reviews
Thank You for the Awesome Reviews! I’m so proud of this book.
“Thompson has composed a magnificent story that brings the Korean War to life with unforgettable characters that you truly care about and who stay with you long after the pages run out. I absolutely loved this book and will recommend it highly!”
“Set during a time of war, this is a beautiful love story between a son and his parents, especially his mother, and the unbreakable bond between friends. Especially poignant knowing the story is based on actual letters.”
“Feel the true emotions of war. A wonderful story of the Korean War with unforgettable characters.”
Dearest Mother and Dad on AMAZON
Dearest Mother and Dad on BARNES & NOBLE
The Eclectic World of Christina 