FREE Today: Library Blitz 3—Happy Tonight
Happy Thanksgiving, to those of you in the United States today! (Likewise, Happy Thanksgiving to those of you with friends or family who come home over American Thanksgiving, even if you don’t live in the States, yourself!)
And right on the heals of a Happy Thanksgiving, may I also wish you a Happy Black Friday?
Because once again, it is that time of year again—Perry Elizabeth Kirkpatrick’s massive Black Friday Book Sale of clean indie fiction and nonfiction is already up and running. (More on that in a little bit!)
On a personal note, this weekend also marks Sheep Among Wolves’ 10th anniversary! Wow! How did we get there? I mean, people actually celebrate their 10th anniversary! Like—celebrate it for real. Which I guess, after all, is what we’re doing today. And we’re doing it in a way we hope will give you the chance to celebrate with us, too.
All of which means, today is definitely the day for book shopping. SAW Publishing is so excited to be offering sales and freebies on multiple titles this weekend. (More on that in a little bit, too!)
But for now, I am hopping up and down to introduce the newest episode of Library Blitz. (Jumping up and down figuratively, you understand—from a technical viewpoint, I’m still leaning against the armrest of my well-worn desk chair, typing away industriously. But it’s the thought that counts!)
Library Blitz 3: Happy Tonight
Some things just don’t mix. Christmas and world wars being two of them.
It’s December 23, 1940, but Nora’s focus is anywhere except on the coming holiday. How can she think of taking a war-scarred child home for Christmas—only to bring him back again to the nightmare of London in a couple of weeks? Surely, it’s wiser—and kinder—to keep her silent little boy where he is now. Even if it means forgoing her own Christmas to achieve it.
Frank Willis isn’t exactly making her decision easy, though. If Nora’s not going home for Christmas, Frank at least wants a reason why. Nora isn’t sure he’s even forgiven her for coming to London in the first place. Can she actually trust him with the complicated tangle of emotions that are making Christmas itself feel like a travesty this year?
Then a stranger in the streets drops an unexpected bombshell into all of Nora’s plans. Does she have the courage it will take to face the possible heartache of the future? Does she have the even greater courage she may need to open her soul to the happiness of Christmas tonight?
If you love WWII fiction, heartwarming characters, inspirational lessons, and a tiny thread of squeaky-clean romance, then Library Blitz is the newest series you don’t want to miss!
Library Blitz Research Files
As most of you are aware, this is now firmly ensconced as a Library Blitz tradition. There are so many more fascinating anecdotes and details that just didn’t make it into the pages of Happy Tonight.
So if you’re a die-hard history nut (as I am!), or a grade school student digging into a history project (as I have been!), or a homeschool mom or day school teacher (as I am not—but for whom I have a ton of empathy and enthusiasm!), here’s your chance to skip a lot of laborious googling that I already did for you . . . and dive into the really fun part of WWII history.
Family Mission: A 1940’s Christmas—Firsthand accounts from individuals who experienced Christmas as children during the Second World War. The embedded video is also a great introduction for younger students—including vintage footage, primary-source memories, and a sped-up demonstration of how to make your own Christmas paper chain.
A World War Two Christmas—This article gives a vivid picture of the innovation and substitution that let the British public celebrate Christmas, in the midst of shortages, rationing, and a world turned upside-down.
The Year Britain Celebrated ‘Blitzmas’—Pulling sources from vintage TIME Magazine archives, this article takes a look at London in December 1940—the holiday season that would be nicknamed “Blitzmas.”
The Evacuated Children Of The Second World War—Bobby’s story may be fictional. His experience as a WWII evacuee child is not. Here’s a comprehensive introduction to the British evacuation movement, complete with vintage photographs and reproduced propaganda posters, tracing the history of “Operation Pied Piper.”
Winter Wonderland—This Christmas classic, which was an instant success on its release in 1934, is even more powerful when you know the whole story. The resilience and perspective of author its author, Richard Bernhard Smith, remain an inspiration to embrace the joy of the moment we are living right here and now.
Winter Wonderland Lyrics—And of course, we need the text, too! While this version isn’t identical to Smith’s original poem, it integrates both the original lyrics and some widely used adaptations. And after all—who doesn’t love a song that comes up with ten stanzas of Christmas vibes?
And Now It’s Time for the Sale!
So here’s to ten years together at Sheep Among Wolves—as well as the official start of the holiday season.
Not only can you grab your FREE copy of Happy Tonight right below . . .
Not only have we extended the sale from three days to four, in honour of the Black Friday/Cyber Monday extravaganza . . .
Not only are we offering an exciting list of Sheep Among Wolves titles on sale or free over the same time frame . . .
We are also pointing you to the biggest Black Friday event in the independent publishing world. That’s right—it’s time for the Black Friday Book Sale, where you will find hundreds of clean indie books for $0.99 or FREE! Don’t miss out on your chance to stock up on Christmas reading materials. You really can’t beat the Black Friday Book Sale!
