I had so much fun compiling my Grandma's writings. I felt she was right there with me, okaying everything, as I did it. To know that she wrote from her heart as I do is humbling and rewarding. I love you Grandma.

Yippee!!! Forever Thankful, the last book in the Engineers of Flight Series is in finally stages for all of you who are waiting.  I have mixed feelings: I will have to say bye to my friend of five years, Dena and her gang. It's been a fun ride and all good adventures must end. I must say it has been a learning adventure for me.  

Kathryn J. Fogelman, author of Tales of Wolven: The Dragons Son   had asked me to participate in a blog tour on main characters. Kathryn writes Fantasy Fiction: (Backmatter)     

After the brutal massacre in his village, a broken, grieving boy chooses to live with a golden dragon in the wild rather than go to the mountains to be with his own people. If only he had known then what that choice would mean.

Thirteen years later, Keegan, no longer a boy, learns that his younger sister survived the massacre and sets off to be reunited with her. When Keegan accidentally interrupts a plot against a princess, his simple trip turns into a complicated struggle for survival. A mysterious elder appears, full of wit and riddle. Mythical monsters shed their fictional skin and hungrily prusue Keegan and his dragon. Haunting nightmares begin to tear at his mind. As he continues on his quest to be reunited with his sister, Keegan is only just beginning to understand what it means to be…the dragons son.

Website/blog: http://mycozyshanty.blogspot.com
Tales of the Wovlen: The Dragons Son – https://amzn.to/1|Kvru
Facebook: http://facebook.com/kathrynfogleman  
Twitter: https:///twitter.com@KJFogleman

*****

MEET MY CHARACTER:

1) What is the name of your character?   Dena

    Is she fictional or a historic person?   A fiction character set in WWII era.

2) When and where is the story set?      This book is 1944-45. It depicts aeronautical Aviation, i.e. Hughes Aeronautics, Lockheed, Boeing, Beechcraft, etc. and what happens in the home front more so than overseas. The storyline spans between Culver City, CA, Colorado, and Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA. (This is the sixth book of the series. Each book stands alone or can be read as a series. The series runs from 1939 to 1945.)

3) What should we know about her?  Dena hates the war and what it’s doing to the country. She does her patriotic duty flying freight, then teaching flight school. She collects and uses the rationing tickets. She buys bonds. She is an engineer and a mom.

4) What is the main conflict?  Dena desires to fly. She loves the freedom. Yet, she feels the need to be home with her children.


5) What is the personal goal of the character?   To survive the war effort; to raise Clay’s sons and Carl’s daughter. To once again to fly and feel free.


6) Is there a working title for his novel, and can we read more about it? 

Title: ForeverThankful, Engineers of Flight Series, book 6. Each book in the series stands alone yet each book continues the storyline which spans the WWII era, with the first and second books being prewar (1939 and 1940). Book three starts with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. 

*****

An Excerpt from Forever Thankful:

Valentine’s Day, 1944.  Dena tipped the wing and glanced out the window as she crossed the Rocky Mountains headed for Grand Junction. Dark clouds had appeared on the horizon and were building fast. Her eyebrows knitted. She was about half way and didn’t like the change in the sky. Maybe she should get the updated forecast from Grand Junction. Whispering a quick prayer, Dena picked up the intercom and pressed the button.

“Grand Junction, this is….” After she gave the Staggerwing call numbers, she asked for a weather update. The voice on the other end offered sunny skies and calm winds. Then she was asked for her longitude and latitude.

Dena relayed the calculated numbers and said she had just cleared Cottonwood Pass. It had been the shortest way across the Sawatch Mountain range to Grand Junction. She waited for an answer.

 After several moments a different voice broke the silence and advised her to return to Colorado Springs. The winter storm she saw was between her and them.

“Is there any possible way I can continue to Glendale, California by another route?” Dena didn’t want to return to Colorado Springs.

“Give me your concordances again.” Dena rattled off them off. Huge snowflakes began pelting the small plane. She turned up the windshield wipers hoping to stay ahead of the blowing snow. Suddenly she saw another mountain range before her…or a least she thought it was.

She frowned, took off her goggles and rubbed her eyes. Then she squinted to get a better view. It was hard to see anything in this heavy snow. Dena turned the plane to the right and flew up the valley. The heavy snow and hard wind made visibility almost zero.

“Best bet is to go north towards Salt Lake City then to Reno and into Glendale, Ma’am. The storm is coming in from the Southwest. Las Vegas is already closed. Aspen will be your next radio contact. It’s approximately thirty to forty miles up the valley.”

“Thanks,” Dena said as she continued along her route towards Aspen, Colorado. She needed to re-fuel. Aspen would be perfect. Dena sighed and rolled her shoulders. With Salt Lake City being over two hundred miles, the adjustment made re-fueling necessary. She tapped the fuel gauge. The hand was on the top edge of empty.  She looked at the dark bank again. She couldn’t see a beginning or end to it—just snow and sleet.

The sleet pelted a steady beat on the windshield along with the heavy, wet snowflakes. A new mountain loomed before her. Was it the Sawatch Mountain range was it a different mountain range? Tears threatened. Dena furiously blinked. Bowing her head slightly, Dena prayed. She knew she was in a tough spot and would die if she didn’t find a place to land. Immediately she felt a warm presence around her…like arms holding her, keeping her safe. She mouthed another prayer and tried to contact Aspen Airbase.

Staring at the instrument board, she prayed she had enough fuel. The guy at Grand Junction had said thirty to forty miles but after looking at her map she estimated Aspen to be closer to twenty eight or thirty miles. The fuel light popped on.

Dena switched to the reserve tank and radioed an SOS. Then she wiped the frosted window and looked for a small landing strip to set down. The storm grew worse. Pulling up on the throttle caused the small plane to shudder. Visibility was less than a hundred yards now. Dena heaved a sigh to steady her nerves as she felt the small plane’s nose rising. The wind howled and snow swirled. She continued to mouth short prayers and tried to come up with a plan that would save her and the plane.

*****

7)  When can we expect the book to be published?  Fall 2014, (Create Space withAmazon.com)

I may be reached:
Website and blogsite: http://sherrilynpolf.weebly.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/SherrilynPolf
Twitter: https://twitter.com@sherrysdomain
Books are on Amazon in kindle and in paperback

*****

One exceptional author, I’m blessed to call a friend is ML (Lynn) Donovan. She has two great books out: The Wishing Well Curse and Thorns of Betrayal. Storyline in a nutshell: Ghosts and triumph; truly enjoyed each book.

Blog: http://sittingontheporchwithlynn.blogspot.com/
Twitter:@MLynnDonovan
Facebook: http://facebook.com/LynnDonovanFGG

*****

Another gifted author, I've tagged is Darlene Shortridge, and author, singer and speaker. She authors three books at present: Until Forever, Forever Blessed and The Letter, a Forever Novella.

www.darleneshortridge.com
darlene@darleneshortridge.com
www.darleneshortridge.blogspot.com