Jes Suis Aviateur Americain...WHICH WAY TO SPAIN?

Je suis aviateur Americain, WHICH WAY TO SPAIN? My name is Thomas Dan Steele, writing as Dan Steele. I am a retired television executive and former news anchor. The grandfather of seven, living with my daughter as full-time nanny ("manny") to two grandchildren near Washington D.C. I am an afficianado of World War Two history and the power of words. For your literary palate, I have blended the ingredients of a beautiful, sometimes bittersweet fictional wartime romance with the violence and stress of air combat. It was inspired by years of reading about combat experiences and stories related to me by combat veterans themselves. Some combat elements in the book are very loosely based on facts from official military records about one of my late cousins. Without any direct information from him except a few random things he had told some family members, I decided to make the story fictional and use public domain military archives for factual information about the missions and first three days of evading and escaping. I began to realize that book research is much like being a chef planning a dinner party from a recipe with many courses made with carefully-measured ingredients. Several unique flavors have been blended to tantalize your reading appetite. Intense air combat; stolen love; a nerve-wracking 76-day escape through occupied France; severe frostbite; an in-depth study of shell shock; nightmares; innovative therapy; a sudden tragic setback and a final twist for the piece de resistance that resolves in a feeling of peace and love at last! This is a main course war/romance epic with some new and unusual elements. WHICH WAY TO SPAIN? RECIPE Ingredients: One newly-married 20-year old Tennessee business college student, Robert Stone. One 19-year old pretty auburn-haired wife, Julie Norris Stone. Eleven violent and stressful B-17 combat missions over Germany, France and Norway. One case of shell shock nerves with horrific nightmares. One beautiful English RAF WAAF widow, Wendy Bainbridge, daughter of an RAF commander. One unintended, but deeply committed and explicitly sexual love affair. 76 suspenseful days escaping to Spain after being shot down in Southern France. 17 months of recovery from frozen feet and shell shock. One innovative treatment for shell shock nightmares by a young VA psychiatrist. One tragic setback. One difficult withdrawal from prescription sedatives. One poignant reunion of lovers. One very unique blending of families at an English estate. One new beginning to a once fragile wartime love story. Directions: Blend ingredients chronologically and gradually over a four-year time period. Mix slowly, increasing mixing speed and heat until mixture is boiling. Gradually reduce heat and simmer until blended into a uniquely satisfying main course. Bon appetit! Serves thousands.

• | Author: Dan Steele
• | Publisher: Independently published
• | Publication Date: Aug 09, 2018
• | Number of Pages: 382 pages
• | Language: English
• | Binding: Paperback
• | ISBN-10: 1717911293
• | ISBN-13: 9781717911292