In 1918 World War 1 was referred to as The Great War. The Great War came to an end at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month. Today, citizens of the United States honor all veterans on Veterans Day - November 11th. Veterans Day is celebrated around the world though it is called Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. The poppy is often seen as a symbol of Remembrance Day. The Week had a great article about the history of the poppy and World War I. Soul Mates is dedicated to those who fought and died in the Great War and tells the story of a nurse from the United States and a soldier from the United Kingdom who meet and fall in love during the war. To learn more about Veterans Day check out the History Channel Holiday History - Veterans Day.
Recently I was invited to speak at a book club. One of the questions we discussed was reincarnation. The dictionary defines Reincarnation as the religious or philosophical concept that the soul or spirit, after biological death, can begin a new life in a new body. This doctrine is a central tenet in several religions. On March 16, 2015, Today News included an interview with a young boy who had inexplicable memories of a past life. Reader's Digest included an article about reincarnation in its February 2015 Digest. Reincarnation seems to be a pretty hot topic. Whether you believe or you don't believe - it's certainly interesting to think about. Reincarnation...do you believe?
Charlie and Charlotte are both from St. Louis, Missouri. Charlie travels to Rouen, France as part of her high school's study abroad program. Charlotte travels to Rouen, France in 1917 as part of the Washington University School of Medicine's team of doctors and nurses who arrived in France after the United States entered the Great War (Wold War I). Six units from the United States arrived in France to man the Base Hospitals prior to the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). Until I did research for this book I did not know that the British requested medical support as a priority from the U.S. when we became their allies. I used several great resources In researching the history of Washington University's School of Medicine's role in World War I. If you want to find out more about the role of Wash U in World War I check out the following websites -
Article - Base Hospital 21 During World War I US Army Medical Department - Office of Medical History Missouri Digital History Julia Stimson-Vassar College Encyclopedia Yanks in the Kings Forces I hope the resources help you visualize what it was like to be Charlotte in 1917; a member of an American medical team serving in World War I. Soul Mates is a historic/contemporary YA romance novel. One of the things I love about the story are the historical events and the amazing contemporary setting. The World War I events and settings are actual places and events that occurred from June 1914 - November 1918. Most of the places Will and Charlie visit in and around Rouen are places you could visit if you traveled to the region today. My blog posts will take you back in time to the events from World War I included in the story and to present day sites connected to Will and Charlie's story. Thanks for reading - your comments are appreciated.
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AuthorLiz Morrison is the author of Soul Mates. Soul Mates is published by Brighton Publishing LLC. Archives
November 2015
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