...a self-avowed flag waver I can’t remember a time when I didn’t feel proud to be an American. I still well up during that scene in Mel Gibson’s movie “The Patriot,” which I watch every July 4, when Mel’s character rides to catch up with his fellow soldiers, waving the tattered flag that his [...]

...but true! Time has way of setting records straight. Putting the doubters to shame. That time came for John Capes, a British submariner, in the late 1990s. Unfortunately, it was years after his death. I recently released my fourth historical novel, The Weight of Loyalty, which is loosely based on the story Capes told [...]

The memories behind the songs. Recall that memorable moment in the movie When Harry Met Sally, when Harry contends that men and women can’t sustain purely platonic friendships because “the sex part always gets in the way.” Sally counters, sparking a spirited debate on whether it’s feasible for men and women to maintain close, [...]

The memories behind the songs. Two weeks ago I asked you to join me in sharing how music stimulates some of your favorite memories. Thanks to those who have jumped right in. To the rest of you, click on the button below and join the romp down memory lane. No matter our country, skin [...]

The memories behind the songs. If you lived through the 60s like me, the title of this post must be a dead giveaway. It’s 1965. The British invasion is well underway, and through the radio waves comes that distinctive Gibson Fuzzbox guitar riff that every high school band tries to duplicate, including mine. “Satisfaction,” [...]