Today's guest is Roger Stark, author of the historical romance, THEY CALLED HIM MARVIN: A HISTORY OF LOVE, WAR, AND FAMILY. Roger is here today to answer 20 questions about his life, writing and goals.
1. Are you a mornning writer or a night writer?
Definitely morning, anytime after 3 am, am usually done for the day by 10 am.
2. Do you outline or are you a pantster?
I create a story arc and go from there, not quite an outline, but not a total pantster either.
3. Which comes first – plot or character?
Plot then I go searching for characters.
4. Noise or quiet when working on your manuscript?
I wrote 90 percent of this book with the Last of the Mohicans blasting on my player. I used The Sounds of Silence by Disturbed, which I quite enjoyed, but since I don’t use head phones, it drove my wife nuts hearing it play over and over and over and….
5. Favorite TV show?
Gunsmoke…..that tells you how old I am.
6. Favorite type of music?
Folk, country. favorite groups, Gordon Lightfoot, Boston, Peter Paul and Mary.
7. Favorite craft besides writing?
Building things with my hands. I pretend I am a very good carpenter.
8. Do you play a musical instrument?
Not very well, but I strum my guitar occasionally.
9. Single or married?
Very married, we are celebrating out 50th anniversary as I write this.
10. Children or no?
Seven. Four girls and three boys.
11. Pets?
A Black Lab mix named Turbo. A name he has earned!
12. Favorite place to write?
My office.
13. Favorite restaurant?
We are simple folk, Spaghetti Factory.
14. Do you work outside the home?
I am essentially retired but still dabble in Addiction Recovery work.
15. What was the name of the last movie you saw?
The Power of the Dog
16. Favorite outdoor activity?
Cycling
17. Pet peeve?
Book Pirates!!!
18. Your goal in life?
To be a good person….
19. Your most exciting moment?
I haven’t had it yet!
20. The love of your life.
Susan Lynn Jackson Stark.
I am, by my admission, a reluctant writer. But some stories demand to be told. When we hear them, we must pick up our pen, lest we forget and the stories are lost.
Six years ago, in a quiet conversation with my friend Marvin, I learned the tragic story his father, a WW2 B-29 Airplane Commander, shot down over Nagoya, Japan just months before the end of the war.
The telling of the story that evening by this half orphan was so moving and full of emotion, it compelled me to ask if I could write the story. The result was They Called Him Marvin.
My life has been profoundly touched in so many ways by being part of documenting this sacred story. I pray that we never forget, as a people, the depth of sacrifice that was made by ordinary people like Marvin and his father and mother on our behalf.
My career as an addiction counselor (CDP) lead me to write “The Waterfall Concept; A Blueprint for Addiction Recovery,” and co-author “Reclaiming Your Addicted Brain.”
My next project is already underway, a memoir of growing in SW Washington called “Life on a Sorta Farm.” My wife of 49 years, Susan, and I still live in that area.
We raised seven children and have eleven grandchildren. We love to travel and see the sites and cultures of the world. I still get on my bicycle whenever I can.
You can visit Roger’s website at https://theycalledhimmarvin.com/ or connect with him on Facebook or Instagram.
Title: THEY CALLED HIM MARVIN
Author: Roger Stark
Publisher: Silver Star Publishing
Genre: Historical Romance/WW2/Family Saga
BOOK BLURB:
18-year-old Pvt Dean Sherman goes to church with a friend in Salt Lake City. He meets 16-year-old Connie that will become his wife. After Pearl Harbor Dean applies for pilot training and is accepted. Dean joins Connie’s Mormon Church and they secretly become engaged.
By the time Dean has commissioned a pilot, Connie is 18 and they marry and are together for a year and a half before he ships out as an Airplane Commander of a B-29. Connie is pregnant with their son, Marvin.
A Japanese family is introduced, the Kyoshis. She is an important member of the Community Council he is a builder of water guns used in fighting fires and is the neighborhood fire captain. A son Reo will go off to war and train as a fighter pilot. 12-year-old Son Riku has a reappearing role in the story concerning the B-29’s bombing of Japan. They also have 6-year-old twin sisters that are sent to Hiroshima early in the story for their safety.
The crew of 44-69966 arrives in India after a month of flying. Letters start arriving for Connie. Discussion of the B-29s development of strategic purposes is explained.
In Japan Reo Kyoshi goes off to war and the Firebombing of Tokyo occurs. 15 Square miles burned down to the sidewalks. 100,000 casualties and a million people homeless. The Kyoshi survive the conflagration but lose their home.
Marvin is born. Dean returns to duty and his plane is transferred to the Marianna Islands in the Pacific. Some 67 love letters are exchanged between Dean and Connie.
Dean’s plane is shot down over Nagoya Japan, the crew is captured and sent to Tokai Army Headquarters. Connie keeps writing letters that cannot be delivered. She has no idea he is in a Japanese prison.
Prison conditions are horrible, beatings and interrogations constant. Connie receives the war department telegram listing Dean as MIA.
A sham trial is conducted the crew is found guilty and their sentence is carried out the next day.
Almost 50 years later, Dean comes to Connie in a dream/vision and confirms his love for her and that they will yet have a life together.
Book Information
Release Date: September 1, 2021
Publisher: Silver Star Publishing
Soft Cover: ISBN: 978-0578855288; 333 pages; $17.43; E-Book, $2.99
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3BnQYnD
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JsqVi1
IndieBound: https://bit.ly/3BnQYnD
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3Lv4sD3
BOOK GIVEAWAY!
Roger Stark is giving away three autographed copies of his book,
THEY CALLED HIM MARVIN!
Terms & Conditions:
- By entering the
giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
- Three winners will
be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one autographed paperback copy
of They Called Him Marvin
- This giveaway ends
midnight June 30.
- Winner will be
contacted via email on July 1.
- Winner has 48 hours
to reply.
Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!
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