Warriors in Transition: America’s Heroes at Work

This morning I was interviewed on the blogtalkradio show Southwest-Blend’s Champagne Sundays (http://snipurl.com/oct19blogtalkradio. Because the Facebook group page MRS. LIEUTENANT: A SHARON GOLD NOVEL is sponsoring the event Honor a Veteran (http://snipurl.com/mrslieutenant), we talked about supporting our military troops regardless of our political affiliation.

And then this evening I watched the October 5th episode of Lifetime’s ARMY WIVES. (Yes, I’m a little behind.) In this episode there was a mention of warriors in transition – military personnel who because of injuries have to transition to civilian life.

I did a Google search for the term "warriors in transition" and discovered that there is now the site America’s Heroes at Work (www.americasheroesatwork.gov/):

Supporting the Employment Success of Returning
Service Members with TBI & PTSD

Welcome to America's Heroes at Work -- a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) project that focuses on the employment challenges of returning service members living with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Designed for employers and the workforce development system, this Web site is your link to information and tools to help returning service members affected by TBI and/or PTSD succeed in the workplace -- particularly service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

And I wanted to bring this site to people’s attention because the site provides help for employers who want to recruit, hire and retain veteran employees.

If you’re an employer, I hope you’ll check out this website. And regardless of whether you’re an employer, I hope you’ll support our troops.

You can check out my website at www.mrslieutenant.com for organizations that support military personnel and their families, or check out www.emailourmilitary.com, especially now during its holiday program.

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Mrs. Lieutenant, Iraq War, veterans, Facebook, Lifetime, Army Wives, PTSD, www.emailourmilitary.com, www.americasheroesatwork.gov

Lifetime’s ARMY WIVES Episode 4 of Season 2: What a Difference a Writer Can Make

This episode 4 of season 2 of Lifetime’s ARMY WIVES – titled “Leaving the Tribe” – is on an entirely different plane than the first three episodes of this season. I looked up on www.imdbpro.com the credited writer of the episode – Bruce Zimmerman – with story credit to Nick Thiel.

And then I knew why this episode was so emotional I’m writing this blog post with zig zag lines in front of my eyes from a migraine due to tension.

Nick Thiel is a co-executive producer on USA Network’s BURN NOTICE, the second season for which I’m waiting for July 10 with much anticipation. And Bruce Zimmerman was a writer and supervising producer on Fox’s K-VILLE, which last season I faithfully watched its compelling stories of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and I much regret there will be no second season.

Why did I find this 4^th episode of season 2 of ARMY WIVES so compelling? Many reasons. Here are some – without giving anything away:

Denise talking by computer hook-up to her husband in Iraq when he says that what she’s doing isn’t proper for an officer’s wife. (A theme of MRS. LIEUTENANT.)

Roxy talking about the history of the Hump Bar as the first such integrated place in that area. (Another theme of MRS. LIEUTENANT.)

Claudia Joy and her husband the general walking over to two soldiers just off a plane from Iraq who are not met by any loved ones. (Also a theme of MRS. LIEUTENANT as well as the book’s website listing of www.soldiersangels.org, whose motto is “May No Soldier Go Unloved.”)

Hats off to Bruce Zimmerman and Nick Thiel for an episode that rang very true – and very compelling.

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ARMY WIVES Episode 3 Review/Military Spouse Contest Deadline June 29

Lifetime TV’s episode 3 of season 2 of ARMY WIVES appears to have fallen off the back of a truck. It seemed to me as if I were watching a recycled TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL, or at the very least a recycled IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.

There were no scenes with all four army wives, Joan was missing in action, and her army husband only had scenes of “shooting hoops.” There didn’t seem to be a center for the episode – only a series of vignettes. And, boy, suddenly Roxy’s hair is looking really good. What’s with that?

In contrast to an artificial-feeling episode of ARMY WIVES, those of you who are present or past military spouses still have time to enter the “Tell-Your-Own-Story” contest. See contest rules at www.yourmilitary.com for submissions of 500 words or less about your happiest or saddest or most significant military spouse moment.

The five grand prize winners will each receive a Season 1 ARMY WIVES DVD set from Lifetime, a $100 American Express Gift Card, and a copy of MRS. LIEUTENANT. The 10 2^nd place winners will also receive a copy of MRS. LIEUTENANT.

If you have friends or relatives who are present or past military spouses, tell them about the contest. This is their chance to tell their own story!

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Lifetime, Army Wives, Mrs. Lieutenant, YourMilitary.com, military spouse

Lifetime’s ARMY WIVES – My Take on Episode 2 of Season 2

The start of episode 2 of Lifetime’s popular television series ARMY WIVES had me worried – more of that over-the-top voiceover. “Oh, no,” I thought, “if this season is going to be filled with voiceover, I’m out of here.”

(Did anyone get the reference to the Whoopi Goldberg movie SISTER ACT? You know, when the guy in the bar says about the two nuns Whoopi and Kathy Najimy – “If this turns into a nuns’ bar, I’m out of here.”)

Fortunately, after the first few minutes the second episode of ARMY WIVES turned into a regular episode. And we were also spared any more of the cloying radio talk of Pamela that took place throughout episode 1 of season 2. This episode 2 the actors actually got to act.

And the best part of this episode for me? The scenes of Roxy’s husband Trevor in Iraq as well as Roxy’s responses to Trevor being in harm’s way. (Especially poignant was the reminder that those who stay behind can never really understand the “experience” of those fighting.)

And without giving anything away -- I wasn’t surprised by the colonel’s decision about her pregnancy. As soon as the screen cut away from the doctor’s examining room, I knew what she would do.

FYI -- MARRIED TO THE ARMY blog has posted information about the military spouse contest I’m co-sponsoring with YourMilitary.com. The deadline is June 29 – so there’s plenty of time to enter. Go to www.yourmilitary.com for submission rules or to
http://marriedtothearmy.typepad.com/married_to_the_army/2008/06/share-your-story-contest.html.

What did you think of episode 2 of season 2 of ARMY WIVES?

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Virtual Book Tour: Day 8 Stop for MRS. LIEUTENANT

My virtual book tour stop for today is at http://fizzybeverage.blogspot.com/2008/06/mrs-lieutenant.html. This is a truly delightful book review even though the reviewer is nervous about writing this particular review. Read the review to find out what made her nervous.

And I just got an email from a book reviewer in Okinawa who has graciously agreed to write a guest post about the U.S. military presence there. I’ve very excited to bring you this guest post at a future date.

And for you military spouses out there – are you writing your contest entry for “Tell-Your-Own-Story” at www.yourmilitary.com? I just heard from Nancy Brown at YourMilitary.com that Lifetime is sending prizes for the contest.

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Lifetime’s ARMY WIVES Season 2 Premiere – What Did You Think?

For two days I’ve been mulling over what I thought of the season 2 premiere of the popular Lifetime television series ARMY WIVES, which is based on Tanya Biank’s nonfiction book by the same name.

To be honest, the episode didn’t work for me. Yes, I understand that in order to create suspense throughout the entire hour of the show certain things were revealed in a specific sequence. (I’m not saying what in case you haven’t gotten to see the episode yet.)

What bothered me was the over-the-top commentary of Pamela on her radio show “Have At It.” Her commentary kept yanking me out of the story and into an annoying mood – “Get on with the show!” I wanted to shout each time Pamela began her long, drawn-out ramblings.

It will be interesting to see whether the next episode also depends on Pamela’s running commentary, or whether the show’s writers will decide to write action scenes instead of lines for an audio podcast.

Does anyone agree or disagree with me?

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army wives, Lifetime, season 2 premiere, Tanya Biank

“Tell-Your-Own-Story” Contest for Season 2 Premiere of Lifetime’s ARMY WIVES Television Series

I’m excited to be a partner in this contest beginning today for military spouses to tell their own stories. Here’s the press release going out on PRWeb:

The season 2 premiere of Lifetime’s ARMY WIVES television series is the occasion of a new contest sponsored by military relocation service YourMilitary.com. The First Annual “Tell-Your-Own-Story” contest is open to all present and past spouses of military personnel.

Submissions of not more than 500 words will be accepted from Sunday, June 8 – the date of the first episode of season 2 of ARMY WIVES – through midnight on Sunday, June 29. Multiple submissions allowed.

Story submissions should feature the happiest or saddest or most significant moment as a military spouse, and stories must focus on an event actually connected to the military. Your Military community ambassadors will serve as judges for the contest.

The spouses of personnel from all branches are eligible – Army (including Reservists and National Guard), Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.

To submit a story, go to www.YourMilitary.com and click on “Contest Submission.” The contest rules will appear on the submission page.

In honor of the Fourth of July, YourMilitary.com and YourMilitarySpace.com will feature the best 15 submissions. All 10 2^nd place winners will receive prizes from YourMilitary.com, including the new book Mrs. Lieutenant: A Sharon Gold Novel by Phyllis Zimbler Miller (www.mrslieutenant.com). The five grand prize winners will also receive Season 1 of ARMY WIVES on DVD.

“Yourmilitary.com is pleased to offer military spouses – both men and women – the opportunity to tell their stories in their own words,” Nancy Brown, president of Your Military, said. “We look forward to sharing the best of these stories with our world-wide audience.”

YourMilitary.com makes relocation easier for military families by helping these families learn about their new communities before moving. YourMilitary.com also offers job websites for every location.

I want to encourage any past or present military spouse to submit to the contest. This is your opportunity to tell your own stories.

Technorati Tags: army wives, officers wives, officers wife, Vietnam War, Mrs. Lieutenant, Iraq War, contest, Lifetime, military spouses, prizes, YourMilitary.com

Virtual Book Tour; Lifetime’s ARMY WIVES; Ft. Knox Reporter

Check out the backstory of MRS. LIEUTENANT at http://mjroseblog.typepad.com/backstory/2008/05/may-4-1970-oh-1.html/ and also my guest blog at www.thewriterslife.blogspot.com on this Day 3 of the MRS. LIEUTENANT virtual book tour.

Leave a comment at www.thewriterslife.blogspot.com to be entered into a drawing sponsored by Pump Up Your Book Promotion. For more stops on my blog trail, visit www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com.

Last night I watched – courtesy of Lifetime’s website – the first season finale of Lifetime’s wildly popular tv series ARMY WIVES, based on the non-fiction book by Tanya Biank. I wanted to be prepared for the second season premier this Sunday, June 8.

After the cliffhanger ending, vignettes of each of the main characters were featured. I particularly responded to the voice over that these women were from different classes and cultures and yet had one thing in common – THEY FELL IN LOVE WITH A SOLDIER.

And that’s exactly what MRS. LIEUTENANT: A SHARON GOLD NOVEL is about – four very different women whose one thing in common is falling in love with a soldier. (ARMY WIVES and MRS. LIEUTENANT are both set against the background of unpopular U.S. wars – Afghanistan/Iraq and Vietnam, respectively.)

And I was just interviewed by Josh Coffman of The News-Enterprise in Kentucky about MRS. LIEUTENANT, which takes place in 1970 at Ft. Knox. I’m looking forward to reading his article because his news beat is Ft. Knox. (The above-mentioned backstory guest post describes my time at Ft. Knox.)

Coffman asked me what relevance my novel had today for women whose husbands are being deployed now. My response: The novel’s underlying theme of sisterhood – of women bonding together to get through a difficult time – has as much relevance today as it did in 1970.

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