Letters to Loretta Blog Tour! (+$50 Amazon GC Giveaway!)

Title: Letters to Loretta from the Radio Shack

Author: Laura Lynn Ashworth

Series: N/A

Pages: 258

Date Published: November 8th 2014

Publisher: Laura Lynn Ashworth

Format: Paperback

Genre: Historical/Memoir

Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours
Buy Me!

Synopsis:
Read the rare and recently discovered real-time letters between Sal, age 19, and Loretta, age 15, during the final terrifying three years of World War II, 1943-1945. Both from the Douglas Park neighborhood in Chicago, the two adolescents discuss with humor and candor, the Navy, war, politics, hit music, life back home and their relationship. Sal, nicknamed Slabby for his movie star good looks, deciphers code out of the Navy’s radio shack on a minesweeper in the Pacific. Loretta, monikered Duchess for her aloofness, lives with aunts and her widowed father, while holding day jobs and enjoying an active social life with friends. Letters to Loretta from the Radio Shack lets you experience World War II, both in battle and on the home front, through the eyes of adolescents in a way that Hollywood has never portrayed.

~Guest Post!~

Good Morning my Lovies! Today, Laura Lynn Ashworth herself has decided to grace us with her presence (or at least her guest blogging skills!) and is here to talk with us about her new book! It looks awesome!

Hello!  I’m Laura Lynn Ashworth, author of the newly released book, “Letters to Loretta from the Radio Shack, A True WWII Teenage Love Story.”  I have been invited as a guest blogger, an opportunity, which I appreciate. Thank you, Blonde Bookworm. 

Loretta tried being blonde for a little while during her teen years, and during WWII dye jobs were strictly do-it-yourself projects – sometimes with terrifying results.  Wait until you read Sal’s reaction to Loretta new curls.  It is pretty funny and leads me to a very special question to the Unabridged Andra blog audience.

Do you think men love differently than women?  My thoughts have changed on this over time, but now I have come to the conclusion that men make up their minds very quickly about the woman that is right for them, typically based on some physical aspect of the woman…such as her hair, face or figure.  Women, I feel, love easily, but evaluate men more on their resources, whether they be internal, such as intelligence and strength, or external, such as financial resources or social status.  Because of this, I think women are more flexible and resilient in their loves and losses.  What do you think?

“Letters to Loretta from the Radio Shack,” is a story of two teens, one named Sal, who is on a minesweeper in the Pacific during WWII working out of the radio shack (communications office) deciphering code.  His friend, Loretta, is a 15-year girl from his neighborhood in Chicago.  They exchange approximately 170 letters between 1943-1945, during the final terrifying and climatic years of WWII.  Readers get to experience, in real time, what it is like to be at sea during D-Day and the Battle of Okinawa and what it is like being a teenage girl, juggling jobs and trying to enjoy all that Chicago had to offer back in the ‘40s with friends.  Sal and Loretta talk about their budding relationship, family, friends, politics, etc., with frankness and a great deal of  humor.  Not many WWII non-fiction books will get you to laugh as much as this one, all while drawing you into romantic twists and turns and the drama of war.

Let me know your response to my question, especially after you read, “Letters to Loretta from the Radio Shack,” in which you can see how the romantic relationship grows between Sal and Loretta and why.  You can order a signed copy of my book on my website at www.lauralynnashowrth.com or go to Amazon or Barnes & Noble, or any estore for an unsigned copy.

Thank you and the Blonde Bookworm (such a cute moniker) for letting me visit with you for a while.  It was my pleasure!

~Try an Excerpt!~

October 25, 1944

Dearest Sal,

Guess what the latest rumor in the neighborhood is? That George was wounded in the knee cap. He wrote two letters to Laverne and signed 'em “Love George.” She's soooo thrilled. And do you want to know a “lil” secret? Of course you know Rita. Well she is going to have a baby. Yep! A baby. The only trouble is that she forgot to get the marriage license. She's engaged, though! To Alex. You know, Tillie's brother. He was in on furlough about four months ago. Boy, I'd hate to be in her shoes.

I saw Hinks last night. He took us (Dolores, Elaine and I) out for a drink (of coke). We had pretty much fun. He's a good dancer. But I bet you could “outshine” him any day. Laverne started out with us yesterday but met up with Sonny. He took her to El Chicos. Personally I don't care for him, maybe it was because I never really got to know him, but I'm sure I'm not missing anything. Laverne always does that. When we girls get together occasionally, we tell each other “No one is to leave the crowd.” But leave it to her (Ain't I the catty one?) Even though we got along without her. Hinks left us after a while. Tillie came later on and gave us back our foursome. Hinks is working today. Poor boy.

Well today is Sunday and I just finished washing my hair. And then I start thinking about youse. So I says to myself, I think I'll write youse a letter to let youse know I'm thinking of you—you great big hunk of a man, you.

Excuse me, I'll be back in five minutes. I have to go and put my hair up in curlers. I got me a date for tonight. You'll be there in spirit, and when I kiss him goodnight, I'll be wishing it were you instead. Now just close your eyes and picture me with my hair in curlers and be glad you're not here.

Just think, work tomorrow, and can you imagine, I worked all last week—I wasn't out one day—the floor lady came over and congratulated me.

Well, I think I'll do my aunt a favor and do the dishes. Ooops! Just a minute, my aunt just passed by. You know dishes are a little out of my lines, but I'm making an exception today on account of I feel so good.

Laverne and Elaine just dropped in so I'll have to be closing now so write more often. After all, I need a little inspiration. So until I hear from you I remain as ever, yours truly and sincerely,

Loretta

Yeah! I send my love, too.

~Meet Laura!~ 

Laura Lynn Ashworth is an award-winning copywriter and political cartoonist.  While helping an elderly family member with veterans administration paperwork, she ran across “the letters” and instantly knew of their rarity, freshness and historical significance.  Although she received three publishing contracts within two months of sending the letters to major publishers, Ashworth decided to publish them herself on the advice of best-selling authors.  She currently lives and works in a northwest suburb of Chicago.

10% of author proceeds will be donated to the USO and VFW in loving memory of Sal and Loretta.You can find her at her Website and Store!

Ms. Ashworth will be awarding $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host.

a Rafflecopter giveaway