Book Signing and Discussion - July 24, 2010 at Friendly Village, Redmond, WA

On Saturday, July 24, 2010, Author Jacquie Ream will discuss her book Forcing The Hand of God at Friendly Village, a retirement community in Redmond, WA.  Part of a “Live” recording for Storytellers Campfire, a radio show that airs on KKNW 1150 AM Radio, the event will be hosted by Writer and Poet Lady Selah Sujuris.  The theme of the show is “Literacy in the Lives of Seniors.” The event is Free and open to the public.  There will be two shows recorded, the first will be from 1:30pm to 3:00pm and the second will be from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. There will be an intermission between the shows and attendees will have the opportunity to meet Jacquie Ream, and other authors and have existing or new books signed by them.  For more information visit www.storytellerscampfire.org. [download press release (pdf)]

Ream’s book Forcing the Hand of God is a historical fiction novel that focuses on a World War II  “Flying Tigers” fighter pilot who must wager and determine the price of  love, family and honor.  Released during the Flying Tigers 65th Anniversary in 2009, the book evolved from a series of short stories originally written for Ream’s Master’s thesis several years ago. 

“I was learning to fly at the time and several of my instructors were former military pilots,” says Ream.  “I was so fascinated by them and the stories they told.  They were real risk takers and I admired that.”
With a writer’s curiosity, Ream spent a lot of time probing her instructors about their lives, motivations and actions.  Over time, she felt such a deep connection with them that she was compelled to write down some of their stories to use as part of her thesis.  Not long after completing it, she decided to take the stories and turn them into a book.  A Flying Tiger Fighter Pilot, Major Roger Brown is the central character and a composite of the pilots Ream had met.  Torn between his obligations to his country and his family waiting back home, Brown is tormented by the realization that he prefers battle in the air rather than the drudgery of everyday life on the ground.  Deep in the thick of World War II, every day for Brown, is a game of survival as the dangerous air battles he must fight tap his strength, knowledge and control.  

Through the gentle weaving of stories of airborne battles, the devastating effects of war, and the complicated relationships with a pregnant wife, detached Mother, and a provocative older female friend back home, Brown knows that his life is merely a game of fate.  Unable to relinquish his desire to control its’ outcome, every time Brown climbs into his cockpit to face the enemy,  he pushes his skills and limitations, rebelliously “forcing the hand of God.”

Forcing The Hand of God evokes a time (World War II) when men and women found the courage to do the necessary, the objectionable and even the unthinkable to defend their lives,” says Ream.  “It’s what they did and what they continue to do to preserve the essential fabric of this country.”
Although set in the late 30’s, Ream believes that the same struggle between the love of country and the love of family continues to torment military personnel and their families.  “ The internal and external conflicts that face both the men and women fighting, and their families back home, are a part of their everyday life.”  Ream’s book is an acknowledgement and a tribute to those that serve our country. 

William R. Stampe, CMSgt of the USAF is just one military professional who has read Ream’s story. “Within the pages of Forcing the Hand of God, I  entered as a silent visitor among the private lives of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary times,” says  Stampe.  “As I read it, I become a witness to the intense passion for life that only appears when death threatens us.  I emerged with a greater sense of appreciation for life's gifts, as well as its trials.”

Ream hopes that her book, although a fictional story, will shed some light on the challenging lives of those that fight to protect the freedoms of our country. 

 

Book Signing - June 6, 2009 at The Bethel Avenue Book Company, Port Orchard, WA

Jacquie Ream, author of the World War II novel Forcing the Hand of God, will be signing books at a June 6 event hosted by The Bethel Avenue Book Company.

Ream, along with 8 other local authors, will be in-store signing books from 1-4pm on Saturday, June 6, at the Port Orchard bookstore.

Forcing the Hand of God is Jacquie Ream's first adult novel. A former educator, Ream is also the author of a book for young writers, KISS: Keep it Short and Simple. Her latest book, Bully Dogs is a young adult novel that will hit shelves soon.

Visit The Bethel Avenue Book Company's website for event information: www.bethelavebook.com

 

Author says texting and testing are destroying kids' writing style

The Shafter Press (May 28, 2008)

Somewhere out there is the mind that will produce the next great American novel.

If, however, that would-be author is under the age of 18, the words he or she writes may be more of "SOZ" and "TGGTG" than beautiful, flowing prose.

"We have a whole generation being raised without communication skills," says Jacquie Ream, former teacher and author of "K.I.S.S. Keep It Short and Simple" (Book Publishers Network). She contends text messaging and the Internet are destroying the way our kids read, think and write.

A recent National Center for Education Statistics study reports only one out of four high school seniors is a proficient writer. A College Board survey of the nation's blue-chip companies found only two thirds of employees are capable writers.

Read the entire article (pdf)>>

 

Text Messaging: Scourge of Civilization? LOL

by Scott Stephens, The Plain Dealer (May 25, 2008)

The notion that text-messaging is destroying the writing skills of American students gets two distinct reactions from linguists.

Jacquie Ream's response: OMG (Oh My God).

"We have a whole generation being raised without communications skills," says Ream, a teacher and author of the book "K.I.S.S. Keep It Short and Simple."

That kind of talk leaves Derek Denis LOL (Laughing Out Loud).

"We didn't find any negative impact on writing," says Denis, a University of Toronto researcher who studied the writing habits of text-messaging teens.

Read the entire article at The Plain Dealer site>>