Heart Book Series … welcomes Kindle eBooks by Sheryl Roush
Heart of a Military Woman, Heart of the Holidays, Holidays, Kindle eBooks| No Comments »This week, we welcome TWO new KINDLE version eBooks to the printed collection by speaker/author Sheryl Roush!
Heart of a Military Woman and Heart of the Holidays
VIEW OTHER BOOKS –AND MUSIC IN THIS SERIES:
Click on title to view each book.
Heart of a Woman (printed)
Heart of a Military Woman (printed) ….. and on Kindle
Heart of a Mother (printed)
Heart of a Mother (printed with Bonus Music CD)
Heart of a Mother … Music CD
Heart of the Holidays (printed) ….. and on Kindle
Heart of the Holidays … Music CD
Heart of a Woman in Business (printed)
Corazon de Mujer (printed) (Heart of a Woman in Spanish)
Military Story: “Dead Air” by Shirley Sisko Harkins
Heart of a Military Woman, Stories| No Comments »
by Shirley Sisko Harkins
When I enlisted in 1976, the Women’s Army Corp (WAC) was in the process of being disestablished as a separate branch of the Army. I’m very proud to have been one of the last WAC’s, serving during this exciting era in military history. Women were being admitted to West Point. Maternity leaves replaced compulsory discharges, and the umbrella, a traditional military taboo was approved for issue in the name of promoting a positive feminine image. The powers that be even retained a designer to fashion a sporty new mint green, wash and wear uniform. The times they were a changin’.
There were those, of course, who weren’t enthusiastic about the trend. I encountered several male soldiers who appeared to be threatened by the growing presence of women in the motor pool, the mess hall, and even in co-ed barracks. Some men attempted to deflate our influence with casual flirtation. Others insisted we carry our weight—equal pay for equal work, by golly. None, however, stood out so predominantly in my memories as a certain surly NCO at Fort Gordon, Georgia.
Even though I’d have to change it here to protect the innocent, I wish I recalled his name. He was a gristly, Old Army type—a field instructor attached to the signal school where I was trained. I was offered only three occupational options; food service, clerkship, or communications. I’d opted be a radio teletype operator—a dinosaur Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), like the WACS that no longer exists. Quaint historical reference makes for great story telling. Ask any veteran, young or old. When two or more gather together, the war stories commence in earnest.
The Old Army NCO taught in the field, training the students to apply classroom academics to the actual equipment we’d use to perform our duties. We knew the basics of setting up and maintaining a radio network, but hadn’t learned a great deal about trouble-shooting. His job was to station himself with one network station each day and teach us how to deal with real life obstacles as they cropped up.
His approach was stoic—stand back and let us flounder, making one frantic mistake after another, until the entire network crashed. Afterwards, he’d explain what went wrong and help us to figure out how we could have responded more effectively. In theory, his methods seemed valid enough, but his criticism was often sarcastic and condescending. Locking us in a poker face look, he’d observe every move without offering the slightest hint as to whether we were right or wrong. We never knew what was coming; reward or reprimand. It was excruciating.
One morning, I was manning the network controlling station. By the time he stuck his head through the door of the rig where I was working, I’d already lost communication with one of my network stations. The others were apparently beginning to panic, thumbing through their ciphering and frequency manuals to determine if their settings were correct. Lack of confidence in their own training may have caused them to fiddle with the dials.
The gristly NCO watched while I performed a network check, hailing the other two stations and getting dead air in response. I feverishly typed in the abbreviated commands again and got nothing. Staring at the teletype for a few seconds, I prayed for inspiration. He was expecting me to do something, so I hopped out of the rig and headed toward a nearby jeep.
I slipped on the Morse code key leg strap and began tapping out the commands. The NCO followed. He rested an elbow on the crash pad, leaning in toward me. He didn’t say a word. When the keypad failed, I sat for awhile staring at the field phone, knowing that any transmission on it would be unsecured. I glanced at the NCO, but received no encouragement either way.
I decided to go for broke, snatching up the handset and cranking the generator. He was going to chew me up and spit me out no matter what I did, so I had nothing to lose. Via landline, I was able to contact each network station. Careful not to reveal any classified information over the airways, I instructed them to consult their manuals so we were all on the same page.
Afterwards, I jumped back in the rig and ran the network test again. Oh, to hear the glorious beeps, clicks, and whirs of life. We operated the rest of that day without incident. The NCO never uttered a word. Later that day, back in the barracks, I was summoned to the pay phone in the foyer. I greeted the caller, hearing tinny juke box music, tinkling glassware, and raucous voices in the background. Because he spoke so few times, I didn’t recognize the NCO’s gravelly voice until he introduced himself.
The hair rose on the back of my neck. I must have really messed up if he was calling from the NCO Club to tell me so. Judging by the way he slurred his words, the lecture probably wasn’t going to be polite.
When I didn’t respond, he continued. “I hate women,” he said. “I especially hate women in the Army, so it really hurts to have to tell you this.” He paused for what sounded like another slug from his cocktail.
“But you did one heck of a job out there this morning getting that network back up and running.” Of course, being Old School, he didn’t say “heck,” but I took the liberty to paraphrase.
When I caught my breath after the initial shock, I thanked him. He promised that if I ever told anyone about our conversation, one-sided as it was, that he would promptly deny it. With that, he hung up, and I was left listening to dead air again.
I would go on to receive promotions and other honors from the United States Army, but none gratified me as much as a phone call from a gristly Old School NCO with a chip on his shoulder for women.
~Shirley (Sisko) Harkins
www.dramadrash.org
©2009
"I am a believer of thirteen years and spent much of that time absorbed in scripture study and research. I also hold a Masters Degree in Biblical Study and Theology. My ministry extends to my homelife as a wife and mother. My children are grown and I’m very proud of the godly young adults they’ve become, despite being raised in the church only half of their lives. I am priviledged to serve the Father as Artistic Director of Drama Drash Ministries."PHOTO: Shown here with husband Danny.
"Dead Air" is published in the Heart of a Military Woman book by Sheryl L. Roush and Eldonna Lewis Fernandez
Chapter: A Day in the Life
Book released Veterans Day 2009.
Posted here with permission from Authors.
Contact: Sheryl@HeartBookSeries.com for permission to reprint. It will be granted.
Shirley Harkins lost her battle with cancer on December 28, 2009. She did, however, get to see this story in print shortly prior to her passing. Upon receiving acknowledgement that Dead Air would be published, she write this note to the publisher:
Dear Ms. Roush,
I am so delighted to be included on this book. My time in the military was among my prouded.
Warm Regards,
Shirley Harkins
Beloved wife, mother and grandmother, she went to her well-deserved place in Heaven as a Daughter of Israel on Monday, December 28, 2009 after a long courageous battle with cancer. Burial with military honors on January 1, 2010 in the Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin.
Shirley was a shining star. Much beloved, greatly admired and well respected by all who knew her. She was a woman of constant positive outlook, great self-determination that enabled her to accomplish any goal she set for herself, great personal strength that she readily shared with all who needed her, and great kindness to all. Shirley loved the Lord with all she was and was a model of great fortitude. She never wavered in her faith and commitment to her path of truth and light.
Shirley Sisko Harkins graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in Michigan, spending her senior year as a foreign exchange student in Brasilia, Brazil, where she became fluent in Portuguese. She then attended Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan. She was a veteran of the US Army, serving honorably as a member of the Women’s Army Corp (WAC) with the US Army Signal Corps in Bad Kreuznach, Germany from 1976 until 1978.
She married Daniel Harkins, earned her Master’s degree in Business at Cameron University in Lawton, then earned a Master’s degree in Divinity and became an ordained minister, as well as Director of the Drama Drash Ministries of Lawton, Oklahoma.
I discovered that peace doesn’t mean the end to conflict;
it simply demonstrates the love of God.
And we don’t have to wait for a major crisis in our lives;
we can allow the peace of Christ to rule our hearts each day.
Richard Parker, Upper Room Daily Devotional
VIEW OTHER BOOKS –AND MUSIC IN THIS SERIES:
Click on title to view each book.
Heart of a Woman (printed)
Heart of a Military Woman (printed) ….. and on Kindle
Heart of a Mother (printed)
Heart of a Mother (printed with Bonus Music CD)
Heart of a Mother … Music CD
Heart of the Holidays (printed) ….. and on Kindle
Heart of the Holidays … Music CD
Heart of a Woman in Business (printed)
Corazon de Mujer (printed) (Heart of a Woman in Spanish)
Army Wife Network Selects Heart of a Military Woman as Book of the Month
Heart of a Military Woman| No Comments »Army Wife Network Selects
Heart of a Military Woman as
Book of the Month
December 21, 2009
The Army Wife Network has selected the Heart of a Military Woman book as their January 2010 Book of the Month choice, announced by Book Club Chair Sarah Ikena.
In a live radio show tonight on ArmyWifeNetwork.com, Ms. Ikena interviewed co-authors Eldonna Lewis Fernandez, MSgt USAF Retired and Sheryl Roush, an ex-navy wife, asking how the book concept came about. The ladies shared how they met, and how they instantly resonated creating this publication, sharing the voices of women in the military.
Sheryl Roush added there are 100 original and true short stories and tributes, 21 poems and 194 inspirational quotations in the Heart of a Military Woman Veterans Day release.
VIEW OTHER BOOKS –AND MUSIC IN THIS SERIES:
Click on title to view each book.
Heart of a Woman (printed)
Heart of a Military Woman (printed) ….. and on Kindle
Heart of a Mother (printed)
Heart of a Mother (printed with Bonus Music CD)
Heart of a Mother … Music CD
Heart of the Holidays (printed) ….. and on Kindle
Heart of the Holidays … Music CD
Heart of a Woman in Business (printed)
Corazon de Mujer (printed) (Heart of a Woman in Spanish)
The archive on the entire two-hour December 21, 2009 podcast is available for free to download from Army Wife Talk Radio.
Heart of a Military Woman book contributors Autograph December 12, 2009 at Borders
Book Signings, Heart of a Military Woman| 1 Comment »Heart of a Military Woman book contributors autograph at Borders
UNIQUE BOOK SIGNING & READING EVENT!
Co-Authors Sheryl Roush, Eldonna Lewis Fernandez and eight contributors to the Veterans Day release of Heart of a Military Woman book will be autographing copies on Saturday, December 12, from 2:00-5:00pm at BORDERS bookstore in Eastlake of Chula Vista, San Diego, California.
Heart of a Military Woman book features 120 contributions of true short stories, poems and tributes to those who serve U.S. Armed Forces, representing all branches of the military.
Ms. Roush was interviewed on the Montel Across America radio show on Friday, December 4th, by Montel Williams who commented on air this will be a best-seller, sharing the voices of family, spouses and active service members, telling their stories, as only they can.
Creator of the Heart Book Series, former Navy wife, professional speaker, Sheryl Roush is a native San Diegan–and born in Chula Vista–she was crowned “Ms. Heart of San Diego” (twice) for contributions to our community. Eldonna Lewis Fernandez is a retired Air Force Master Sergeant with 23 years of honorable military service.
Both co-authors are members of the Military Writer’s Society of America, and were featured at the San Diego Chapter’s signing event December 2 at the San Diego Veterans Museum and Memorial Center.
More than a book signing, on December 12th, contributors will READ THEIR original STORY, TRIBUTE, or POEM to shoppers in English and in Spanish! Books showcased at this signing also include: Heart of a Woman, Heart of a Mother, Heart of the Holidays, Corazón de Mujer, and Heart of a Woman in Business.
Heart of a Military Woman contributors at December 12’s book reading and signing event include:
Loni Anderson
Sarah Arnold
Sandy Borum
Tina Erwin
Dharlene Fahl-Brittian
Eldonna Lewis Fernandez
Marissa Fernandez
Darcy Lovgren Pavich
Beverly Roush
Sheryl Roush
Michele Ruppert
Gina Simmons
COME MEET THESE AUTHORS and have your books personally autographed!
Perfect for holiday gifts people will keep, read and cherish!
BORDERS – SAN DIEGO
Eastlake Chula Vista
878 Eastlake Parkway
Chula Vista, CA 91914
Store Phone: 619.482.9883
Sheryl Roush Interviewed by Montel Williams
Heart of a Military Woman, Interviews, Patriotism| 4 Comments »Sheryl Roush Interviewed by Montel Williams
Friday, December 4, 2009
Montel Williams interviewed San Diegan Sheryl Roush on his live national MONTEL ACROSS AMERICA radio show this morning.
A former Navy wife, Sheryl just released the Heart of a Military Woman book, co-authored with Eldonna Lewis Fernandez, USAF Retired Master Sergeant, on Veterans Day this year.
Montel’s introduction overview of the book was eloquent, and commenting about supporting the families of the active military member too. Sheryl read the opening poem "Military Women" by Virginia Ellis. Montel and Sheryl agreed that whether we support the decision to send more troops or not, we need to support our troops — there and here on the homefront.
The program aired LIVE then are archived at
http://airamerica.com/montelacrossamerica/
Today’s podcast is posted here:
http://airamerica.com/ondemand/12-04-2009/montel-12-04-2009-09-04-01/
Sheryl Roush is the President/CEO of Sparkle Presentations, Inc., and author of the Heart Book Series. As an inspirational speaker, she boosts morale and attitude, creating positive work environments and rekindling the spirit in organizations. Her other titles in the series include: Heart of a Woman in Business, Heart of a Woman, Heart of a Mother, Heart of the Holidays and Corazon de Mujer (Spanish).
Montel Williams is passionate about his country, his issues, and his audience. After a 17-year run as Emmy-winning host of his own daily daytime television program, Montel turned to radio as his new forum. His daily program features unique insight on social, political, and economic issues along with information on health and wellness for his listeners. Montel Across America is often broadcast from cities across the country and around the world, as Montel seeks to get up close and personal with his listeners and the issues he features.
Williams began his career when he enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1974, and followed that with an appointment to the Naval Academy, where he studied Mandarin Chinese and developed a specialty in cryptology. An accomplished author, Williams has published eight books to date, four of which were New York Times Bestsellers. His latest release Living Well Emotionally hit bookstores on January 6th, 2009 and has received critical acclaim.
Veteran Photo-Journalist Honors Military in New Book
Heart of a Military Woman| 1 Comment »Veteran Photo-Journalist
Honors Military in New Book
Debra Ann Ristau served for nine years as a photo-journalist and public affairs specialist in the California Army National Guard.
In 1987, Pope John Paul II came to California and said Mass at the Laguna Seca racetrack, and spoke at Carmel Mission. I flew with the 49th Helicopter Company to assist and write about the event. The Pope is a head of state (the Vatican) and treated as a visiting diplomat, not just head of Catholic Church. Once the Pope and his entourage landed at the Monterey airport, the 49th Helicopter Company, based in Stockton, California, flew the Cardinal’s and Secret Service people to the site while the Pope rode in Marine 1 (the Marine’s helicopter equivalent of Air Force 1). At Carmel Mission the Pope came out to thank all of us who worked behind the scenes, it was very cool. I am wearing a borrowed flight suit because the secret service didn’t want me to be in camoflauge. This photo was taken by the Vatican.
She writes in the new book, Heart of a Military Woman, releasing today–Veterans Day 2009, "Falling atop those memories are the ever present emotions that come forth when I think of my daughter, who was a U.S. Marine and my niece, a Captain in the Army and Bronze Star recipient while serving in Iraq."
General Norman Schwarzkopf came to Modesto to speak at a fund raiser for California State University, Stanislaus and I was lucky enough to meet him, have my photo taken with him, and he autographed my copy of his book, he is one of my military heroes and it was an awesome moment for me – bad hair and all.
No Creature on Earth
As her tribute in the book continues: "The heart of a military woman is like the heart of a lion—strong, fierce, tenacious. She will slay an enemy in a heartbeat to protect her country—or her young. She will defend what she believes is right until her last dying breath. She is a tough and formidable opponent if you intend her harm. Yet, her heart will soften and swell with pride as she looks at Old Glory, or the men and women and children she serves and protects. Her allies, her team, her fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines are her brothers and sisters; and, she will forever feel the bond they share—no matter how long she served on active duty, and for as long as she lives. She is also soft and tender. Her heart aches for home and her loved ones.
Photo above on right: Sp4 Carla Webb, 980th Medical Supply Optical Maintenance, Sacramento, strings communication wires in the field. CAARNG Photo by Sgt. Debra Sonniksen [Ristau], 69th Public Affairs Detachment (PAD)
"She will do what she says. Her word is an iron promise. She is amazing in her ability to adapt, overcome adversity, do whatever it takes, and still dance the night away if given a pair of heels, a dress, and music. She laughs deeper, loves harder, and her heart knows no bounds. That is the heart of a military woman. There is no creature on earth as tough, as tender, as warm, and giving, as generous of spirit, or as protective as a military woman."
Photo: Lieutenant Louise Sanders, Sergeant Debra Sonniksen [Ristau], and Sp4 Melissa Barnes enjoy a brief respite from a Field Training Exercise (FTX), November, 1987. CAARNG Photo by SSgt. Ben Delaney, 69th PAD
~Debra Ann Ristau
USARNG—California, 1985–1994
www.horsewhispersandlies.com
Heart of a Military Woman is co-authored by Eldonna Lewis Fernandez and Sheryl Roush, female motivational and inspirational speakers.
Heart of a Military Woman is available here.
Heart of a Military Woman Book Contributors Announced!
Heart of a Military Woman| 17 Comments »Heart of a Military Woman
Book Contributors Announced!
After one year as a concept, the Heart of a Military Woman book becomes a reality!
It all started when Eldonna Lewis Fernandez met Sheryl Roush, who was autographing her Heart of a Woman books (next to Robert Kiyosaki and Bernadette Peters) at the Book Expo America in Los Angeles, California, last summer. As she personally inscribed Eldonna’s copy, Sheryl mentioned her forthcoming title, Heart of a Woman in Business, suggesting Eldonna contibute. She did, and her story, "Creative Success" was accepted to be published.
Later that Autumn, Eldonna suggested a collaboration for the book honoring our active military and veterans. After one year of brainstorming and collecting true short stories, poems and tributes, Heart of a Military Woman went to press yesterday, co-authored by the two women.
An abundance of submissions were received from 140 contributors, totaling over a 106,000 word count. Surviving five rounds of cuts, selections were made, congratulations notices were sent, and here are the results:
Lorri Allen
Loni Anderson
Patty Anderson
Anne Armstrong
Sarah Arnold
Lee A. Barron
Marjorie Benesh
Lisa Black
Kathie Bobbitt
Sandy Borum
Nancy Canfield
Jeanne Cassidy
Angela Cody-Rouget
Dave Coulie
Roy Crawford
Ruth Decker
Kara Vichko DeFrias
Dee Dees
Emily "Emmylou" DeShazo
Rose Dommer
Karen Doolittle
Judith Duran
Tina Erwin
Dolly Garnecki
Peggy Gigstad
Karriann Graf
Capt. Adam J. Gravseth
Pegine Echevarria
Virginia Ellis
Dharlene Marie Fahl-Brittian
Eldonna Lewis Fernandez
Marissa Fernandez
Nicole Fetick
Shirley (Sisko) Harkins
Tonya Helman
Colleen Hensley
Rosemary Heredy
Kathie Hightower
Jackie Merck Hlastan
Valerie Hodgson
Cindy Hogan
LaMonda Hopman
Antoinette Izzo
Norene Jensen
Susan Katz Keating
Kathy K. Kirk
Rhonda M. Lawson
Lisa Lockwood
Adria Manary
Eileen McDargh
Tina McHargue
Phyllis Zimbler Miller
Kelley Upchurch Moore
Eilene M. Nielsen
Kathy Nelson
Larrie Noble
Norm Nomura
Lana Noone
Elizabeth "Libby" Oberg
Norah O’Neill
Kerry Pardue
Darcy Lovgren Pavich
Judy Peebles
Angela Perez
Jennifer Pigeon
Christina Piper
Sue Pollard
Kay Presto
Mary Lenora Quigley
Maria Quinonez
Julia Borchardt Rasmussen
John Reddish
Sarah Byrn Rickman
Debra Ann Ristau
Kristin Rondeau-Guardiola
Sheryl Roush
Michele Ruppert
Raquel Santiago
Melissa Seligman
Laurie Sheppard
Gina Simmons
Carin Smith
Linda C. (Lee) Smith
Angela Strader
Deborah Tainsh
Judy Turner
Suzan Tusson
Major Van Harl
Dawn Vogel
Jolita Wagoner
Lyn R. White
Pamela Wilson
Susan D. Wiseman
Mary L. Wooldridge
Judy H. Wright
Denise Yamada
Kenneth Zapp
Click here to order copies of the Heart of a Military Woman book.
Sheryl Roush, creator of the Heart Book Series, is a female motivational speaker, specializing in keynotes, conferences, and workplace motivation. For more information, go to Sparkle Presentations, Inc.
