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Lauralee Bliss: True Heroines of Long Ago & Giveaway

11/13/2011

 

This week we welcome Lauralee Bliss to Author Memories.

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Lauralee Bliss has always liked to dream big dreams.
Part of that dream was writing, and after several years
of hard work, the dream of publishing was realized in
1997 with the publication of her first romance novel, Mountaintop, through Barbour Publishing. Since then, she's had over twenty books published in both historical and contemporary.
Lauralee is also an avid hiker, completing the entire length of the Appalachian Trail both north and south, one of only 24 women to have accomplished this feat. Lauralee makes her home with her family in Virginia in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

True Heroines of Long Ago
by Lauralee Bliss

Picture
Back some forty years ago, the celebrated heroines were quite different than they are today.  I remember my great delight in scanning the Christmas catalogs for toys I wanted as a child and came across this picture of great costumes for children. One of them is a nurse's uniform. Yes, these angels of mercy were adored back in my day. They were classified as true heroines. To me growing up, it was quite glamorous to bandage a wound, put a cloth on a fevered brow, comfort those in misery.

One Christmas I was given a doctor kit like the one shown here to use in my playtime. I adored it. It had everything from tiny plastic pill bottles to a play sphygmomanometer (to take a blood pressure), stethoscope, thermometer, and tiny box of band aids.

Picture
Sears 1975 Wishbook, Photo on Flikr by Wishbook
I recall one day when my sisters and I created a “doll hospital.” The dolls were our patents. We had a tray on wheels which we used as a stretcher. We wheeled the injured dolls into the laundry room which served as the examination room. I’d take out my pride and joy, the black doctor’s kit with the big red cross on it and proceed to take a blood pressure and put a tiny band-aid on a tiny plastic leg. Then I would wrap it in a strip of cotton torn from Mom’s old sheets. Eventually all this interest led to a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and going on to practice for several years at a big teaching hospital.

Oh, those were the days and good ones when true heroines for little girls, like nurses and teachers, were admired and adored. I wish we could return to that kind of admiration these days. Recalling when firemen, policemen, doctors, nurses were heralded for their brave deeds.

Maybe that’s why I like writing historical novels. I like to examine the tried and true heroine of days gone by, when caring for the home and hearth were prized. I like to reflect on that period of time that made this country great. When women taught their children and maintained the strength and dignity of the home. In my newest release
"A Quaker Christmas" the heroine ultimately becomes a “nurse" of the heart for the wounded hero injured by a terrible crime committed to a beloved family member. In this we see that nursing the injured can take on other forms besides hands on care such as giving words of healing and comfort, providing shelter, showing mercy.

Much has changed since these simple times of long ago, but I was encouraged just
today in church when I learned of at least four women looking to make nursing their profession. While it may not be the heroine’s costume of choice in a toy catalog, the call to care for others and be a light in times of great need still beckons to the heart and soul. True heroines can be found and cherished even today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leave a comment with a valid email address by midnight, Nov 20th
to be entered to win a copy of Lauralee's 2009 Christmas book, 
Love Finds You in Bethlehem, NH.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lauralee's newest release is a Christmas novella, A Crossroad to Love in:
A Quaker Christmas, Barbour Books, Sep 2011

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A Quaker Christmas back cover blurb:
Christmas is a simple matter among the Quakers of the historic Ohio River Valley, but can it be time to welcome love into four households?
 
A Crossroad to Love, a novella 
by Lauralee Bliss:
The Hall family runs an inn that welcomes travelers like Silas Jones who challenge their beliefs and woo their daughter.
 
plus 3 more novellas in this anthology.


You can find Lauralee online at these sites:

Website:  http://www.lauraleebliss.com

Blog:  http://www.blissfullifejourney.com

“Readers of Author Lauralee Bliss” on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Readers-of-Author-Lauralee-Bliss/170259122202

Follow Lauralee on Twitter – @lauraleebliss
Katy Lee
11/14/2011 03:44:57 am

Looks like a nice Collection of Christmas stories!

Lyn H
11/14/2011 08:58:20 am

I come from a long line of nurses so I grew up respecting that profession. However, it wasn't the profession for me. In fact, when my kids fell and cut themselves, I'd do what needed to be done, then I'd go rest, lol. I just don't have the stomach for blood! But there is much more to nursing than that, of course. And the compassion my mother, grandmother and aunts showed others has always stuck with me.

The trailer is very nice and the book looks wonderful. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.

Blessings,
LynH

Lauralee Bliss
11/14/2011 01:53:38 pm

Thanks so much for stopping by. Nursing is indeed far more than the hands on, but the compassion and understanding.

Sandee61 link
11/15/2011 07:55:07 am

So sorry...hit the wrong key! I admire nurses and have several in my family. My daughter is one, and now my eldest grandaughter is in college working towards becoming a surgical nurse. I'd love to read Lauralee's book and have a chance at winning her Love Finds You... book. Thank you for the entry.

Have a blessed day,
Sandee61

misskallie2000
11/15/2011 12:46:33 pm

My daughter is very outgoing and loves people but after over 10 yrs as manager of retail cell phone store she took a $10,000.00 yr cut to be the officer manager of a Physical Therapy office and loves it. The patients and office get together for meals and the office dresses for Halloween and the patients bring lunch for them. I only wish she could make more money and get back out on her own as she is hoping to do.

Would love to read your book. Thanks for opportunity to enter giveaway.

misskallie2000

Deanna
11/15/2011 10:13:51 pm

would enjoy a copy of Love Finds You in Bethlehem, NH. :-)

Jo
11/16/2011 12:16:12 am

Growing up I wanted to be a nurse.

Would love to read your book. Thanks for the giveaway.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Courtney
11/16/2011 03:13:22 am

Sounds like a great book!! Great interview too!!

Thanks for the chance to win!

Courtney
kcmelone at yahoo dot com

karenk
11/16/2011 07:57:46 am

thanks for the chance to read this wonderful novel :)

Lauralee Bliss link
11/16/2011 01:16:09 pm

I found it so rewarding to see patients recover and go home. It was the best part of nursing.

Melanie link
11/16/2011 03:53:35 pm

Looks like a great book! Please enter me in the giveaway.

frequentreader19 (at) gmail (dot) com

http://christianbookshelfreviews.blogspot.com/

Joy Hannabass link
11/17/2011 05:50:28 am

Wow this is awesome. I love Christmas stories.....and would love a copy of Love Finds You in Bethlehem, NH too
Blessings.....Joy

Anita mae
11/17/2011 01:15:50 pm

Hi everyone. I had a nurses' kit when I was young, too. It was back in the mid 60's so it was a bit different than yours, Lauralee. But it was still fun even though I wanted to be a teacher. Teacher's didn't get a neat kit to play with though. :)

I spent a couple weeks in the hospital with pneumonia when I was 5. It was a scary experience, but the nurses were very nice. Except this one time... I wandered down the hall - a wide, empty hall. Very quiet. I ended up at the nurses desk. I remember her saying I shouldn't be out of my room so I ran back. We had no tv and I don't remember reading books back then. No wonder I went exploring. LOL

Maureen Timerman link
11/18/2011 10:08:55 am

One of my Dear Sister's is an RN and our go to girl, bless her heart!
Actually, deep down I always wanted to be a nurse, but didn't!
I love the cover on your book!!! Very eye appealing!

susan Karsten link
11/19/2011 09:26:46 am

would love to win the book!!! It sounds really good and thank you for the comments on nurses.

Joy Hannabass link
11/20/2011 12:47:46 pm

Hope I am not too late to enter this.....Love the LFY books!
Blessings.....Joy
ibjoy1953{at]yahoo[dot]com

Anita Mae
11/21/2011 06:50:14 am

No Joy, you weren't too late. The draw goes until midnight.

And I love your enthusiasm because I agree about the LFY books. That whole series is a blessing.

Anita Mae
11/21/2011 06:55:48 am

We have a winner of Lauralee's Love Finds You in Bethlehem, NH! With the help of random.org the winner is...

Lyn H

Congrats, Lyn! I'll forward your name to Lauralee and she'll be in contact regarding postal instructions. She's been on vacation this week and may have a backlog of emails to get through, so give her time. If you haven't heard from her by week's end, let me know. Okay?

Thanks everyone.

And if you want a taste of Australia, leave a comment for this week's guest, Amanda Deed, and you'll be entered for a copy of her historical about the Australian gold rush. :)

Anita mae
11/21/2011 07:48:26 am

Lauralee, thank you for making time on your vacation to check in here. And thanks for donating one of your books for a giveaway. I've emailed you Lyn's email address.

I'm glad you posted about nurses. They're in a job where they may go days and weeks without anyone showing gratitude - not out of neglect, but because they see people at their worst - when they're filled with pain and fear.

The next time I see someone I suspect is a nurse, I'm going out of my way to thank them. Just because.

Thanks for reminding me how much the world needs nurses.

Anita Mae.

LynnH
11/22/2011 02:33:07 pm

Thanks so much AnitaMae and Lauralee! Yippeee!

Anita Mae
11/24/2011 04:05:46 am

You are welcome LynnH.

:)

Anita mae
11/24/2011 04:06:56 am

Found this comment under a different post and am moving it here...

Martha Artyomenko
11/17/2011 23:12:07
I wanted to be a nurse and collected old nurse books like Cherry Ames and Sue Barton and read them and re-read them over and over. I read all about Clara Barton, Florence Nightengale and Elizabeth Blackwell. When the time came though to actually follow through with it, I realized nursing was not like it used to be, or how I thought it was! I still love medical stuff, but found emergency medicine or being a doula more in my line of interest! martha(at)lclink(dot)com

Julietta Wilder
9/18/2013 04:05:04 pm

why do people choose Quakers sometimes as subjects for stories? I wonder. I have seen this several times. I am an unprogrammed Friend in NY. We don't celebrate Christmas, except as a family get- together. Many of us are not what most people understand as "Christian" -- the afterlife and divinity of Christ are not the important things, it's following your "leadings" and listening to the inner voice for guidance which many feel come directly from God (or "Spirit"). Quakers in a lot of books have been romanticized as simple, good people who try to right wrongs and give hope and love. No problem, except many Friends are extremely well educated and in high positions of research and education. But the title focusses on "Quaker Christmas" which bothers me -- there's really no such thing. Perhaps you are confusing us with Mennonites, some of whom do wear little head coverings and are Christian. Quakers often give gifts at Christmas, but nothing crazy like in many families. We abhor the materialism and frenzy of the holiday and find the current nonsensical controversy over public holiday displays quite superficial and meaningless. Getting back to your book: many Friends are in nursing professions, both traditional medical and non-traditional, such as healers and midwives. Not disparaging your obvious talent and good heart, just wanted to let you know what Quakers are about. I'm happy so many people are enjoying your books.

Anita Mae
9/24/2013 02:12:53 pm

Hi, Julietta. I'm the blog owner of Author Memories and often had guest bloggers. The author of the book you're talking about was a guest here almost 2 yrs ago.

I appreciate you taking the time to share your views. I don't know the circumstances of Lauralee's book, but it seems that any faith-based society where women wear caps - or similar head coverings - are lumped together under the umbrella of Amish fiction because the general public is fascinated by what they call, closed societies, and want to read more.

You're a wonderful, kind-hearted person for being glad people are enjoying these books. And I'm glad you explained Friends. It's only through knowledge that people come to understand different societies.

As an added note, I've found Friends in my husband's genealogy where they are connected with the Sharon Temple in York County, Ontario, Canada. And yes, I still have much to learn.

Thanks again for stopping by and making your views known. :)


Comments are closed.
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