Joan Hall Guesting Today to Talk About Her #newbook – Menagerie

~ John W. Howell

I am so happy to have Joan Hall visit today. Joan is a fellow member of Story Empire, and she has a new book that sounds fascinating. Come on in, Joan, and tell us about your latest.

The Homecoming

Thanks so much for hosting me today, John. It’s a pleasure to visit you and to share news about my latest release, Menagerie. It’s a mixed-genre compilation of thirteen short stories. Each tour stop features a different story and what inspired me to write it. Today, I’d like to talk about The Homecoming, a contemporary fiction story about a military family.

I have a deep respect for the men and women who serve and have served in the military. While I’m grateful to all the generations who have served, I have a special place in my heart for those who served in Vietnam. I had two cousins who served during that time—one in the Navy, the other Army.

In 2019, I first heard the story of Colonel Roy Knight, an Air Force pilot whose plane was shot down over Laos in 1967. He was listed as missing in action for many years before being declared killed in action. In February 2019, fifty-two years after being shot down, his remains were identified. That same August, his remains were flown home to Texas, his final resting place.

The story itself is touching, but what made it even more of a tearjerker is the fact his son, a pilot for Southwest Airlines, flew the plane with his father’s casket into Dallas Love Field Airport. The same airport then five-year-old Bryan and other members of his family last saw him as he departed Texas for what proved to be his final tour of duty.

I shed a few tears when watching the video and still do each time I see it. Colonel Knight’s story inspired me to write The Homecoming.

It’s the story of the Atwood family. Four generations have served in the Navy—except for the youngest son. Brady Atwood decided against a military career, which didn’t make his father happy. Brady reluctantly joins his family when his grandfather’s remains are returned from Vietnam a half-century after he went missing.

Told from four different points of view—Brady, his father Bruce, his mother Cindy, and his brother Chris, The Homecoming is story of family dynamics, mending relationships, and most of all honoring a fallen hero.

Excerpt:

I had long given up hope of this day ever happening. Now that it’s here, it seems surreal. I was six years old on that February morning in 1968 when we saw my father off at this same airport for what proved to be his final tour of duty. As the youngest child, it was hard for me to grasp what was happening. Growing up in a military family, I was accustomed to him leaving from time to time. It was all part of life, but Dad would always come back.

Vietnam was on the other side of the world. I’d seen clips of the war on television but never expected it to change our lives forever.

It’s funny how my memories of that day are as plain as if they’d happened last week. Dad was a handsome man with dark hair, twinkling blue eyes, and a smile that would light up any room. Mom said his smile was what she first noticed about him. It’s also what I remember most. He’d started up the jet bridge when he turned back. He waved and flashed a grin at us then continued toward the plane. It was the last time we saw him alive.

Blurb:

King’s. The Tower of London. Glass. What do these have in common?

Each is a famous menagerie.

While this Menagerie doesn’t focus on exotic animals, it does contain a collection of stories that explore various trials people face and how their reactions shape their worlds.

Survivors of a haunted bridge. Women who wait while their husbands fight a war. Former partners reuniting to solve a cold-case murder.

These are just three of the thirteen stories in this compendium, encompassing past and present, natural and supernatural, legend and reality. The genres and timelines are varied, but there’s a little something for everyone who enjoys reading about simpler times and small-town life.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/jh-menagerie  

About the Author

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82 thoughts on “Joan Hall Guesting Today to Talk About Her #newbook – Menagerie”

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  4. The Homecoming was one of my top favorite stories in Menagerie. The entire is collection is brilliant, but this one plucked a lot of heartstrings. Congratulations to Joan on her collection of shorts. It’s great to see her featured her today, John!

    Liked by 3 people

  15. How lovely to get the background on that touching story, Joan. I also have great respect for our service men and women, and my heart goes out to those who lost their lives and the families left behind. A wonderful collection of stories, my friend. Thanks for hosting, John!

    Liked by 2 people

  18. I can’t imagine the emotions of having a hero finally come home. You captured though in this story.

    Thanks for hosting, John:)

    Liked by 1 person

  20. “Past and present, natural and supernatural, legend and reality.” Sounds like you’ve cover all the bases, Joan. Thanks for sharing the information. Thanks John for bringing this to us.

    Liked by 2 people

  21. This was another great story in Menagerie. My heart went out to Brady, and I cheered him on for daring to be different. Glad this story had a good resolution. Thank you, John, for hosting today. This is such a good book, and I highly recommend it!

    Liked by 1 person

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