Tennessee, I hear you calling me

I have been invited to hold a book signing in Tennessee.
Jim's brother Gary, younger by 14 months, and his wife Janet have invited me to their home for a short stay, and hopefully a whirlwind tour of Nashville, so that they can host a book signing event for "It's Lonely Here in Hell" Love Letters from Nam.
I am so looking forward to meeting the two of them and having my creation read by more. Hopefully with this work, the generations that were not taught of Vietnam will have the opportunity to learn, absorb, and never forget.

Booksigning at Micki & Larrys an AMAZING event!

Book sales reaching over 60 was not the highlight of the evening, it was the outpouring of love and support from family and friends.
Two of Jim's brothers, Tom and Dennis, with their wives and families attended along with cousins and lifelong friends.
A heartmelting event occurred early in the evening when Swanee and Abel, high school friends of Jim's and Vietnam veterans arrived surprising Micki and bringing her to joyful tears. Quietly speaking to Micki, Abel slowly pulled a torn dollar bill from his billfold and explained that when he and Jim had deployed to Vietnam, Jim in the Army, Abel in the Air Force, Jim had torn a dollar in half and said "when we get home we'll have a beer." 44 years later Abel still carried the torn bill....on October 23, 2011 he gifted the torn bill to Micki.
Micki said she will frame it and place on the wall at her business, Micki & Larry's Sports Pub, beneath Jim's rubbing from the Vietnam Wall in D.C.  a gift from Marine Vietnam Veteran Ric Ryan.

Wonderful words from Jim's brother Gary

Charity,


First, let me say that you have done a wonderful job putting this book together. I truly appreciate your compassion for Micki and my family as well as the research you did to put the chronological references of events in place. Thank you so very much. I regret that I was unable to attend this celebration of my brother's life and the completion of this project. While the spoken word is strong in its own right, the written word immortalizes. Jim's brief life and his love for Micki, his family and his country has been thrusted far beyond the granite etching on the wall in DC to the entire world because of you. I wish you much success with this book and thank you again for immortalizing Jim's life and love.

Gary

Wonderful feedback!

Charity, your book is an absolute masterpiece!  Excellent organization, great presentation that builds drama even though we all know the outcome.  I can envision this being a movie script.  There's more to come in your future!  Keep writing.  You handled this just right.  Warm regards, Kyran

Barnes & Noble.com has just listed my book!!!

Not only have they picked up my book they have a discount offer! Gee whiz!!

Heres the link:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/its-lonely-here-in-hell-charity-maness/1034207085?ean=9781463572365&itm=1&usri=charity%2bmaness

Interesting observation

I found that when visiting a state within the 'bible belt' of the US...a title that has the word 'hell' in it is not readily accepted.

Reporters, book stores, and libraries alike so far have shied away from my book, all stating basically the same thought, the word is not acceptable.

Feedback on new book from a Vietnam Vet

I finished the book this morning. I couldn't put it down. I feel so bad for Micki and all her family and James family. Those weren't the best of days for anyone, whether you were there or back home and had been there. I think the public would have "tolerated" the war a little better if it wasn't in your home every day on TV. It brought the death and destruction into your house, you couldn't avoid it. It's just like the present, when the fighting in Afghanistan is intense and you know there are service men dying and your natural instinct is to want it to stop, for the death and injuries to stop, why can't we stay out of it. I know some of the reasons, but it's still hard.


I really, really, loved the book, it helps.

al

Received an amazing note from Jim Piper's youngest brother Tom

I was only 12 years old when Jim died. Although I remember my big brother because of our age difference I never really had the chance get to know him. This has haunted me all these years. Thanks to Mickey for shareing these very personal letters and to you for putting them together. I now know my brother. I can now tell people what he was like. This book has healed a huge hole in my heart. I will be forever grateful. TOM

The great feedback keeps coming in...

 I just finished reading Charity Maness's book "It's Lonely Here in Hell" (a quote from James Piper in one of his letters). It is incredibly poignant, incredibly intimate and incredibly heart-rending. Charity has created a remarkable medium for revealing the emotions of a soldier in the field. If you are a contemporary of that time it will definitely expose feelings you may not have dealt with in years. I've never experienced anything like it in any book (and I've read a lot of military history). Hooray for Charity!

Randy B.

Receiving positive feedback for "It's Lonely Here in Hell" Love Letters from Nam

Jim's Pipers niece, who he never had the opportunity to meet  send me a very nice facebook message after reading "It's Lonley Here in Hell" Love Letters from Nam:


We received our copy of the book "It's Lonely Here in Hell" Love Letters from Nam. This book was written about my uncle Jim, and the love letters he sent home from Vietnam to his new, young bride, Micki (Michelle). I'm only 50 pages in so far and I am amazed. I never got to meet ...my uncle so reading his handwritten letters helps me see the kind of man he was. I cannot thank the author, Charity L. M...aness enough for doing this for our family. She is an amazing person with a huge heart who would stop at nothing to make sure this book was the best it could be, full of history, pictures and memories. I cannot wait to finish the whole book and cherish it forever!
P.S. The book is available on Amazon.com if anyone is interested :)
 
 
Jim Piper's sister-in-law commented:
 just finished reading the book, still wiping away tears. WOW


And a heartfelt note from Jim's cousin:
You don't know me but I want to thank you very much for putting together such a wonderful book about my cousin Jim Piper's life in Viet Nam. I will cherish this book. I was very close to my cousin and felt so close again reading this book. I received it in the mail this afternoon and already finished it tonight. Thank you and Micki for putting it together..Billie


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