April 9, 1967

I thank God each night for my wife and my life and also enjoy every breath that I take and praise every morning I wake up too. It means another day gone, another day I’m alive, and another day closer to being home with my wife forever.

Every ounce of love to you sweetie,

Jim

Preliminary Book Cover for "It's Lonely Here in Hell" love letters from Nam

Final Letter from Nam

I just finished entering the final letter from PFC James Piper to his wife Micki, written on April 9, 1967.
Now to complete my research.

Thoughts of love and homecoming pervade each letter

On March 5, 1967 Jim wrote:

“I think of you and dream of you constantly through my limited days in hell on earth.

Please expect me for dinner on Feb 18, 1968 because I will be there alive and well."

Loving your enormously,

Jim

(Excerpt from book titled "It's lonely here in hell" love letters from Nam)

"It's Lonely Here in Hell" love letters from Nam

Introduction

In 2010 Michelle (Micki) Phillips (previously Micki Piper) approached me and asked if I would be interested in writing a story based on love letters from the Vietnam War era. While my writing at the time leaned toward romance novels and cub reporting my interest was piqued. When she informed me the letters she was referring to were letters written to her from her husband who died from small arms fire in the Vietnam War leaving her a young widow, my heart broke.
To be allowed the intimate glimpse into her life, the life she so briefly shared with her young husband, and to then share his letters with the world was without a doubt an honor I would not take lightly.
How better to honor, not only her husband’s memory, but the memory of all the servicemen that never made it home to hold their wives, their daughters, their sisters, their mothers.

Interview by the Stockton Record

By Dana M. Nichols


Record Staff Writer

January 19, 2012 12:00 AMCOPPEROPOLIS - In April, Charity L. Maness received a battered shoebox of 44-year-old love letters that changed the direction of her writing career.

Maness, who lives in Copperopolis, until then had specialized in romance novels such as "Prince Charming," published in 2010, and humor such as "From Positive Test to Empty Nest," published in 2009.

The letters in the shoebox had no happy ending.

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120119/A_LIFE/201190307/-1/a_life

Welcome to the Country - Kentucky Style

Welcome to the Country- Kentucky Style
So normally, my little humor column would start something like this….
So you’ve decided to move to the country where cows aren’t what they seem….or something as silly as that, but today I’m simply going to tell you of my Christmas vacation…Kentucky style.

Being a wise and thrifty traveler I always look for the cheapest tickets to my destination. That being said, apparently the cheapest tickets for travel over the Christmas break are on Christmas day. That’s right, when everyone else was ripping open their presents, plundering their stockings and hugging their loved ones, I was waiting in a security line at an airport full of people that were not jolly. Hohoho, was not uttered, not once. I had made sure to double check my carry-on prior to arrival for fear of the public humiliation at being pulled aside into that secret room made of four glass walls for possession of a deadly fingernail file. However, my diligence seemed to have gone unnoticed by mini Wyatt, for he had the felonious plan of sneaking a Gatorade onto the plane. Not just any Gatorade, one of those 24 oz Gatorades. I guess he figured if he was going to enter a life of crime he better start out big.

Received new shipment of books

I just love when I receive a new shipment of books in the mail...especially when they are mine!!!
I just received 20 copies of my latest collection of 2010 humor columns titled Welcome to the Country.
If you haven't read any, check out my website at www.charitymaness.com...and prepare to be amused!
The columns are an off the cuff light hearted look at country living, from eco art to cow pie bingo. No country odditiy goes un-noticed and no opportunity to poke fun at my cityfied family turned country is missed.
All in all, a hoot.
If you can't wait to get your hands on one, visit amazon.com or if you want to make sure I get a higher royalty you can go right to the publisher at https://www.createspace.com/3498373


As always....
Happy reading:)

Upcoming book signings

Great news!
I have two upcoming book signings celebrating the release of my new romance 'Prince Charming'.
December 10 at Umpqua Bank in Copperopolis, CA 4 pm to 6 pm (209-785-7007)
and
December 11 at Highland Books in Arnold, CA 12 to 2 pm (209-795-9423)

Stop on by and visit if you are in the area!

Happy reading:)

My son Chris is married!

Nicholas, Me, Chris, Avonlea, John, Amanda & Marshall.
Missing is Nick's wife, my amazing daughter-in-law, Kendra and my grandbaby Kadence.

Prince Charming now available!

A childhood where imagination replaced reality to hide from the violence, followed by a failed marraige, left Charlie wondering if any such thing as a 'Prince Charming' really existed.
When one day Prince Charming himself, all 80 pounds of furry, slobbering, barking joy, slammed into her dragging with him a two legged creature that set Charlie's nerves on fire and turned her world upside down.


A refreshingly realistic look at love after 45! As one loyal reader stated, "I was so happy to read about a woman my age finding love."

Available at amazon.com.

Writing at the speed of light!

I wish!
So here I find myself writing for work ( I work for an awesome newspaper thepinetree.net covering local events, news, and human interest stories), writing for school (yes back in college at 47 sigh, taking American Literature and Art History), and writing for the shear love of it!!
Thank goodness writing is a passion or I would most definately face burn out.
The only problem is the ideas in my head far exceed the amount of time I have to actually put my fingers to the keyboard. Though I don't necessarily wish for more time for I would fill it for sure, I would love to be more organized with the time I have.
Case in point:
I was sick this weekend, laying about on the couch like a bum. But do ya think I used that time to get all these characters and plots out of my head? Noooo, I watched tv! Ugh!
Oh well, I did learn how to make a better chili, at least I think so, I didn't write the recipe down and being as how my brain was a little fuzzy from the meds I'm thinking that my recollection of two tablespoons of cinnamon that the recipe called for may not be correct.
Check out amazon.com for my books...they make GREAT Christmas gifts..hint, hint:)
As always,
Happy reading!