Coming Up for Air

For the last two- and one-half weeks since OVER THERE was released, my life has been a flat-out sprint. The tail end of speaking engagements for THREADBARE plus OVER THERE launch events, while squeezing in a page or two of fresh writing, has left my head spinning. It’s been hard to shut off the adrenaline and simply get a good night’s sleep.

Thank to all of you for supporting my work. I have received such lovely feedback, and my heart is full. Your excitement for the novels, and your empathic support for my health challenges has left me grateful that my world, over the last five years, has opened wider, including all of you within.

At this very moment, I am on a flight heading for an ‘out west’ adventure with one of my daughters and family. We are taking two of the grandkids to the Grand Canyon and Sedona. They are having a heat wave - we'll try not to melt in the 90+ degree temperatures every day. I’ll let you know next week if dry heat really makes a difference…

Before things got nuts, I wrote a short blog about war songs and why I chose Over There, a Call to Arms WW1 song by George M. Cohan as my title. I love the music. The horns send shivers up my arms. In my first few pages of OVER THERE, the song helped me jump-start my writing in the morning, and often, I’d find myself humming it all day. My characters are all experiencing the irresistible pull into the Medical Corps. The lyrics and chorus, “Because the Yanks are coming,” never fail to evoke strong emotion in me.

Here’s the blog I wrote:

Since the beginning of recorded time, music, percussive instruments, and songs have played a central role in shaping how people experience, understand, and remember conflict. Deep, additive melodies are used to boost morale, commemorate sacrifice, and, in some cases, protest violence. Often, these songs are only footnoted, yet their impact during that period is profound. Just as love songs help process heartbreak, war music provides the platform for processing trauma, heroism, and political motivations. These songs cross the globe, tracing back centuries.

Music brings people together as a unifying force, creating a crowd mentality and amplifying its impact far more than if soldiers were singing in isolation. Songs were used to unite soldiers in marching and boost their courage while also forging bonds with their comrades. During World War I and II, songs like “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary,” “Pack Up Your Troubles,” and “We’ll Meet Again” were popular among troops and civilians. They exuded a sense of resilience, national pride, and courage in the face of the unknown.

At home, in the U.S., war songs were just as essential and were heard daily over the radio, taught in schools, and sung at rallies to promote unity, patriotism, and support for the war effort. The song “Over There” became an anthem of sorts, inspiring the young to enlist. The melodies had a magical effect, transforming abstract ideas like duty and honor into emotionally resonant messages, making the war feel tangible for those not directly involved in the fighting. For boys living far from cities, having never traveled too far from home, it generated a terrific force to serve.

Over time, as our wars became increasingly controversial, especially during the Vietnam era, war songs underwent a significant transformation. They shifted from themes of unity and resilience to challenge and rebellion, reflecting a society more willing to push back against its leadership. Songs like “The Eve of Destruction,” sung by Barry McGuire, and the works of artists such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Creedence Clearwater Revival exposed the abuse of authority and the horrors of war. This shift transformed war songs from mere tools of propaganda into powerful expressions of dissent, leaving the public concerned about the sacrifices of American soldiers.

George Cohan’s song “Over There” represented the critical role of the United States in ending the Great War. An exhausted army of French and British soldiers was buckling under the relentless force of the German army. With the sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmerman memo prodding Mexico to attack the US on the Texas border, the US had reached its last straw. It was time for the country to coalesce and demonstrate its might...Over There.

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Before we land, I want to specifically thank those of you who have shared the word about my series with your book clubs, living communities, synagogues, JCC, and other various venues. It has kept my dance card perfectly full in both New Jersey/New York and Florida, fueling the favorable word of mouth that writers dream about.

Don’t forget to post your review/rating for OVER THERE on Goodreads and Amazon, as so many readers do look at reviews before purchasing.

Many thanks, and stay cool!

XO - Jane