Posts Tagged ‘Marine Corps’

I thought rather than tell you the assortment of things we do in the US Marine Corps Historical Company (USMCHC), I’d take this opportunity to show you through these photographs, which basically speak for themselves:

USMCHC Marines presenting the history of the Corps

History of the Marine Corps - Commandant, Marine Corps, in center

USMCHC 1814 Marines at Ft McHenry where we partner with the NPS to do educational programming

1814 USMCHC Marine Cannoneers - This is our cannon. Marines did double duty in the early days. Marines here are in fatigue dress.

GySgt Tom Williams talking to visitors - Harpers Ferry NHP

1861 USMCHC Marines at Manassas National Battlefield Park, where we also have a partnership

USMCHC Specialist firing a WWII flame thrower, as used in Windtalkers & Flags of Our Fathers

LtGen Ron Christmas chatting with USMCHC Marines at opening of Marine Corps Museum - Quantico

Talking to visitors about the historic Marine Band uniforms the USMCHC just had produced for the Marine Band

USMCHC Marines on board the USS North Carolina giving presentation of WWII Ships Detachment Marines

Normal dress for USMCHC interpreters when presenting educational programs not requiring period uniforms, which is more the norm today. We gear our method of interpretation to the audience and often find not being in period uniform a benefit.

Our active duty Marines often interpret to the public in their own modern uniforms. This is a WWII display at Solomons, MD

1814 USMCHC Marines on firing line at Ft McHenry in full dress.

USMCHC Marines portraying Spanish American War Marines to duplicate a famous photograph of the period

USMCHC Teaching repelling and leadership to JROTC

Early uniform display at the Marine Corps Commandant's House, at his request.

I have been asked how I develop Ian Carlyle’s romantic interests, and how I write love scenes. I can tell you it isn’t that easy. In the first draft I wrote of “Follow Me to Glory,” set in the era of the Crimean War, there was no romance.  Then several lovely ladies of Gettysburg told me pointedly that if there were no love scenes, not only wouldn’t they buy the book, but no one else would either.  I caved like a cheap tent, ran home to my office, and created the sensual and strong-willed Jasmine.  The book is much better for having done so.  It adds a poignant divergence from the war.

To accomplish the challenge of writing about romance, I first found I had to put myself inside their world – not only Ian’s, but Jasmine’s as well. I was reluctant and somewhat embarrassed to go there, worried what I wrote would be seen as silly or superficial.  The dreaded: “His characters lack depth.  They don’t seem real.”  I had to get past that.  ”It is what it is,” I told myself.

Ian likes strong women.  I placed Jasmine in a man’s world, especially in Victorian England, managing a drinking establishment with an iron fist, yet with a certain persuasive softness as she deals with unruly customers. She is also worldly, with a mysterious background.  I made Ian naïve and innocent by contrast.

As their relationship grows, Jasmine patiently teaches Ian. Translate that to a lovely oriental lady in Japan who taught a young inexperienced seventeen-year-old Marine corporal about the real world over a hundred years later. I found myself becoming more comfortable writing about what I’ve learned of life and romance.

In the sequel, “The Gettysburg Conspiracy,” Ian is more mature, a seasoned veteran on many levels.  Jasmine is for now out of his life, although she manages to come back into it for a second time before the first book ends.  In this, the second book in the Ian Carlyle Series, he meets two women, both strong, but otherwise with very little in common.  One is a specter from his past, and the other a newfound romance.  Ian uses the lessons in life taught him by Jasmine with gusto at times, and with a delicate balance between intense passion and gentle compassion at others.

I was reluctant to write romance and love scenes initially, but I can’t deny it – it’s mischievous and great fun!