Tag Archives: Vietnam War

A BRAT Who Put Down Roots with Connie Kinsey, Episode #43

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Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet

Connie Kinsey is a former military BRAT who has put down deep roots in a converted barn on a dirt road at the top of a hill in West Virginia.

She lives with two dogs and a cat, and is pursuing happiness, one cup of coffee at a time. Primarily a memoirist, the events of her life permeate her work.

Her fiction is sometimes described as autofiction because it incorporates autobiography in a fictionalized form with endings far from the truth of what really happened. In January of 2021, Connie was thrilled to be selected as one of two Writers-in-Residence for the Museum of the American Military Family & Learning Center. She works full-time with a children’s nonprofit. 

See the OUTTAKES VIDEO for Connie Kinsey, where you can see the historic flag behind me.
wvfurandroot.com
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Connie’s Readings:

  • Redemption – 13:05
  • Being a Brat – 28:30
  • Chapter 5 from Black Fishnets and Combat Boots – 43:36

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

  • Grapefruit Supreme, Surly Brewing Company (paired to Redemption) – 10:38
  • Crunkle Sam Barleywine, Clown Shoes (paired to Being a Brat) – 25:32
  • Budweiser, ABInBev (paired to Chapter 5 from Black Fishnets and Combat Boots) – 40:55

Interview Highlights:

  • Faulkner chicks and Tennessee Williams chicks! – 16:52
  • And what about Appalachian chicks? – 19:11
  • Why West Virginia? – 23:17
  • The effects of growing up military – 36:08
  • The Museum of the American Military Family – 36:48
  • The story behind Black Fishnets – 48:24
  • Writing dark comedy—humor with a serious message – 53:55

COMING NEXT MONTH: 

Christina Courtenay, author of historical fiction, time slip, and time travel

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

If you liked this episode, you might also like these Books and Brews episodes:

HELP US GROW

If you enjoy our interviews or have benefited from them, we invite you to help us continue our work. It takes a great deal of time and money to produce Books and Brews. We’ve been doing interviews since January 2017 as a free service to authors. We continue to promote those authors on our social media for years after their interviews.

  • Subscribing, following, liking, commenting and sharing all help us to keep doing what we do.
  • A $5 tip helps us pay for our many expenses: Libsyn hosting, web hosting, Google meets, providing the drinks for the interview and the many hours of preparation and editing that go into each episode.
  • Patreon: patreon.com/BooksandBrewswithLauraVosika
  • Tip Jar: paypal.me/booksandbrewsMN
  • Books and Brews products:
    https://www.zazzle.com/store/books_an… (more to come)
  • Sponsor an episode to promote your product or service: contact us booksandbrewslive@gmail.com

An American Kid in Saigon with Sandy Hanna, Episode #31

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Sandy Hanna talks about her memoir, The Ignorance of Bliss: An American Kid in Saigon

Sandy Hanna is an award-winning author for her memoir “The Ignorance of Bliss: An American Kid in Saigon,” a true coming-of-age story about growing up in Vietnam in the early 60s. She current resides in Lambertville, New Jersey.

As a military BRAT (British Regiment Attached Transfer) her story reveals a turbulent time where politics and intrigue resided between plot and counterplot and where, as children, she and her siblings lived in the continuous present – perhaps the only way children can live.

Ms. Hanna graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois with a BA in Interdisciplinary Programs in Science and Literature and University of Massachusetts with a MED in the Biology of Cognition. Her background is one of working with children and designing learning environment for museums, theme parks, and communities. However, she sees herself as a life-time storyteller and artist.
Sandyhanna.net

Sandy’s Readings:

  • Witnessing the Coup – 9:35
  • Baby Powder & Hershey Bars – 28:27
  • Brink’s Bomb – 43:44

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

Harvey Weissbanger Recipe

  • 1 oz. Galliano
  • 2 oz. Orange Juice
  • 6 oz. Weissbier

Fill a collins glass with ice. Add the Galliano and orange juice. Top with Weissbier. Garnish with orange peel.

Interview Highlights:

  • Did you take it for granted you survived a shooting spree? – 15:34
  • The Dragon Lady and Colonel Sam’s Expose – 19:12
  • Did your brother’s basketball start the Vietnam War? – 23:26
  • Everything in life lies in acceptance – 35:26
  • Military kids taking control in an out-of-control world – 36:58
  • Military transport to Saigon – 51:05

COMING NEXT MONTH:

Christine Madline Ellsworth, poet and 1st time novelist

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

  • Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology
  • Laura will be signing books Sunday, November 7, 2 to 5 pm at Maple Grove Lutheran Church, 9251 Elm Creek Blvd N, Maple Grove, MN. Several other authors from Night Writers will also be signing books.

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

If you liked this episode, you might also like these Books and Brews episodes:

HELP US GROW

If you enjoy our interviews or have benefited from them, we invite you to help us continue our work. It takes a great deal of time and money to produce Books and Brews. We’ve been doing interviews since January 2017 as a free service to authors. We continue to promote those authors on our social media for years after their interviews.

  • Subscribing, following, liking, commenting and sharing all help us to keep doing what we do.
  • A $5 tip helps us pay for our many expenses: Libsyn hosting, web hosting, Google meets, providing the drinks for the interview and the many hours of preparation and editing that go into each episode.
  • Patreon: patreon.com/BooksandBrewswithLauraVosika
  • Tip Jar: paypal.me/booksandbrewsMN
  • Books and Brews products:
    https://www.zazzle.com/store/books_an… (more to come)
  • Sponsor an episode to promote your product or service: contact us booksandbrewslive@gmail.com