Catherine Mann is perhaps best known for her gripping romantic suspense novels featuring military heroes. She’s married to her own real-life Air Force hero, and here she gives us an intimate peek into how life as a military wife has as many joys as challenges. She’s also giving away two copies of her latest release, Under Fire – see below for details!
I’ve often been asked, “How do you handle life as a military wife?” I usually stumble over an answer. Because how do I explain that’s just who I am? That’s how we lived our lives for my husband’s twenty-two years as an Air Force aviator.
So when Kat asked me to write this blog, I found myself stumbling over my answer again. Finally, I discovered my answer in old family photos and a poem my grandmother shared with me. I’ve included the poem at the end, but first I want to tell you a bit about my maternal grandma.
Grandma was a military wife as well. I grew up hearing her stories about my granddad’s career as a pilot in the Army Air Corps and then the USAF. While drinking tea in her kitchen, I listened to her explain about the tough times as well as the joyous adventures.
Through those stories, I learned to see the big picture, the balance that comes over the years. I now know those stories have carried me through the difficult times and made the happy ones all the sweeter.
That’s a life lesson I will carry with me forever. Thank you, Grandma, for teaching me how to love a military man!
“Family Tree”
Author Unknown
How often my mother has said to me,
“Where are you planting your family tree?
Uprooting the children and moving each tour,
How can they possibly feel secure?”
But how can I explain about children’s hearts?
When love is present, fear departs.
For we love a man who flies o’er the earth,
Who visits Manila, Hong Kong and Perth.
Someday I hope to make Mother see.
We live by a star, not by a tree!
AUTHOR BIO
USA Today best-selling author Catherine Mann writes military romantic suspense for Sourcebooks and Berkley, as well as steamy romances for Harlequin Desire. Catherine resides in Florida with her flyboy husband, their four children, and an ever growing menagerie of pets.
For more information:
Website: http://catherinemann.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CatherineMannAuthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/CatherineMann1
Giveaway!
Who was your mentor growing up? Or do you have a mentor now? Two commenters will be chosen at random to receive a copy of UNDER FIRE by Catherine Mann. I’ll announce winners on Tuesday May 29th.
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I’m so happy to see this guest post . In june i have to read some military romance for a challenge and Catherine Mann was recommended to me a lot so now i really want to discover this book
thanks you a lot for this international opportunity to win this book
all the best
Oh Miki, you can’t do a military romance mich better than Catherine Mann. This book is on my wish list, the previous books were perfect. I would.have to say that my mother in law was my mentor. She taugjt me sourthern cooking at its best and how to maintain a good relationship with in-laws without overstepping boundaries. She taught me gracious southern manners and patience. I truly loved her.
Please put my name in the hat … I would LOVE to win a copy of your book.
I do enjoy Catherine’s story and what a lovely poem she put in her post. My mother was a great help as I was raising my children.
I enjoyed the interview and the poem. I had two mentors growing up and into adulthood. One was my mother and the other one was my paternal grandmother. They are both gone now and I miss them terribly.
I am looking forward to reading UNDER FIRE. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
Miki, I’m so happy to hear you’re going to give my books a try – and happy too to hear folks are recommending my books – what a cool, cool honor! Thanks for sharing that!
Hugs,
Cathy
Trish, can you see me blushing on the other side of the computer screen?! Thank you for the lovely compliment!! Thanks for checking out today’s blog….
Cheers,
Cathy
Maureen, glad you enjoyed the poem! Thanks for posting!!
Happy reading….
Cathy
Cathy P – Your mother and grandmother sound like wonderful women – how great to have had them in your life when you were growing up!!
Hugs,
Cathy
My maternal grandmother was a wonderful person. Always had a read smile, a hug, fresh cookies and when you were down and felt like the world was caving in, she would always ask why and then make you see nothing was beyond your capabilities if you stopped, stood back and saw what the barriers were.
I commend you on being a military wife, not always easy nor fun, and definitely a challenge when you have kids, but thanks to you and your husbands and all the others out there, we are living in a safer place.
Great blog, and loved hearing about your grandmother and the poem, simply wonderful.
Catherine, I love your military themed books.. I love your poem… Our mother’s a and grandmother have always shown us the way in our lives. both my mother and grandmother’s and my aunts have always been a positive presents in mine.. I have lost both my mom and my grandmother, but I have one aunt left and I thank god everyday she is still with me.
Catherine is a new author for me. I love miltary stories. I love a good hero. I love when that hero that saves everyone else, sometimes needs saved or help himself. I don’t have a mentor now. In high school I had a couple of teaches that were important to me and my decisions, but not a true mentor. I have had other people throughout my life that I have borrowed their perspectives, beliefs, or thoughts, but not a true mentor.
Thanks for the giveaway. Would love to try out one of Catherine’s books. Definately adding to my must buy list.
Wow Cathy – that poem says it all, especially after reading Under Fire. I am so honored to read your books, and yes, I have read every single one of them — some, over and over again! Can’t wait for what’s next. With thanks!
Stephanie
I love your poem and love your books! My mentor was my nonnie and my mom they were both strong women and taught so many lessons, they both are gone, I have never forgotten all the things they have taught me to be the woman I am today, and have passed on to my 2 children. They both taught me to be kind to others and to do good deeds,and the love of books…I have so many wonderful memories of these 2 wonderful ladies but these are so important to me…I send care packages to our soldiers and other things for our military, love to read and my kids read alittle not as much as I do, and I give back to my community or to others when I can..love to win your book!
Cathy,
That poem is so sweet. My mentors were my high school French teacher and my mother. After our mother died, my dad remarried and we had a great step-mom.
Thanks for the giveaway- cover is enticing. 🙂
I love military romances. My father was Air Force an my grandfather was Army Air Corp/Air Force. My grandmother was the ultimate gracious southern lady. She handled the tough times (an affair, a divorce, re-marriage to my grandfather and raised his 2 daughters from the “other” woman after she died) with grace and compassion.
I honestly have to take my hat off to all the military families who actually survive intact. My brother was a career Army guy. So was/ is his first wife. In their case, unfortunately, the kids suffered. But I KNOW that they are families other there who survive.
I don’t know if I had any mentors growing up or now… I will say that it took me becoming a parent to actually FINALLY understand my mom. My mom isn’t an emotional person (thank God for my dad). I don’t actually remember getting a hug from her, until I was an adult. And when it happened, I wasn’t sure what to do.
But from her, I learned that I never wanted a day to go by, were I didn’t tell my kids that I loved them. Even though my mom wasn’t emotional… I realized that she had this fierce protectiveness for me.
I enjoyed the interview. I love story about military romance. This book sound great, i am looking forward to reading this one. My mentor was my mother, and she was died two year ago, and i miss her.
Thanks for chance to win this 🙂
Very nice post. A good teacher was my mentor.
Congrats on the new release, Catherine. I would my mentor was my older cousin. She was there was for when I was going through puberty and answered all my questions.
I love your books. My mom was my mentor. As a mom to 6 (all 17 month apart) I give her so much credit for making a wonderful home. All my male relatives were vets, no lifers, though. My husband was in the service & reserves before we met. He didn’t like the travel, so got out. I’m a home-town girl, so I’m glad I didn’t have to make the adjustment. I love the poem; it is so true.
My mom was definitely my mentor. She was a military wife for most of my dad’s 30 years in the Army. She packed us up and moved us 9 times, including from Georgia to Alaska, California and Germany by herself since my dad usually went earlier than we did. She found work as a teacher or youth center director at every base and even got her Master’s degree the year my dad was in Korea, driving an hour each way and taking care of two daughters. Everytime I think I’m in a rough patch, I think of her positive outlook and stamina. She is an amazing woman, even though she now battles Alzheimers. I hope every day that I can be just like her!
Thanks for writing such great books – those military men make for good reading!! :0)
I’ve got to pick my mother – she always set a wonderful example of caring & the importance of family.
::::waving:::: Hello, everyone!! What a treat to find all of your comments here! I’m happy to know y’all liked the poem – and I’m finding it so uplifting to read about all the special role models. As I noted above, this blog was a touh one for me to write and it really came from the heart. It means a lot to me to know it touched yours. Thank you!! And thank you again to Kat for having me on her blog today!!! <3
What a great post and I also really like that poem as well. Thanks for sharing, Catherine!
My mum was my mentor, she showed me how to treat people with respect and in turn get this back.
A big hello from New Zealand, I love Catherine Mann books 🙂
i forgot to answer the question , i was so ha^ppy ith this post that i wanted to share my joy and for that part, sorry.
A mentor….i don’t think i had one, as a young child i wasin conflict with my mother. I loved her but i had too much pressure and she didn’t understand the problem i had and couldn’ t speakl about so it was difficult. Now i understand her better and i support her when i can but yes she really helped me i’m grateful for everything she has done and all but i can’t qualify her as a mentor. I never know my paternal grand father but i think that’s him that i would have wanted to make proud so in a way he was a model but an abstract and certainly idolized one
thanks you again fo your lovely post and giveaway^^
I’m not a military wife but I do believe that being a military wife is not easy I just know it because my friend is a military wife. She misses her husband and always worried of what will be happen to her husband in the field of danger. By the way, this is very inspiring and nice story ever. Thanks!
Hi Catherine my mentor of growing up is my life experience. I believe my experience shaped me into what I am today.
My Mom has been and still is my mentor. She is the one person in my life that I can rely on no matter what.
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