Lilac Blossom Diaries: The Buffalo Years 1937-1941
Set in Buffalo, New York from 1937 to 1941, Lilac Blossom Diaries is based on authentic diaries written during those tumultuous years when we were on the brink of war and life was so uncertain. Seventeen year old Deborah Peters attends parties, dances at Bennett High School, dines at local restaurants, shops at The Sample Shop, goes to the movies three or four times a week and lets us all know what it was really like to be young in the 30s and 40s
Cherry Blossom Diaries Buffalo to Washington 1942-1945
On March 19, 1942 my husband’s aunt boarded a train headed from Buffalo to Washington, D.C. She was twenty-one years old, and was driven by an overwhelming desire to help win the war. As it was in those days, her father had decided that sending her to college would have been a waste of money since she would undoubtedly marry. He did, however, subsidize secretarial classes to help her find a job until she could find a man to provide for her. How very wrong he was. Her career ended up spanning over 36 years and her service included secretary in the War Department at the Pentagon from 1942 to 1945; civilian duty in Japan during the U.S. Occupation; assignment in the Office of the Army Chief of Staff during the Korean War; secretary to the U.S. Representative, NATO Military Committee and Standing Group; secretary to the Air Deputy, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe; and secretary to two Administrators of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. She was the family’s “matron aunt” and upon her death in 1998 my mother-in-law bequeathed her diaries to me dating from 1942 to 1945: her Cherry Blossom years. This novel is based on her entries during those days. Names have been changed and some circumstances have been slightly altered, but the story is true. These people lived and loved and sacrificed. I believed their story is one that should be shared.
The Center’s book club takes place on the First Thursday of the month and features books written by WNY authors. Whenever possible, the author will attend the meeting!
For more information, please contact Mary Kozub at 716-878-3156 or email kozubmm@buffalostate.edu.
View the 2019/20 schedule at www.BurchfieldPenney.org.