Just in Time for the Holidays!

If you haven't done so already, be sure to check out the latest virtual book tour stop at Crystal's Reading Room! You'll not only be getting a glimpse at the letter-writer on the cover of "Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII" but also links to help you purchase your own copy. Now is a great time to purchase a copy of "Dear Coach" to the World War II aficionado in your life --- just in time for the holidays!

Dear Coach Heads to Crystal's Reading Room

Crystal's Reading Room will be hosting a "Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII" virtual book tour stop tomorrow, November 30th.

Stop by to read a profile of one of the athletes who wrote to Elizabethtown Coach Ira Herr during WWII. The athlete featured tomorrow, Wib Raffensberger, is also featured on the cover of the book and has had one of his letters featured during a past tour stop at wwarii.com.

To learn more about the trials this athlete and his friends went through during their time at war buy your own copy now!

Letter Writers Alliance to Letter from WWII Soldier

Tomorrow, November 24th, Lois Herr will be stopping by Letter Writers Alliance to share a particularly appropriate letter from her book "Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII" to the blog's readers.

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, we're all counting our blessings before settling down for a big meal shared with friends and family. It makes one especially thankful to those giving up their own safety, comfort and holiday traditions so that we make keep ours. So as you carve into the turkey be sure to send out a prayer or good thought to those in war this holiday season. Also remember to keep veterans like the letter writer's from "Dear Coach" in your heart as it's because of these brave men and women that we're able to celebrate as freely as we do.

From Lois and Opening Windows, have a very happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Genealogy Blog to Host "Dear Coach" Q and A

On Friday, November 20th Lois Herr, author of "Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII" will be stopping by Genealogy Blog. The readers of the blog were asked to submit their questions and, in essence, interview the author.

Here's a quick teaser of one of the questions, but remember, there's more to come!

Why do you think the athletes had such a strong relationship with your father?

Dad cared about building character, and that meant he tried to build a personal relationship with each of his players. Many of the athletes were first generation college students and many had not played organized sports in high school, so the experiences they had in many cases tied them more to my father than to their own. I was told by several that Dad was the reason they were in college - he recruited them and/or helped them get the financial support they needed. They told me he was always there for them and that they could talk with him about anything.

Sharing Dear Coach's Own Piece of World War II History

Tomorrow, November 17th, Lois Herr and her book "Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII" will be making another stop on their virtual book tour dropping by World War II History: Preserving the Past for the Future to share a letter written by one of the book's letter writer's. In fact, the once athlete turned pilot that will be featured played not only an important role in the book as one of the most detailed and interested letter writer's but his image graces the cover taken from a photograph of the man as he sat below his plan "rough neck's" wing and wrote home at the time... perhaps even to his beloved college coach. Be sure to check it out!

Postcard from Seagoing Cowboys visit Ephemera Blog

Tomorrow, November 13, Lois Herr will be stopping by Ephemera a blog which "explore the world of old paper" to share a postcard from "Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII" written by four "seagoing cowboys" and former athletes in 1946.

Not only will you see an aerial view of the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, Virginia from the time, but you'll experience the beginning of an adventure that four former Elizabethtown College students were about to embark on.

For those lucky enough to have been present at the Elizabethtown Homecoming presentation of "Dear Coach" were able to meet two of the "cowboys" and here even more about their amazing tale.

In Honor of Veteran's Day

In honor of Veteran's Day the "Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII" stopped by Recollections of WWII to share a free excerpt from Chapter 5. Stop on by to get your sneak peek of the book. If you like what you see, books can be purchased on-line and in store from Elizabethtown College.

And remember, our vets gave up a lot or us, so don't forget to thank a veteran today!

Dear Coach Visits A Book and A Dish

Stop by A Book and A Dish today for "Team Talk" with Lois Herr, author of "Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII." Lois will be sharing a special sand tart recipe passed down to her by her mother as well as discussing the importance that the team relationship played to the athletes featured in "Dear Coach."

On Wednesday you'll be able to find Lois at Recollections of WWII sharing a free excerpt from "Dear Coach" in honor of Veteran's day. Don't forget to stop by often to find out where Lois will be stopping by next!

Recollections of WWII Hosting Tour Stop Nov. 11

On November 11, Lois Herr will be stopping by Recollections of WWII to share an extract from her book "Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII".

Here's a little bit about what you can expect from Recollections of WWII:

"The Recollections of WWII blog has been created to bring attention to the hundreds of memoirs about WWII that have been printed in the last 60 years, which never make it to the shelves of the big bookshops."

For your own copy of "Dear Coach" stop by Lois Herr's site and click on the order here link.

Stop back to our official blog often and discover where Lois and her book will be headed next!

Tour Kick-Off at A Book and A Dish

On November 9th, Lois Herr, author of “Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII” will be stopping by A Book and A Dish to share a tasty recipe as well as the importance that a “team relationship” played for the athletes coached by Ira Herr at Elizabethtown College.

This will be the kick-off of her virtual book tour and we're all very excited! Stop by to learn more about "Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII." Be prepared by ordering your own copy here. Keep in mind that each stop will be different so get ready for an exciting adventure as the tour continues on.

Stop back frequently for more tour stop dates and topic announcements.

Six More Hosts Joining Virtual Book Tour

Opening Windows is proud to announce that a few more blogs recently joined the upcoming "Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII" virtual book tour schedule!

Recollections of WWII
World War II History
Letter Writers Alliance
Ephemera: Exploring the World of Old Paper
Rundpinne
A Book and a Dish

It's not to late to submit your blog as a tour stop candidate. Just e-mail me at DenaSchaffer@OpeningWindowsvbt.com

Remember to stop back often for more virtual book tour announcements!

Elizabethtown and Lancaster Visits

On November 4th Lois Herr will be presenting "Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII" at the Keystone Room in the Buchanan Clubhouse at Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania's beautiful Masonic Village.

Don't miss her visit to Lancaster's Treats Creamery and Cafe at 5pm on Friday, November 6th. You will find the ice cream shop located inside the Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum at 37 North Market Street, Lancaster, Pa. 17603. Go ahead and bring along your own copy to have signed by the author!


Stop back soon for more upcoming book tour dates in the Lancaster area.