It's 1942. The world has barely recovered from one war, and now finds itself in another. Bombs are exploding, people are dying-and fear, worry, and resentment are being felt the world over.
While soldiers are fighting for their lives on foreign soil, ordinary citizens back home in the United States are struggling with their own challenges, fighting for their livelihoods and the legacies they'll leave behind. And, even though their actions may not change the face of the globe, these people are significantly changing the lives of those around them.
E. R. Hartman, the superintendent of schools in Burke, South Dakota, was one of those ordinary people. In his roles as family man, teacher, and coach, Hartman was deeply involved in his community of 604 people. His diary from 1942 shows his friends and neighbors on the home front, learning to combine their efforts and cooperate, proving that even in times of war we must find a way to push forward with life and make the best of it, however we can.
A touching piece of nonfiction that reads like a novel, E. R.'s Year is part diary, part memoir, and entirely enriching. Lighthearted, sincere, and realistic, it's a title not to be missed.
About the Author: William F. Hartman and Terri L. Hartman have quite a few things in common. Both are prolific writers and huge history buffs, and they share the authorship of two published titles.
The father and daughter team debuted as coauthors in 2010, with the release of the nuclear terrorism novel Convergence: Three Worlds, One Long Afternoon. They have since collaborated again to pen E. R.'s Year, a nonfiction presentation of World War II experiences, obstacles, and achievements, as told from a one-of-a-kind voice and perspective.
Beyond their work together, Bill and Terri have each made their own marks on the world around them. Bill is a recently retired physicist who's had over twenty papers published in professional journals. Terri is manager of Liz's Antique Hardware in Los Angeles and, once upon a time, worked as a magazine writer and editor. She is also coauthor of Decorative Hardware, published through HarperCollins in 2000.
