Know who they are? Probably not, not unless you’re in the weather business. Stagg and Krick are two of the most famous meteorologists in history. They, among other weathermen, supported General Dwight David Eisenhower in making his go-no go decision regarding the invasion of Europe in June 1944. D-Day.

Ike, as he was known, held the lives of 300,000 men in his hands. He had to launch the greatest invasion in history during a very narrow window reliant on a five-day weather forecast. And believe me, forecasts in those days were nothing like the ones that populate TV and social media today.

Eighty years ago there were no colorful graphics, no ten-day predictions, and no cloud imagery from space. Ten-day predictions? Are you kidding me? Even five-day forecasts were then held in the same awe (and impossibility) as putting a man on the moon in the 1940s.

But somehow, despite limited weather data, shaky communications, and constant squabbling among the forecasters, the weather waved a magic wand over the Allies.

Now, here comes a film about all of that. It’s called “Pressure,” and stars Brendan Fraser and Damian Lewis, among others. The release date is May 29.

But the coincidence, you ask, what’s the coincidence? Well, it is that my newest novel, Five Days in June—about the exact same thing, weathermen and D-Day—comes out in October.

I think my story has an edge, however. I’ll bet “Pressure” doesn’t have a Donut Dolly in it!

I’m playing with you a bit here. After you read Five Days in June, you may wonder if it does, either.

The post COINCIDENCE appeared first on Harold Bernard.

Me, preparing for my book signing at Barnes & Noble, Kennewick, Washington.

Near the end of my signing, a man whom I didn’t know came up to me with two copies of a book I’d written three years ago, DOWN A DARK ROAD. It’s a novel based on the true story of Jim Thayer, a young army lieutenant from Oregon who, with his platoon, had stumbled into (and liberated) a Nazi death camp in Austria near the end of WWII.

Hundreds of skeletal human beings, many a breath or two from death, had clustered around Jim and his fellow soldiers, clutching at their uniforms. They’d cried out and wept, pleading for food and medical attention.

Jim never forgot that heart-rending scene, and had no desire to ever return to Austria. But in 1992, when the US Secretary of Defense, Dick Cheney, requested Jim’s presence (Jim was now a retired army reserve colonel and a civilian aid to the Secretary of the Army) at a commemorative ceremony in Austria to pay homage to the millions of Jews who had died in the concentration camps, Jim decided he’d better show up.

He’d just arrived at the Vienna airport when a man Jim didn’t know approached him and introduced himself as Wolf Finkelman. They shook hands. “I want you to know,” Finkleman said in a low, husky voice, “I wouldn’t be standing here today if you hadn’t arrived when you did forty-seven years ago at the prison camp I was in. I was fourteen years old then and I would have been dead within twenty-four hours had it not been for you.” A tear ran down Finkelman’s cheek.

When I wrote DOWN A DARK ROAD, I had not had the privilege of personally knowing either Jim or Wolf. Both had passed away. I did work closely with a couple of Jim’s sons as I wrote the book, but never got to meet anyone who knew Wolf . . . until my book signing last weekend.

That’s when the man with the two copies of DARK ROAD placed them in front of me and asked me to sign them to the Finkelman family. I looked up, stunned. The man said, “I worked with Wolf Finkelman for almost forty years. I’d like to send the copies to the Finkelman family in Houston.”

Wow, how amazing and wonderful, I thought. Here in a small town in the Pacific Northwest I get to meet someone who actually knew Wolf, a survivor of a WWII Austrian death camp. And a real, albeit minor, character in DOWN A DARK ROAD.

I love being a novelist.

The post I LOVE BEING A NOVELIST appeared first on Harold Bernard.

Barbara and Buzz in 2025.

I made the same claim in a blog when I turned 80. And somebody jumped all over me for it.

Here’s what happened. I sent a draft of that blog to a gal whom I had known since grade school, you know, back when Eisenhower was president. The gal had become a beta reader for some of my manuscripts. She lived in the PacNW. I lived in Atlanta.

I sent her the blog and told her I wanted her honest opinion of it. Boy, did I get an earful (eyeful?) Here’s what she said:

Remember, you asked for my opinion.  I promised you I would be honest
and tell you exactly what I think.  Now we’ll find out if you’ll ever call
me again.

With friendship, Barbara

I rewrote the blog. We stayed in touch. And many of you know how our story turned out. Barbara told me to quit whining, get my butt out to the PacNW, and marry her. So I did. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Barbara and Buzz in 2021

Okay, okay, it didn’t happen quite like I described, but it did happen. We’ll celebrate our 5th anniversary in September. We are exceptionally happy together. Sure, our joints issue sounds like stepping on a box of Rice Krispies when we get up in the morning, and everything aches (nothing icepacks and Excedrin can’t handle), yet we still often manage to laugh so hard we end up with tears in our eyes. Literally.

I’m looking forward to 90. Maybe a few more novels, too.

The post I TURNED 85 TODAY appeared first on Harold Bernard.

But, noooo.

I recently showed my alpha beta-reader, better known as my wife Barbara, the first two chapters of my work in progress (WIP). Allow me to inject here that Barbara is more than a beta reader. A beta reader usually reads a manuscript after its been completed but before it’s been sent to an editor or publisher.

Barbara reads each chapter as it’s completed, so she’s really more like a one-person critique group, not a beta reader. She tells it like it is. Which is what I want. I’m not looking for a cheer leader. (Barb says she too damn old to jump up and down and wave her pompoms anyhow.) But I digress.

After Barb read the chapters of my WIP, she fell kind of silent. Not a good sign.

“What is it?” I asked.

“I don’t know how to tell you this,” she said.

“Like it is,” I said, “like you always do.”

“It’s boring.”

Ouch, an arrow through the heart.

But I yanked out the shaft, began to breathe again, and said, “You know what? You’re right.” One thing a novelist should never do is bore the reader.

The reason I’d stepped on my author’s poncho—and written something boring—is because I’d ignored two of the most fundamental guidelines for thriller writers. I had not started my manuscript at the point of action and then I’d done a “data dump.” In other words, I’d told the reader about all the details I’d gleaned in doing my research.

It’s kind of analogous to my golf game. When I start playing after an extended layoff—like after the winter—I find myself paying close attention to the basics and often shoot a decent score (well, decent for me, not for a decent golfer). Then, after playing a few times, I think I got it down pat, forget about the fundamentals, and start spraying golfballs all over the course, endangering the lives of small animals and innocent groundskeepers.

So I need to remind myself every time I start a novel: (1) suck the reader in with the first chapter (start at the point of action), and (2) don’t do a data dump (the reader isn’t interested in hearing about all the research I performed).

So here’s a big THANK YOU to my ace beta-reader/one-person critique group/tell-it-like-it-is writing coach, Barbara.

Now, if I can just remember to keep my right shoulder down on my golf swing . . .

The post STEPPING ON MY AUTHOR’S PONCHO appeared first on Harold Bernard.

So let’s jump into it. It’s been said, I’m not sure by whom, that a novelist typically has three books at a time on his/her mind.  

First, there’s the book that just came out. In my case, that would be WHEN HEROES FLEW: WHERE THE DAWN COMES UP LIKE THUNDER. It launched in February and is doing well. I think the recognition I’m proudest of is that it’s earned 4.6-star ratings on both Amazon and Goodreads.  (BTW, more than a few readers have mentioned to me it’s great to have Rod and Eve back, first introduced in THE ROOF OF THE WORLD. I love those two characters. But I digress.)

The second book always on a novelist’s mind—this is kind of obvious—is the book he or she is currently working on. In my case, that would be the one I just handed off to my publisher (Severn River Publishing) a few weeks ago. WHEN HEROES FLEW: BLACK THURSDAY is now in their queue for marketing and publication. That process takes awhile, so you won’t be able to read BLACK THURSDAY until February 2026.  But you can preorder it now.  (And just to put in a little plug for it, a beta reader who’s been with me since my debut novel in 2011 said of it: “Even though all the books in the ‘When Heroes Flew’ series are very good, I was especially ‘touched’ by this latest installment . . . .”)

Finally we get to book number three. Most novelists always have their “next” book (number three) rolling around in their head, even while they’re churning out their current baby. In my case, I’ve done a lot of research on number three, scribbled quite a few notes, and have just molded my thoughts into a broad outline of what I think will be an engaging tale. I can tell you it will be different from all the other novels in my WHEN HEROES FLEW group, in that there will be no flying scenes in it. (So, standalone novel, I suppose.) There will, however, be a tremendous amount of tension in it. Oh, and a little romance, too. Overall, I’ll be telling the story of a huge but little known challenge that had to be overcome before launching the greatest military operation in history.

The working title of the novel is FIVE DAYS IN JUNE. I wonder what that could be about.

The post THE THREE BOOKS ALWAYS ON A NOVELIST’S MIND appeared first on Harold Bernard.

B-24 bombers over Ploesti, Romania, August 1, 1943.

That’s because of an email I recently received from a reader, Jim Harris, about WHEN HEROES FLEW, my first WWII historical fiction book. Jim identified himself as “a retired book sales/marketing rep” for several major publishers. He also said he’d owned a bookstore in New Jersey. Now he’s a board member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association (PNWA). (I’m a PNWA member, but have never met Jim.)

He went on to say, “I read a lot. I write reviews . . . . Some of what I read is pure fiction; a few books are straight history; a third category is what I call ‘faction,’ fiction based on fact.” He said for him WHEN HEROES FLEW falls into the “faction” category.

He explained in his review of the novel: “Author H. W. ‘Buzz’ Bernard has taken one event, the saturation bombing of the German/Romanian oil fields located at Ploesti as seen through the eyes of two opposing pilots.” One is American, the other, German.

Note: you can read the entire review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Goodreads or various book sellers’ websites.

Jim’s review concludes: “Mr. Bernard did extensive research before writing the book, including taking a ride in one of two remaining flight-worthy B-24s [see photo; the bomber is WITCHCRAFT]. If you are a fan of this category of books, by all means read this book. You will not be disappointed. Go! Buy! Read!”

Thank you, Jim. But I wonder if I’ll draw anything other than blank stares when I tell folks I write “faction.”

The post YOU WRITE WHAT!? appeared first on Harold Bernard.

Here’s an example:

“I hope this message finds you well. I am thrilled to share some great news with you! Our literary scouts handed your book to our office, and after a thorough review, we are pleased to inform you that your work aligns with our content standards.

By featuring your book prominently in our store, we aim to connect you with our network of investors and facilitate promotions on esteemed platforms such as The New York Times, LA Times, various Book Festivals, and other media outlets.”

Gosh, that certainly sounds exciting. If only they’d let me know which book of the 14 I’ve published they’re interested in. And come to think about it, why would I want my book(s) endorsed to a selection of publishers if I already have a publisher? Or in my case, several. One of the many mysteries of literary life, I suppose.

And then there was this:

“Hi, Buzz, 
 
Book reviews make a lasting impression—they can entice a reader to make a purchase, provide valuable insight, and help with search algorithms to ensure your book doesn’t get lost. 
 
Our book review service is a one-stop shop to help your book get noticed—we pair your work with avid readers interested in your subject matter, and they craft authentic book reviews to post to your book listing page. 
 
Get 5 authentic book reviews from real readers for just $449, with no additional cost of books to you! That’s right—we will cover the cost of books for your reviewers.” 

Gee, what a deal! Only ninety bucks per review? Maybe they didn’t notice I’ve got over 11,000 reviews/ratings on Amazon just for my WHEN HEROES FLEW series alone. And I didn’t shell out money for any of them.

Come on. Somebody. Make me an offer I can’t refuse (with such ease).

The post PLEASE, SOMEBODY, MAKE ME AN OFFER . . . appeared first on Harold Bernard.

DOWN A DARK ROAD

This novel, strictly speaking, isn’t part of the WHEN HEROES FLEW series, but it is closely related. Unlike my other WWII historical fiction books, the protagonist in this tale is real, not fictional. And he’s an infantry officer, not a pilot. There is an aviation element in the novel, but it’s primarily about a young lieutenant and his platoon, and the horrifying discovery they make near the end of war in Europe. The story is based on the exploits of Jim Thayer who leads his men through the shadowy forests of Western Austria in search of a German ammo depot. What they find, however, is far more devastating than anything they could have imagined. Lt. Thayer’s story was brought to my attention by a person who actually knew him, my wife, Barbara. DOWN A DARK ROAD is under consideration for a couple of awards later this year.

WHEN HEROES FLEW: WHERE THE DAWN COMES UP LIKE THUNDER

WHEN HEROS FLEW: WHERE THE DAWN COMES UP LIKE THUNDER will be released early next year (2025). It’s essentially a sequel to WHEN HEROES FLEW: THE ROOF OF THE WORLD, but will read easily as a standalone novel. I had so much fun with Rod and Eve in ROOF OF THE WORLD that I wanted to bring them back. Apparently, a few of my readers did too. So I did, and ended up with a novel crammed with adventures and mysteries. You’ll help Rod mount a desperate search for Eve who has mysteriously disappeared and for whom the Army has no records. You’ll meet the legendary general, Curtis LeMay, and you’ll ride along on the first B-29 bombing raid of Japan. You’ll also meet another general who is trying his damnedest to ruin Rod’s career, both military and civilian. A couple of my beta readers thought this novel was my best yet. I’m eager to learn what my other readers will think. WHEN HEROES FLEW: WHERE THE DAWN COMES UP LIKE THUNDER will be released in February 2025.

[UNTITLED]

Novel number six in my WWII historical fiction series is still in an embryonic state. I have written only the opening chapter and have yet to come up with a working title. But I realized as I was wrapping up WHERE THE DAWN COMES UP LIKE THUNDER, I hadn’t yet written a novel centered around the most legendary WWII bomber of all, the B-17. So I’m planning on trekking off to Merry Olde England and spending some time with the mighty 8th Air Force in 1943. Why ’43? Because that’s when Allied air superiority over the continent became mired in doubt as American bombers took a deadly beating. I wanted to write about that as well as the pressures of command. So, as I envision the novel, there will be plenty of flying action as well as a deep dive to look behind the scenes of a couple of the most disastrous American bombing raids in history. Oh, and I think I’ll try to scare up a nice English lady in whom my protagonist, a American colonel, might become interested. Whaddaya think?

The post PROVENANCE OF EACH NOVEL IN THE WHEN HEROES FLEW SERIES—PART II appeared first on Harold Bernard.

WHEN HEROES FLEW

This novel, my first in the WHEN HEROES FLEW series, sprang from a documentary I watched on TV about the 1943 low-level U.S. bombing raid on Ploesti, Romania. I’d never heard of the raid before, but the story utterly fascinated me. An additional driving force came from my late wife, Christina, and the tales she told me about growing up in Nazi Germany and enduring the war years there. Thus, I wrote the book using two point-of-view characters. One, an Army Air Forces B-24 bomber pilot, the other, a Luftwaffe Bf-109 fighter pilot. The German airman’s family life is informed by the stories Christina shared with me. WHEN HEROES FLEW was awarded a Gold Medal by the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA).

WHEN HEROES FLEW: THE SHANGRI-LA RAIDERS

I hadn’t really intended to write a series when I wrote WHEN HEROES FLEW. But circumstances in my life changed. I found myself with more time to write. I also had become thoroughly fascinated with WWII flying exploits after researching the Ploesti raid. I wanted to do more. Not with the same character or characters, which is what a traditional series would be built around, but with novels focused on additional legendary aviation feats. I recalled when I was a kid reading about Jimmy Doolittle’s famous raid on Tokyo, Japan, in 1942. It was a thrilling adventure that stuck with me even as a grown man. So I again created a fictional pilot, crew, and airplane, and planted them in the middle of the action. And the action wasn’t all centered on only training and bombing. Much of it involved the raiders’ escape from occupied China to Chungking (the country’s provisional wartime capital) after the American bombers either crashed or crash-landed in China. WHEN HEROES FLEW: THE SHANGRI-LA RAIDERS won my second Gold Medal from the MWSA.

WHEN HEROES FLEW: THE ROOF OF THE WORLD

This novel—set in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater in WWII—is one of my favorites. For a couple of reasons. First, the characters. I had such fun with Rod and Eve, an exquisitely mismatched couple—Rod, an Army Air Forces pilot and weather officer, Eve, a sharp-tongued Army nurse. The second reason I enjoyed the book is that I wasn’t bound to the details of a specific mission. There was none, at least not like the raids on Ploesti and Tokyo. So I had the freedom to create my own adventure. I centered it on the men who flew over the snaggletoothed Himalaya Mountains—the Roof of the World—ferrying war supplies from India to China. It was an operation as deadly as any in WWII. A trail of blood and mangled aircraft was strewn along the route which became known as the Aluminum Trail. I pitched Rod and Eve into this turmoil and they found themselves parachuting from a crippled aircraft, slashing their way through a hostile Burmese jungle, encountering Naga headhunters, and battling Japanese soldiers in a deadly firefight. WHEN HEROES FLEW: THE ROOF OF THE WORLD received my third Gold Medal from the MWSA. It also garnered the Nancy Pearl Award for genre fiction from the Pacific Northwest Writers Association.

Part II of this blog will appear in about a week.

The post PROVENANCE OF EACH NOVEL IN THE WHEN HEROES FLEW SERIES—PART I appeared first on Harold Bernard.

View of a Curtiss C-46 Commando transport plane in flight over the ‘Himalyan Hump,’ 1944. The ‘Hump’ was a US military air route from India to China that was in operation from April 1942 until November 1945. (Photo by William Vandivert/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

But on the night of my bizarre fantasy, I was transported to a time and place I’d never personally experienced. I found myself in—and there was no mistaking it—a scene in the WWII novel I’m currently working on. It’s a scene I haven’t even written yet, but one I’ve been crafting in my mind for quite some time now.

I found myself, perhaps as a representation of my protagonist, plopped down in 1944 in a remote location called Urumchi (now Ürümqi) in far northwest China. It’s a place sandwiched between Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Good grief. The closest I’ve ever been to China is the take-out joint down the street.

But I knew why I was in Urumchi—to attempt to establish a weather observation station for the U. S. Army Air Forces planes flying over “the Hump.” I worked out of a primitive building, kind of a stucco structure as I recall, with no fans to combat the stifling heat. (Urumchi is surrounded by deserts.)

In the dream, I remember my boss, Colonel Richard Ellsworth—who really was the commander of the 10th Weather Squadron (headquartered in India) during WWII—showing up to see how things were progressing.

At about the same time, a trio of fierce looking Kazakhs showed up, too. They apparently were not happy to see how things were progressing, in other words not happy to see Americans trying to set up shop so close to their territory. Maybe they thought we looked too much like Russians, who were in the process of colonizing their land.

I noticed one of the Kazakhs, a guy with a thick black mustache and dark eyes, carried a huge, broad-bladed sword about the size of Rhode Island. I decided it was time to wake up. So I did.

Of course, I won’t have that option when I actually write the scene. But I’ll figure something out. I can’t have my hero, who’s on assignment from India, bumped off by a Kazakh in China.

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