THE BOOK: Home Front Lines
PUBLISHED IN: 2021
THE AUTHOR: Brenda Sparks Prescott
THE PUBLISHER: Bedazzled Ink
SUMMARY: In 1962 tensions are rising between the United States and the Soviet Union. But it is the everyday tensions of home, family, and military life that are top of mind for military spouse and African American Betty Ann Johnson in D.C. and Cuban Lola Montero who is asked to cook for the Soviet troops amassing on her island. At a time when many Americans feel unsettled and fearful of nuclear war, these women harness their agency to prepare their families for the worst in Home Front Lines by Brenda Sparks Prescott [March 16, 2021, Bedazzled Ink Publishing].
When Betty Ann catches wind that military preparations are being made for something more than just practice drills, she gathers a small band of military spouses to develop an evacuation plan for their children. Across the Florida Straits, Lola accidentally witnesses the installation of a Soviet missile. She and her sisters secretly make plans to send their children to Florida without their husbands’ knowledge. The two women are on opposing sides of the conflict, but they share the same fierce determination in protecting their children.
Home Front Lines is a story of strong and determined women. It is a story of BIPOC historical fiction in the 20th century, a genre that too often leaves out narratives not directly tied to the World Wars, the Great Migration, or Civil Rights movement. But these communities existed in every time and place, and their stories deserve to be told.
THE BACK STORY: The spark for this idea ignited in the uncertain days following 9/11 when I felt a longing for guidance on how to react to dangerous world events as an average citizen. To explore possibilities, I looked back to the Cuban Missile Crisis, a historical episode in which citizens felt the imminent threat of mass destruction while conducting their everyday lives.
Since I’m always intrigued by the difference paradox, I wanted to start with the assumption that mothers would act to protect their children from a threat, which allowed me to examine how identical impulses can lead to very different life outcomes when clothed in different cultural circumstances. What does that mean? We each live a unique life, according to our nature and experience, and I worked hard with my characters to make sure they did also. I also like novels in which things happen, so this book is rich with plots and sub-plots.
WHY THIS TITLE?: The title “Home Front Lines” is a before-and-after of “home front” and “front lines.” The term home front tends to apply to spouses, usually wives, left behind while soldiers go off to a hot war confined to a designated battle ground. The title’s mashup acknowledges that civilians increasingly come under deadly threat as the Cold War and now terrorism have rewritten the rules of global conflict. With the inclusion of the term front lines, I wanted to convey that these spouses displayed knowledge gained from their closeness to the military, as well as their own initiative and agency in a time of national crisis.
WHY WOULD SOMEONE WANT TO READ IT? This book is filled with family drama, humor, details of daily military dependent life, and multi-national characters that will be satisfying to those who enjoy the development of relationships and the period details of historical fiction. It will appeal to African Americans who are looking for stories that reflect them and their family’s agency in the American experience, particularly in the military. Speaking of the military, it will also appeal to members of military families for their portrayal as important contributors to a way of life that’s usually seen as primarily about those that serve in uniform.
REVIEW COMMENTS: “I enjoyed the book so much that I wish the author had written more.” Goodreads reviewer Shana.
AUTHOR PROFILE: Brenda Sparks Prescott lives and writes in Eastern Massachusetts and Southern Vermont. Prescott is the co-editor of Solstice Literary Magazine and her writing has appeared in publications such as The Louisville Review, Crab Orchard Review, and Portland Magazine. She also serves on the advisory board for the Solstice MFA in creative writing program, and is a founding member of Simply Not Done – a women’s writing collaborative. Brenda’s family has a long history of military service, with records stretching back to the Civil War.
AUTHOR COMMENTS: The book reveals commonalities in the experiences and agency of everyday women across cultures that have been important in shaping the American identity, and it is set during a time when the belief of people around the world—not just U.S. citizens—in American institutions and ideals resulted in world governments stepping back from the brink of disaster. It tells a compelling story without employing a majority cultural character as a guide for the reader. Instead, it invites the reader on their own exploration of the gaps in understanding caused by perceived differences based on race and culture.
LOCAL OUTLETS:
WHERE ELSE TO BUY IT: Amazon, Barnes & noble, etc.
PRICE: $16.95
CONTACT THE AUTHOR: Connect with Brenda Sparks Prescott at https://brendaprescott.com/ at @bsparksprescott on Instagram, @bsprescott on Twitter, and BrendaSparksPrescott on Facebook.
Snowflakes in a Blizzard 