Terry Piestewa

A couple of weeks ago I received a phone call from Percy Piestewa to tell me that her husband, Terry, a Vietnam veteran, had passed on. Percy’s phone call meant so much to me. Terry and Percy welcomed me into their home when I was writing Soldier Sister, Fly Home, a middle-grade novel dedicated to their daughter Lori, the first Native American woman to die in combat on foreign soil. During our several visits we laughed together, cried together, talked story together. Both Terry and Percy have done so much to heal others, to create peace, and to bring people together.

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Soldier Sister, Fly Home to be a Talking Book!

Arizona State Library has chosen Soldier Sister to become one of their audio selections for the Arizona Talking Book Library. They asked if I would do the reading because patrons prefer listening to the author. We started last week, and so far, it has been a very positive experience. I sure was nervous!

The audio book will be available nationwide through the Talking Book program. I am especially pleased about this because while working on Soldier Sister I came to know the Piestewa family. Mr. Terry Piestewa is a Vietnam Veteran. His eyes were damaged during the war, and because of recurrent infections he has only one eye and can barely see light and shadows. He wanted to read Soldier Sister, Fly Home. Soon he will be able to listen to it.

How special that this book about families and deployment will be available to all, including veterans, who have diminished eyesight.

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