My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Dorothea N Buckingham, author of the book Code Name Rascal. Dorothea “Dee” Buckingham is a seasoned author, retired librarian, and dedicated historian who has called Hawaiʻi home for over 30 years. Her profound interest in the daily lives of women during World War II in Hawaiʻi has been the cornerstone of her literary work. Dee’s commitment to uncovering and narrating these often-overlooked stories has established her as a respected voice in historical fiction.

Her notable publications include My Name is Loa, a historical novel set on Molokaʻi, and Who Murdered Jane Stanford?: An Answer Imagined, which delves into the mysterious death of Stanford University’s co-founder in 1905 Hawaiʻi. Additionally, she co-authored World War II Hawaiʻi with her husband, retired Lieutenant Colonel John Buckingham, offering a pictorial history that captures the transformative impact of the war on the islands.

Dee’s passion for storytelling extends beyond writing; she is an Author Accelerator certified book coach, providing guidance to aspiring writers. Her engaging talks and workshops have been featured on west coast radio and television in Hawaiʻi, and she has presented to diverse audiences, sharing her insights on writing and historical research.

Her latest work, Code Name Rascal, continues her mission to illuminate the vital roles women played during wartime, weaving a narrative that is both historically rich and emotionally resonant.

Dee enjoys connecting with readers and is available to meet with book clubs and reading groups, both in person and via Zoom, to discuss her work and share insights into her writing process.

In my book review, I stated Code Name Rascal is a wonderful historical fiction. This story takes place in Hawaii immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor. We quickly meet four women, all very different from one another, who join a classified radar operation known as WARD, with the code name Rascal.

One of the things I loved best about this story is that I was completely unaware of WARD or even the issues in Hawaii after the initial bombing. I'm not sure where I was during school, but there is a lot more to what happened than I realized! Code Name Rascal helped fill in so many of the blanks.

I also really loved Dorothea's characters. CJ is a strong, newly-married journalist. Ruth is a quiet Navy officer wife. Jane is a pilot going through divorce. And Eve is a Honolulu socialite. Imagine all these women thrust into tiny quarters, working grueling hours, keeping war secrets, and still trying to figure out their own lives. It's like a historical soap opera, full of determination, grief, danger, and disappearing dreams - and it's one you won't want to miss!

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You can follow Author Dorothea N Buckingham

Website: https://dorotheabuckingham.com/

Substack: https://dorotheanbuckingham.substack.com/

Purchase Code Name Rascal on Amazon:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3LrHJMU

Ebook: https://amzn.to/49sTwUx

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

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*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Eric F Goldstein, author of the book Taught. As a middle and high school teacher, Eric Goldstein founded the Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization, One World Education. Through programs that teach writing skills through social justice, the organization has transformed more than 65,000 students into writers with voice, knowledge, and purpose. Inspired by two decades of listening to students tell their stories, Eric’s debut novel, TAUGHT, released in January 2026.

In my book review, I stated Taught is a contemporary literary fiction that follows a teacher and a former student on a week-long journey. However, this journey is not something either one planned.

Jerry Brown's life is a mess. He's likely to lose his job as a teacher. He and his wife are having issues. And Malik, a former student, is beat by police during a protest. He decides to go camping and write graduation letters to his students. But before he gets out of town, Malik shows up. So, they leave together.

This is not a fast-paced story, but one where the back stories leak out slowly and deliberately. We see Jerry doubting himself as a teacher and husband. We see Malik doubt himself as a student and friend. Both doubt whether they can live up to the title of 'man'. And, as the reader, we feel the pain.

Race plays a huge role in the story, allowing us to glimpse lives we might not otherwise experience - and allowing us to ask the hard questions. Is racism real? Is it everywhere? Do people experience a stop in a backwoods gas station differently depending on their skin? And, more importantly, what can - or should - we do about it?

I definitely suggest this one for your TBR.

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Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290

You can follow Author Eric F Goldstein

Website: www.onelongroad.com

IG: @ericfgoldstein

Purchase Taught on Amazon:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3NilBFl

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

#ericfgoldstein #taught #contemporaryfiction #literaryfiction #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Kim Sorrelle, author of the book Love Is. Kim Sorrelle is a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and director of a humanitarian organization. She is the author of two books, "Cry Until You Laugh" which details her journey through cancer, and "Love Is" which chronicles her year-long experiment to discover the true meaning of love. Kim is passionate about people and loves to travel to new places and meet new faces. She has five children and eleven grandchildren whom she adores and believes will one day make a positive impact on the world. Kim is committed to living a life of love and is determined to make a difference in the lives of those around her.

In my book review, I stated Love Is is a beautiful memoir exploring the concept of Christ-like love. She uses 1 Corinthians 13 as a guide and spends an entire year trying to love as Jesus would love. What a gift she's given all who read her words - a way to think about loving others that goes beyond words and hits squarely on actions. And not just any actions, but actions that truly depict love for another.

Love is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, does not keep a record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres - it never fails. Kim learned that such love isn't easy to live - even when your focus is on just one phrase. I loved how honest she was - sometimes that she believed it would be easy and was wrong, and often that she knew it would be hard and it was harder than she imagined.

Without a doubt, this book has me thinking - and re-thinking - about love, how I show it to others, and how I can make changes to live more fully the love described in 1 Corinthians 13.

Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1

Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290

You can follow Author Kim Sorrelle

Website: https://www.kimsorrelle.com/

FB: @Kim Sorrelle

IG: @kimsorrelle

LinkedIn: @Kim Sorrelle

Purchase Love Is on Amazon:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/4q1IStf

Ebook: https://amzn.to/4iOeJev

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

#kimsorrelle #loveis #memoir #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.