Virtual Book Tour + #Giveaway: Men of the 65th by Talia Aikens-Nunez @talia_n @GoddessFish

Men of the 65th

by Talia Aikens-Nunez

GENRE: YA Nonfiction

BLURB:

Honor and Fidelity. That is the motto of the 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers, the only Puerto Rican unit in the United States Army.

Since the regiment’s creation in 1899, the men of the 65th have proudly served the US through multiple wars, despite facing racial discrimination. Their courage, loyalty, and patriotism earned them hundreds of accolades, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014.

But the honor and fidelity of the men of the 65th came into question in 1952, in the midst of the Korean War, when ninety-one Borinqueneers were arrested and tried for desertion and disobeying orders. How could this happen in one of the most distinguished and decorated units of the Army?

In this telling of one of the forgotten stories of the Korean War, author Talia Aikens-Nuñez guides us through the history of the Borinqueneers and the challenges they faced leading up to what was the largest court martial in the entire war. Rediscover the bravery of the men of the 65th through Aikens-Nuñez’s thorough writing and the soldiers’ firsthand accounts of the Korean War.

Purchase Men of the 65th on Amazon and Lerner

Excerpt:

“The Borinqueneers successfully defended the 1st Marine Division’s retreat, but they soon realized this was only part of a much larger withdrawal of UNC [United Nations Command] troops. As the retreat continued into mid-December, news came that the enemy buildup had accelerated. Chinese and North Korean forces were gathering and converging on Hungnam. The UNC’s worst fears were coming true: they were losing ground in the war.

They had to accelerate their plans in response to protect their troops and evacuate the Korean refugees that had fled to Hungnam. They ordered troops to board ships, division by division, and sail south to Pusan… Meanwhile, the 65th and the 3rd Infantry Divisions would hold the main line of resistance, providing enough cover for everyone to make it safely out of Hungnam…With each withdrawal, the enemy continued to push the Borinqueneers and the 3rd Infantry Division.

…They were exhausted from several days of fighting…The soldiers of the 65th were some of the last to leave Hungnam. They were hurried and squeezed tightly onto the final boats. Finally, they could rest and relax. Once they left, the military would destroy the port so the enemy could not use the equipment and facilities against them.

…After they loaded onto the final ship and set sail, the dynamite detonated. The soldiers looked back and watched the port explode…everything – erupted in smoke and flame.

Interview with Talia Aikens-Nunez

What is your schedule like when you’re writing a book?

For the research phase, I honestly researched and read any free moment I could. I am a working mom so, I had to steal time very early in the morning and late at night. Years later, when I signed my contract with Lerner for the book, the timetable was much more structured. I had firm deadlines. To meet those, sometimes I had to take days off of work from my day job and, I had, to plan days and weekends away from my home so I could have a quiet place to write and edit. Without my husband and my family, none of this would have been possible.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

No, not for YA and children’s. If I chose to start writing in a very different genre like romance, I may consider it.

Have you ever gotten reader’s block?

Luckily, I have not had that struggle. I can always find something that I would like to read. Right now, I am struggling with finding the next topic I would like to research. It is more of a topic-block situation rather than writer’s or reader’s block.




Does your family support your career as a writer?

Yes! Without them, I would not have been able to complete this project.

How many hours a day do you write?

It depends upon my day job’s work schedule, my family’s schedule and if I am working on anything. Right now, I am not working on a project so I am not writing anything new.




If you could invite any three people for dinner, whom would you invite?

I would probably invite my late grandparents and great grandparents. I would love to have some time to talk to them again. I would bring a tape recorder and ask them tons of questions about their lives, their triumphs and their challenges so I could write it down for my kids.

Would you share something about yourself that your readers don’t know (yet)?

I like to be active. I enjoy everything from snow shoeing in cold temperatures to snorkeling in warm waters.

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I do not think necessarily the two are different. I like writing little-known stories so, for many readers, it is the first time they have heard that story and the readers want to hear about this slice of history.

How do you celebrate when you finish your book?

Pampering self-care like a pedicure, facial, massage or body wrap. They are so relaxing and rewarding.

If you could be mentored by a famous author, who would it be?

Without the slightest hesitation, Steve Sheinkin. His nonfiction stories are so engaging and the story always feels almost like fiction but, as the reader you are always learning something. I would love to learn from him.   

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Talia Aikens-Nuñez is passionate about sharing with young readers the little known stories, accomplishments, and contributions of people of color from all throughout history. Aikens-Nuñez is the author of Small Nap, Little Dream, a bilingual Spanish/English picture book. She and her husband live in Connecticut with their two children.

Connect with Talia Aikens-Nunez

Twitter ~ Website ~ Facebook

 

Giveaway:

$25 Amazon/BN GC

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