Georgiann Baldino

Three of my novels were published by small presses, which proved I was on the right track with my writing. But the process of finding a traditional publisher and waiting for royalties was disappointing. Then publishers and agents started to cut back, so it seemed natural to take advantage of the growing interest in ebooks, eliminate the gatekeepers and control my own fate. It's a great time to be a writer because of access to social media and self-publishing. Rather than spend time and money sending out queries, I polish and publish. Then let readers decide which stories they love.

"Glory for the Brave" is based on the real-life experiences of Charlotte McKay. In 1862 when Charlotte volunteered as a Union nurse, society condemned the idea of women caring for men outside their immediate families. Army nursing thrust her into a world of discrimination, alcohol abuse, and violence. The average age of a Civil War soldier was 25, but many were teenagers, living for the first time beyond parental and church restraints. Public scorn kept some females from pursuing positions altogether. Even if women behaved admirably, serving with the military could ruin reputations. Only rare heroines managed to endure battlefield conditions. Despite the overwhelming odds, Charlotte found a place in a male-dominated society and earned the gratitude of sick and wounded soldiers. The novel had the honor of being chosen as a finalist in the Bob Rich book edit contest.