Guest post by Jocelyn Green

I love celebrating the Fourth of July! Some of it has to do with the fact that I married my military husband on Independence Day weekend in Washington, D.C. nine years ago. The fireworks display was perfect for both our wedding and of course, our country.

There were no fireworks on the Fourth of July for the characters in my Civil War novel, Wedded to War, however. In 1862, the infamous Seven Days Battle had just ended on the Virginia Peninsula on July 1, and I’m quite sure the soldiers and the nurses had lost track of the actual date in the rush to provide medical care to the wounded.

July 4, 1863, marked two hugely significant events in the war—it was the day Lee retreated after three days of gruesome fighting in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and it was also the day Vicksburg, Mississippi, finally surrendered to Grant after a 47-day siege that compelled its starving citizens to eat rats and birds in order to survive. Vicksburg would not celebrate the Fourth of July again for 81 years.

The Civil War was full of human drama. My new Heroines Behind the Lines Civil War series is all about recognizing the tragedy of war, but showcasing the triumphs—both personal and national—on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line. My first book, Wedded to War, explores the role women played in the medical care of the Union army in those first early days of the war. I could tell you about it, but I’d much rather let you see for yourself, with this amazing book trailer. It really captures the heart of the novel.

If you are so intrigued by the novel that you find yourself hungry for more information about the history behind the story, look no further than the series Web site: www.heroinesbehindthelines.com. You’ll find maps and photos, character sketches, a timeline of historical events related to the novel, and resources for further study. Enjoy!