Joan DeRosa became a stewardess in 1967 as Vietnam was in fullswing. Most of the commercial airlines at that time had large militarycontracts transporting soldiers to and from Southeast Asia, primarilyVietnam. Joan had many adventures, but with the fun and excitementalso came the tragedy and horror of war. Being based by her airline inTachikawa, Japan, near Tachikawa Air Force Base, she volunteered forthe Red Cross during her off-time. It wasn't until years later, she realizedhow deeply the experience affected her. From those experiencesthis novel was born.After Vietnam, Joan came home and graduated Magna Cum Laudefrom the University of Central Florida with a degree in education. Shebecame a teacher and taught for twenty-eight years, teaching varioussubjects but primarily English to foreign students. Ironically, many ofthe students she taught were Vietnamese refugees.
