Hilton, Scherer, Smiley Sign Stories Around the Table at Pentagon Nov. 24, 2014

Coauthors Jeremy Hilton, Holly Scherer, and Sarah Smiley will sign copies of Stories Around the Table: Laughter, Wisdom, and Strength in Military Life at the Pentagon, Washington, DC, on Monday, November 24, 2014, in the Concourse Food Court, 11 AM to 1 PM ET. This event is NOT open to the general public. You must have a Pentagon badge or escort to attend.

Jeremy is a Navy veteran, Air Force spouse, and passionate advocate for inclusion of individuals with disabilities. He wrote “Rules of the Road Less Traveled” in Stories Around the Table. He is a leading advocate for both military and nonmilitary families regarding special education, medical care, and long term care issues. A highly-regarded speaker on issues involving military families with special needs, he has briefed the Congressional Military Family Caucus, numerous Congressional delegations and staffers in the Armed Services Committee, HELP Committee, in the Judiciary Committee and in the White House.

Holly is an international speaker and military life consultant. Her journey to becoming a military spouse who sees the possibilities in military life is captured in her essay “The ‘Ain’t It Awful?’ Club” in Stories Around the Table. Her work with military spouses earned her the distinguished recognition as the first-ever designated “Who’s Who in Military Spouses” by Military Spouse magazine. She has received numerous awards, including Volunteer of the Year, the Essayons Award, Department of Defense Outstanding Civilian Service Award, and the V Corps Soaring Eagle Award for her contributions and volunteer service to military families around the world. She is also coauthor of Military Spouse Journey: Discover the Possibilities & Live Your Dreams.

Sarah is the wife a Navy pilot and the daughter of a retired Navy admiral. She wrote “Taking My Medicine,” an essay about depression, and “Locations: Yours, Mine, and Ours,” about the choice she and her husband made to live in different zip codes, in Stories Around the Table. She is a syndicated newspaper columnist and has written three memoirs, including Dinner with the Smileys, for which she was awarded the 2014  American Legion Auxiliary’s prestigious national Public Spirit Award.

Stories Around the Table is a collection of personal stories from more than 40 military family writers. Military spouses, children, parents, and service members transparently share both everyday and extraordinary moments of their lives with the hope that their stories will inspire and encourage other military families. The wide menu of topics ranges from friendship and romance, to careers and finances, deployment, reunion, changing schools, and coping with combat injury, PTSD, grief, and much more. The collection first and foremost supports military families by offering a friend at the table who’s been through similar circumstances, offering perspective, ideas, and hope.

But these stories appeal to everyone, military and nonmilitary alike. So this book also can help bridge understanding within civilian communities. The best way to connect with others is by sharing stories. Stories Around the Table is a catalyst for conversation among neighbors, to find commonalities and to better understand the unique challenges of military life.

Pentagon guests are asked to please note: only 150 books will be available for sale at this event. Books sales are courtesy of Politics and Prose bookstore.

As heard in the news and on talk radio across the US, here is what others are saying about Stories Around the Table:

“Truly a heart-touching book…Fabulous.”—Phil Paleologos, WBSM

“This book is awesome. It’s like being with friends around a table!”—Leon Francis, KFYR, “What’s On Your Mind”

“Marvelous…A really important book…I can’t thank you enough for putting this book together.”—Frank Gaffney, Secure Freedom Radio

“It is amazing the breadth of experience.”—SpouseBUZZ, Military.com

“You will derive strength from it.”—The Jim Bohannon Show

Event flyer