By Julia Beauregard
Hometown Weekly Editor
Hometown Weekly Editor Julia Beauregard recently sat down with local author Paula Roberts to discuss her book, "Sealed With a Kiss: The World War II Love Letters of Second Lieutenant Paul E. Roberts, 320th Rifle Infantry Regiment, United States Army." This biography chronicles the wartime journey of 19-year-old Paul Roberts, who left college to enlist in the fight against the Nazis. Commissioned as a second lieutenant, he led his troops through France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany until being wounded in March 1945. Amidst the chaos of war, Paul maintained a constant correspondence with his fiancée Bernice, offering an intimate insight into their relationship. Through their letters, readers witness not only the personal struggles and triumphs of their bond but also gain a historic perspective on the European theater from the viewpoint of a frontline soldier.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I started school with a group of classmates who went through three years of school in two years
and remained with an accelerated group of students. Writing was emphasized and I enjoyed it tremendously. I loved writing about my friends and my family.
How long did it take you to write this book?
It took my partner and I just over two years to complete Sealed With a Kiss. We were sorting through my parents' home in Scotia, New York after they passed away. We found a trunk in the attic with about 300 to 350 letters that my father wrote to my mother during World War II. We brought the letters back to Boston and worked for over two years writing this book.
What is your real life work schedule look like when writing?
After our daily jobs (I was a Learning Specialist and my partner Stan was a Needham employee), we converted the original letters to word documents, put them in chronological order, and also scanned about 85% of the original letters.
How did you get your book published?
We worked with a publisher, editor and graphic designer from Framingham to get the book published. This group was outstanding and helped us enormously.
What are your favorite books to read?
My favorite books to read were historical romances, mysteries, and true stories of the past. Stan's favorites were nonfiction classics.
Do you prefer researching or writing?
I love researching. I worked on my genealogy for years, taking advantage of the National Archives in the Boston area.
What are you most proud of regarding this work?
I am most proud that this is a true story about my parents, about their love and their experience during World War II. It includes my father's very serious wound which almost caused him to lose his right arm. My father's best friend Michael (who he named my brother after) was killed during the war. My father won two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, A Good Conduct Medal and other honors. I am very proud of telling the story of the Greatest Generation. I am proud that my father led an infantry rifle platoon who fired M1 rifles and used bayonets and hand grenades and fought hand to hand with the enemy. He was very proud to be a rifle platoon leader. I was very proud that my father survived losing his mother when he was 16 years old and had no siblings. I was very proud that my father was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease when he was 42 but kept working and trying his hardest to live the best life he was capable of living. My mother took exceptionally loving care of him. I am also proud of the realistic photographs that are included in the book.
What aspect of writing this book was most time consuming?
Converting and scanning the letters were the most time consuming aspect of writing this book.
Which aspect of writing this book was least time consuming? Why?
There was no least consuming aspect in writing this book.
What are your greatest strengths as a writer?
My greatest strengths were summarizing the Dedication, Introduction, Epilogue, and Acknowledgements.
If you’re interested in purchasing a copy of "Sealed With a Kiss: The World War II Love Letters of Second Lieutenant Paul E. Roberts, 320th Rifle Infantry Regiment, United States Army,” it is available for purchase on Amazon.
