Welcome to the home of author Denise Frisino

In preparation for her historical fiction novels, Denise spends years researching. In the 1980’s, while writing Whiskey Cove, Denise interviewed men and women who were bootleggers. For Orchids of War, over the last several years, she has talked with men and women from the World War II era. She is continuing along this path in preparation for the sequel, Storms From A Clear Sky.

Left: Post 227 presents Denise with Certificate of Appreciation following her talk.
Center: WWII Vets Merlin Staaz & Fighter Pilot Dwight Stevens Right: Goro Kinoshita, of the 442nd.

Below are snippets of her research in blog.

The USO – Home Away From Home - In the months leading up to the outbreak of World War II, while America strongly held to its isolationism beliefs, President Roosevelt quietly prepared for war. Seeing the anguish of those around the globe fighting the enemy, he understood the need to boost morale, not only for the growing number of GI’s, but for their […]
Rationing – a Fair Share for All of Us -
D-Day Mistakes, Madness and Miracles –The First Wave - The very few living survivors of the ‘First Wave’ at D-Day all concur on one thing—tragic mistakes were made that morning of June 6, 1944, costing thousands of Allied lives.
Memorial Day - While the debate on when and where the first Decoration Day/Memorial Day was held in America still rages, one fact remains–the day set aside to honor and remember those fallen in battle, those who bravely fought for our freedom, was originally the concept of women. The custom of decorating the graves of soldiers harkens back […]
Battle of the Bismarck Sea - On February 19, 1942, when the Japanese Empire first attacked Darwin, Australia, killing 200 people, the necessity to keep shipping lanes open between the U.S. and our ally, Australia, became critical. This battle to maintain control of the South West Pacific waterways would spread across many islands and years. In 1942 the Japanese swiftly moved […]
Firing the First Shot – World War II - “We must somehow maneuver them into firing the first shot.” President Roosevelt declared prior to the outbreak of World War II. The “them” he referred to—none other than a vital part of the Axis seeking control of the Pacific–The Japanese. Crippled by the isolationist American public and Congress, who refused to enter another war, the […]
Battle of the Coral Sea - Between the island of New Guinea and Australia lies the Coral Sea, with the Solomon Islands just beyond. While later in World War II, major conflicts would rage in the Solomon’s, the likes of Guadalcanal, few are familiar with the most important sea battle known by the Aussie’s as “The Battle that saved Australia”. The […]
The Bataan Death March - Having fought gallantly for four months, weak, starving, sick, exposed to the burning heat of the Philippines, roughly 60,000 Filipino troops and 11,000 – 15,000 men from the United States surrendered to the Japanese on April 9, 1942 on the peninsula of Bataan. A fate that would claim 5,000-10,000 Filipino soldiers and about 650 American […]
Podcasts – Brief Bits of History - War Over LA The Hop King of the World Remembering the Bataan Death March May 8 World War II
World War II – The War Over Los Angeles - The heavens were clear the evening of February 24, 1942, but Los Angeles, California was on high alert. The Japanese enemy was lurking in the waters off shore, somewhere. At this point during World War II, the Japanese forces had swept through Asia, Burma, into parts of Borneo, with the Philippine Islands swiftly falling. Japan […]