Tidbit Tuesday: John F. Kennedy

One of my favorite parts of being an author is learning new things every day. Some of those things make it into my books, but, unfortunately, there isn't room for everything. So here's where I'll share with you the fun things I've learned recently that may or may not make the final cut.

Right now, I'm researching the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Of course, I already knew some things about that day, but since I wasn't born until 17 years later (uh-oh, now you can guess my age!), there are plenty of things I didn't know, like:

1. Authors C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia) and Aldous Huxley (Brave New World) also died on November 22, 1963. Their deaths were barely noted by the media, which focused almost exclusively on coverage of the president's assassination.
2. After her husband's death Jacqueline Kennedy arranged for the White House to look just as it had after Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Kennedy's casket was even placed on top of the same catafalque (platform) as Lincoln's had been.
3. Although Kennedy's goal of sending a man to the moon by the end of the 1960s was meant to demonstrate American superiority over the Soviet Union, the president later began to explore the possibility of partnering with the Soviet Union on the venture. He died before plans could be made.

So, what have you learned today? Leave a comment about something new you've learned, and you'll be entered into a drawing for a free copy of one of my books (your choice!).* Be sure to include your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win!

*Drawing to be held May 29, 2015.