Barton Community College history instructor Linda McCaffery will sign copies of her first book, "I’m Praying Hard for You," Love Letters to a Death Camp: The World War II Ordeal of Bill and Jo Brenner, from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, during the Shafer Gallery’s Holiday Open House.

McCaffery spent three years researching and writing her book about the World War II ordeal of Dr. Bill Brenner and his wife, Jo. She now has copies of her published work in paperback. Barton Community College printed the book for Lone Cone Publishing, established by McCaffery.

Described as both a love story and a horror story, the book gives a biographical account of the World War II experiences of Brenner, a U.S. Army doctor who was taken prisoner by the Japanese during World War II, and his devoted wife, who remained in California with their young son. The book documents the Bataan Death March and the devastation of a Japanese death camp through the eyes of the doctor and it tells the story of the couple’s unfaltering faith and love through nearly four years of separation.

McCaffery met Brenner through an oral history project in which her interviews of World War II veterans were recorded on film. The idea for this book came from her oral history interview with Brenner.

The public is invited to meet the author and Brenner, who will accompany McCaffery for the open house. Brenner will join McCaffery in signing the books. The book will be available for purchase for $22.50. After Sunday, the book will be sold in the Barton Bookstore.