Retired home builder Steve Dennis has some pretty influential friends.

They inspired him to write his debut novel, “Simone.”

“They say write about what you know. I know a lot about World War II history,” said Dennis. “I was surrounded by members of the greatest generation, and I wanted to tell their stories.”

Four friends in particular served as the inspiration for this story.

“It just sort of germinated in my mind after talking to them. I wanted to tell a story about them, but I wanted it to be fiction,” he said. “It’s not about any one of them in particular.”

The men Dennis refers to are Capt. Frank Friedman, of the 28th Infantry Division; Frank’s brother, Lt. Norm Friedman of the 84th; Sgt. Richard Thomas of the 106th; and the late Sgt. Larry Gourlie, a radioman in the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne.

“These four soldiers had two things in common,” said Dennis. “First, they fought in the Battle of the Bulge; not in some rear area reserve, but in the thickest of the bloody battles. Second, they inspired me to pen a novel that tried to convey what it was like during the battle and how it impacted the rest of their lives.”

Dennis’ novel is the story of a World War II veteran from Seattle who returns to a battlefield reunion in Belgium.

“He’s spent 50 years putting the war behind him, but he agrees to go,” Dennis explained. “He runs into a woman he met 50 years before. They are both widowed, find themselves thrown together and have to decide what they’re going to do.”

Dennis said the book is about how to deal with loss. Both civilians and soldiers lost friends during the war and the book touches on the armor people surround themselves with to help them heal.

While most would consider this a romance novel, Dennis said there is enough action and history in it to appeal to men as well.

“It has been endorsed by (the nonprofit group) Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge,” he said. “The fact they endorsed it makes me feel good.”

A resident of Bellevue, the 67-year-old Dennis said he did most of the writing for “Simone” at his vacation home in Coupeville.

“It’s so free of distractions. It was quiet, pleasant and I could write far more than I could write (in Bellevue),” he said. “Probably 90 percent was created on Whidbey. I could write more in a morning up there than a week down here.”

It took Dennis about a year and a half to write his novel, which is actually his third book, but his first published work. His favorite part of the book, he said, is the characters he created.

“I made them up, I know, but I was with them for a year and a half and I really grew to like them,” he said. “It was hard to say goodbye.”

Dennis said he also enjoyed being able to do something that was a positive comment to such a neat group of people.

“It was written to remind readers of the sacrifice made by those that fought in the epic battle, whether they were physically wounded or not,” he said. “They were part of the greatest generation and it is my hope this novel will preserve the story of men who gave so much to their country.”

“Simone” is available at Amazon.com. and also through Dennis’ web site, www.sjdennis.com.

Book signing and raffle: Author S.J. (Steve) Dennis will hold a book signing at the Oak Harbor Senior Center Monday at 1 p.m. A copy of his book, “Simone,” will be raffled off. Tickets are $1 each and proceeds will benefit the senior center. Call 279-4580 to RSVP