The Book
Sunday, August 22nd, 2010
So I spent between two and seven years (depending on how you look at it– two intensive years on a seven-year-long project) writing a really important book about what it’s like to deal with PTSD and the Iraq War. It’s honest. It’s painful in parts, funny in parts, and really interesting all the way through. It even has a fairly happy ending, in a weird way. But I had a hard time finding an agent, and when the book was mostly done, I was so SICK OF WRITING IT that I just put the whole project on the back burner.
Now, I just saw a news report that the last of the American troops in Iraq are on their way home. The news made me cry. It’s finally over. Now, we just have to overcome the after-effects. The economy may recover– it’s already showing signs of improvement. But our soldiers? I worry about them. So I’ve started marketing my book to agents again. I believe that educated voters make better choices, and my book is a sneaky way of educating people about the after-effects of war. This war.
I hope that by understanding the day-to-day challenges of living with PTSD, this generation of soldiers will finally get the psychological support they need to live healthy, happy, productive lives. The first two years that soldiers came home from their tour in Iraq, the divorce rate on post was 75%. That’s ridiculous, and avoidable. But it starts with providing support for the wives while their husbands are gone (and vise versa), and providing support for the husbands once they return home. Support that is confidential and doesn’t affect their military career or standing with their peers. Support that is given to all, even if they don’t show obvious signs of extreme PTSD right off the transport.
Anyway, it feels good to be putting my book out there again. If I get to a point of having some extra money, I may just self-publish it. Anyway, if you want more info, or you want to read the first chapter of the book before it is published, there’s a tab at the top of the page that says “The Book.” Go for it.
And above all, Be Well.
Category : A Wish For Tomorrow, Research/Info, Resources
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