But hey, the book was there by the deadline. Gotta count for something, right?
I've been taking it easy the past 36 hours or so. Trying to get better (still fighting bronchitis.) Catching up on my sleep. Starting my new Hood Hamlet/mountain rescuer story. Reading No Easy Day.
I ordered the book written by Mark Owen, the psuedonym of a former Navy SEAL with DEVGRU/Seal Team 6 operator (I wonder if there isn't a new name for the group now given all the publicity) back in September. I was interested in reading it for a few reasons: research for the Special Forces ideas floating around in my head, wanting to know more about what happened in 2011 from someone who was actually there and curious about the controversy surrounding the book.With a deadline looming, I kept the book in the kitchen so I wouldn't be tempted to read it until I finished my manuscript. I saved it for my "treat" after I finished my book. As soon as I emailed the manuscript to my editor, I moved the book from the kitchen to my nightstand.
No Easy Day was a treat. Very enjoyable. I already finished the book. I highly recommend it.
The goal was to tell the story of the Osama Bin Laden mission (Operation Neptune Spear), and the author and co-author succeeded. But more than once I thought, at what cost?
The government has pitched a fit of threats with cries of OPSEC and non-disclosure agreement violations. I had a security clearance so I get that, but given the leaks by the administration about this mission already... Pot. Kettle. Black.
What I'm talking about is the cost to the author.
I don't know much about the military beyond knowing a few people, including my father, who served and having spent a summer working at NUWES. But much has been written about the TEAMS. It's the stuff romance authors and readers love: men—real-life heroes—working together and risking themselves for a greater good and the brotherhood among them.
How has No Easy Day affected that bond/relationship?
Because that brotherhood is what I find myself drawn to and wanting to learn more about as I've been researching SOF. The friendship between a group of mountain rescuers is what drew me to continue writing the Mount Hood/Hood Hamlet books even though it was suppose to be one story, not a series. I imagine the bond to be a hundred times stronger for a team of SEALs given the stakes and the sacrifices.
Wanting to learn more, I came across this article, NO EASY DAY: FROM ONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE written by NYT bestselling author Dalton Fury. Besides his romance-hero worthy pseudonym, Dalton Fury is a former Delta Force officer turned author. He knows what Mark Owen is going through in a way few others can. The article answered my questions, and is a must read if this stuff even slightly interests you. Of course, now I'm going to have to add one of Fury's books to my TBR pile!
Hope you have a nice weekend. I'll be laying low and trying to get better! Plus doing a little writing on my next mountain rescuer story. How about you?
