Name: Jonathan
Raab
Book Title:
Flight of the Blue Falcon
Genre:
Military Fiction / Literature
Publisher: The
War Writers’ Campaign
Thank you for your time in
answering our questions about getting published. Let’s begin by having
you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?
Author: I always knew I would
write a book about my time in the military. I wanted to tell the story of the
common soldier serving in the Long War—warts and all.
Is this your first book?
Author: Yes, this is my first
novel. My second, The Hillbilly Moonshine
Massacre, comes out in October (2015) from Literati Press.
With this particular book, how
did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you
choose this method?
Author: I submitted it to the
War Writers’ Campaign. They’re a nonprofit publisher that treats their writers
well and supports the veteran community. It was a no-brainer.
Can you tell us a little about
your publishing journey? The pros and
cons?
Author: I already had a
relationship with the publisher, so that made the transition to publishing a
novel a little easier. I did editing work for them and had published a couple
of small pieces with them. There were no cons. They’re a great outfit, and I’m
proud to support them.
What lessons do you feel you
learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing
industry as a whole?
Author: Writers have a lot of
tools available to them that simply weren’t there ten years ago. My best advice
is to build up your publishing credits – short stories, nonfiction, essays –
whatever you can get out there, before you jump into publishing a big book. I
wouldn’t have this novel coming out if I didn’t do a lot of volunteer editing
work and set my sights lower (short stories, short nonfiction pieces) to build
up some credits first.
Would you recommend this method
of publishing to other authors?
Author: Small presses like the
War Writers’ Campaign offer a lot of flexibility and accessibility to writers
starting out. The big publishing companies can get you a great deal, sure—but
they can also help you get lost in the shuffle. I love small presses because
they are specialized, accessible, and passionate about what they publish.
What’s the best advice you can
give to aspiring authors?
Author: Fail, time and again,
and get back in that chair. I wrote a bunch of books, short stories, and
articles that never got published. And that was the best thing for me as a
writer. Never give up. Keep writing, every week, keep submitting, keep refining
your craft. Embrace your failures and drive on!
Title: Flight
of the Blue Falcon
Genre:
Fiction – Adult
Author:
Jonathan Raab
Website: http://www.warwriterscampaign.org
Publisher: War Writers' Campaign, Inc.
Purchase on Amazon
About the Book:
FLIGHT
OF THE BLUE FALCON
By
JONATHAN
RAAB
“Jonathan
Raab is not only a genuine advocate for veteran causes, he is a preacher of
their tales; both fiction and nonfiction. His writing will immerse you into a
combat environment that parallels the imagination of those who have never had
the pleasure.”
—Derek
J. Porter, author of Conquering Mental
Fatigues: PTSD & Hypervigilance Disorder
“Jonathan
Raab uses his experience to illustrate the raw world of the common soldier. His
masterful use of edgy humor and intellectual commentary creates a space for
discussing the military culture.”
—Nate
Brookshire, co-author, Hidden Wounds: A
Soldiers Burden
In
FLIGHT
OF THE BLUE FALCON (War Writers’ Campaign; July 2015; PRICE), a
chewed-up Army National Guard unit heads to a forgotten war in Afghanistan
where three men find themselves thrust into the heart of absurdity: the
post-modern American war machine. The inexperienced Private Rench, the jaded
veteran Staff Sergeant Halderman, and the idealistic Lieutenant Gracie join a
platoon of misfit citizen-soldiers and experience a series of alienating and
bizarre events.
Private
Rench is young, inexperienced, and from a poor, rural, broken home. He's adrift
in life. The early signs of alcoholism and potential substance abuse are
beginning to rear their ugly heads. He wants to do right by the Army, but
doesn't quite know who he is yet.
Staff
Sergeant Halderman has one previous combat tour under his belt. He got out,
realized his life was going nowhere, so re-enlisted to serve with the men he
knew, and to lead the inexperienced guys into combat. He is manifesting the
early signs of post traumatic stress, but is too focused on the upcoming
mission to deal with it. He sees the Army for what it is—a big, screwed up machine
that doesn't always do the right thing—but he doesn't think all that highly of
himself, either.
Second
Lieutenant Gracie is fresh, young, excited to be in the Army, and trying to
adjust to the new to the military and his life as an officer. Although he faces
a steep learning curve, he is adaptable and has a good, upbeat attitude. As he
tries to forge his own path, he nonetheless turns to the experienced NCOs in
his unit for guidance and support. He must continually make tough decisions
that have no "right" or textbook answers. Yet these decisions are
catalysts enabling him to grow in maturity, experience, and wisdom.
Preparation
for combat is surreal: Rench is force-fed cookies by his drill sergeants.
Halderman’s “training” is to pick up garbage in the blistering heat of the
California desert for four days straight. Gracie contends with a battalion
commander obsessed with latrine graffiti.
Once
they reach Afghanistan, things really get weird.
FLIGHT
OF THE BLUE FALCON is the story of three men who volunteer
to serve their country. It’s about what it means to be a soldier, to fight, to
know true camaraderie—and to return home.
This
is a war story. This is their story.
Only
the most unbelievable parts are true.
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