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“I don’t want to sound like an ad, a public service ad on TV, but the fact is if you can read, you can walk into a job later on. If you don’t, then you’ve got, the Army, Iraq, I don’t know, something like that. It’s, it’s not as bright. So, that’s my little commercial for that.” -Steven King
When I first heard the unfortunate statement that Stephen King made on Book TV on CSPAN 2, I was angry. I felt that I had to defend the honor of our nation’s military, but you know what? I don’t have to defend their honor because they do a damn good job of defending themselves.
First off, the friend that brought the statement to my attention, Charles, is ex-army. He really enjoys reading. He’s one of the few people, outside my writing group, that knows more esoteric quotes than we do. In fact, when he was stationed in Iraq in a forward area, he joked that he couldn’t get away from me. Why? Because, of the four books available, two of them were mine. When he got back to St. Louis and ended up being assigned to be my security, he told me the story. I loved the idea of my books, set here in the Midwest being out in the sand box for our soldiers to read.
I’ve lost track of the number of military men and women, who have said that reading my books helps them forget where they are, what they’re doing, and how far from home they are. That I help them escape, for a little while. What higher praise is there, than that?
Thanks to Darla, who first brought it to my attention, we’ve been sending books to our military men and women for years. We’ve actually sent to all branches at this point. Libraries on ships; deserts; bases in Europe; anywhere that someone wrote in and asked. But, not just my books, as much as I’d love to think that I’m every one’s cup of tea, I’m not, and also you can’t reread just one series forever. Everyone wants a change, so we send other books, as well. The solider that we just sent a box out to, requested action/adventure, and mysteries. Mine qualify, but we also sent him others. A book can be a very good friend when you’re far from home.
Maybe Mr. King never had the pleasure of being friends with anyone in the military. I have both very good friends, and family that are ex-military. My father-in-law, Art, is one of the most intelligent men I’ve met. He has a master’s degree in Theology; forgive me Art for not remembering the exact degree. He retired as a Major from the Air Guard.
Shawn, who has been my friend for eighteen, or is it nineteen years now, is one of the people that I call for advice. He’s well-read, and thoughtful, though he might deny it. He’s a policeman now, but he was a marine, though I’m not sure past tense actually applies to marines. You never really get it out of your system.
I have had ex-military personnel help me with research over the years. They have been generous with their time, their experiences, and helped add a level of reality to my fantastic fiction, that wouldn’t have been possible without their input. Thanks again, guys.