The Ghosts of My Lai
JC Braswell
Genre: Supernatural Thriller
Publisher: Magothy Publishing
Date of Publication: April 20, 2017
ISBN: 0-9979909-3-5 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0-9979909-2-9 (eBook)
ASIN: B06XNVPB2P
Number of pages: 264
Word Count: 89,700
Cover Artist: Marcy Arnold
Book Description:
Lieutenant Chris Williams and his platoon flee My Lai—the site of an unfathomable massacre during the Vietnam War—only to have their helicopter shot down over unchartered jungle. Disoriented and separated from the outside world, Williams faces the unenviable task of navigating the waylaid band of survivors to safety. But Vietnam has other plans…
Fear begins to trump logic. Specters of the assault call for them during the jungle nights. The escape mission descends in to mutiny as they discover an unknown threat unlike the Viet Cong hunts them from within the primitive environment.
Williams soon realizes that survival is not possible without first confronting the ghosts of My Lai…and the sins of their past.
Excerpt:
“So what’s the
plan now, LT?” Simmons moved his arms in a repetitive semicircle manner like he
was making a snow angel in the leaves. “We just going to sit here and wait for
the jungle to take us? Or do you think we’ll just die from boredom and
exhaustion?”
“Quiet,
Simmons,” Garcia said.
“We keep going.”
He didn’t want to let them know that they might be stalked by a tiger, which
would only cause more panic in the group.
“I guess there’s
only one answer right now,” Donovan said, resting back on his elbows.
“What’s that?”
Harris asked.
About the Author:
A fan of Lewis, Hemingway and Tolkien, author JC Braswell writes in a few different genres including Thriller, Horror, Sci-Fi, and Young Adult.
In addition to writing JC is a practicing attorney specializing in estate planning and corporate law, he is the recipient of the American Health Lawyers Association award for his legal writing.
JC makes his home along the Chesapeake Bay with his wife and two children.
Interview
Where
are you from?
Baltimore, Maryland
Tell
us your latest news?
I had my second child back in January. That was
cool.
When
and why did you begin writing?
I began writing when I was in third grade because of
an overactive imagination. I have always had issues with daydreaming. I didn’t
seriously start writing novels until a decade ago. Seventeen novels/drafts
later…
When
did you first consider yourself a writer?
I still don’t. I don’t know when but hopefully
someday I will.
What
inspired you to write your first book?
Dan Brown. Not in a positive light, either. It’s a
long story that readers can ask me about at jc@jcbraswell.com
Do
you have a specific writing style?
I’d say dialogue heavy. It’s not on purpose, but I
prefer characters rather than writing two paragraphs detailing tree bark. I try
to emulate Hemingway. Still can’t find that magic.
How
did you come up with the title?
It has a lot to do with the meaning of the book. The
story takes place right after the massacre at My Lai. For those who don’t know
about My Lai, I’d encourage you to research it a little. Fascinating but
disturbing. You’ll also find details about what happened at My Lai in the book,
though it’s not central to the story.
The idea of adding “ghosts” to the title serves
several purposes. One of those purposes is the idea that war, and this has been
proven with PTSD, sticks with soldiers, especially with what happened at My
Lai. Ghosts also refers to the possibility of something supernatural hunting
them. I’ll leave it at that.
Is
there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
A few. I’d rather not explain what the messages are
because people will look for those messages and not find their own.
How
much of the book is realistic?
That’s a tough question. It depends on how a reader
interprets the book. There can be a few ways to view it. Was Williams
hallucinating? Was it past memories coming back to haunt him?
Are
experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
To an extent, yes. I know someone who served in
Vietnam. The pain I see in his eyes—the ghosts that haunt him—are very real as
they are represented in Williams.
What
books have most influenced your life most?
The Catcher in the Rye, the Narnia series, and The
Sun Also Rises.
If
you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Ronald Malfi is a mentor and friend. Would have
loved to have Hemingway.
What
book are you reading now?
Lots of non-fiction books by Thomas Sowell.
Are
there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Honestly? No really.
What
are your current projects?
I’m working on the second book in the Reignfall Saga. The series takes place
after a second Bubonic Plague wipes out 75% of the world population. A cure is
eventually discovered that has a couple of side effects: it stops aging and
renders females sterile. America still exists, but the citizens are concentrated
in cities rather than suburbs. It’s definitely a different vibe than My Lai. Again, I’d reference my website www.jcbraswell.com
to explore the world a little more.
I have a second short story coming out with Scarlet
Galleon’s Fearful Fathoms. It’s
another story I’m excited about as it explores a mythology not people many know
about.
What
would you like my readers to know?
Thank you if you decide to purchase My Lai. Really. It means a ton for
aspiring authors to develop a fan base.
You can visit his website at www.jcbraswell.com and check out his podcasts at www.freestateradio.com
Author website: http://www.jcbraswell.com
Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.com/JCBraswell/e/B00YLOWUP4/
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