Fiction too close to truth for comfort

[Pleater]

I must apologise if my latest tale from the MHICE has been less than exciting - it was going to be rather more action and adventure, with James Brown (man of mystery) appearing along with two of his sons, Stephen and Nicholas.

Stephen and Nicholas Green lived two houses away from me, when they were younger.

I intended to place some of the action in a desert war zone, and one of the sons was due to die. It was an excuse for desert colour DPM, like the latest kilt I am making, and a bit more excitement.

During plot development I was looking at military theatres of operation in the recent past, maps for names of towns and villages to add authenticity and then for some reason I checked the British casualty list. On 26th March 2008 a soldier serving with special forces in Iraq, named Nicholas Brown, died after being involved in a fire fight.

It quite disturbed me. I thought I might have read it, but not remembered - but even if I had seen it in the media, at the time the name was not released. I checked.

I tell myself it is just a dreadful coincidence, but my fictional characters seem doomed to rather pedestrian existances at the moment.

Anne the Pleater

[Standard]

Quite understood Anne. Your tale is still a good read. Thanks for putting forth the effort, and letting us enjoy it along with you.

[davedove]

I understand completely Anne. This also serves as a reminder to both those of us who write stories and those who enjoy reading them that there are people who face real violence every day. We should never take lightly what they go through.